[Editorial] An Introduction to ‘In Her Eyes’ Column

Welcome to In Her Eyes, a space dedicated to celebrating the incredible women who occupy the screen in horror cinema.

The idea for this column first originated when I was looking through my horror DVD / VHS collection and started taking down names of female characters who have inspired me, moved me and ultimately made a lasting impact. Many hours later, surrounded by piles of discs and tapes and with a haphazard spreadsheet, I felt my heart swell at the extensive list before me. What better way to mark the varied and explosive collection of female characters than to create a space where everyone from the Villain to the Final Girl can sit side by side?

This column will discuss, dissect and celebrate the cast of 1000’s of females who make the genre so rich and rewarding. One of horror cinema’s greatest gifts is that it allows for subjectivity and through this, women can openly step out of the constraints placed upon them and break free from assumed, imposed, and outdated roles. Within the genre, women are radiant, bloody, messy and empowered - to put it simply they are given the autonomy to embrace a multitude of roles that explore everything from fiery courageousness to total collapse.

Each month, In Her Eyes will be brought to you by a team of talented and diverse Ghouls writers led by myself. Together we will look at one female from a selected horror film, exploring who she is and what makes her so memorable. Women featured will include old favourites as well as those who sit quietly in the background and often go (all too sadly) unnoticed. The column aims to take a fun but informative approach and will strike a balance between being analytical and accessible in tone. I want this celebration of a collective of women to be a collective experience and with this in mind, if you have any suggestions of females that we can cover in In Her Eyes or would like to share any thoughts or feedback then I would love to hear from you. Please do get in touch!

This is a space that seeks to acknowledge and rejoice in the beauty of difference and to honour the spirit of women in horror who continue to offer us opportunity to stand in our power and to push back against anyone who dares to underestimate us!

Everyone is welcome here and all voices are worthy of being heard. Let’s dig in and begin this incredible journey together!

Good vibes only!

Rebecca

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24 Nov 2023

[Editorial] 10 Films & Events to Catch at Soho Horror Film Fest 2023

24 Nov 2023

Now it’s time for Soho’s main 2023 event, which is presented over two weekends: a live film festival at the Whirled Cinema in Brixton, London, and an online festival a week later. Both have very rich and varied programmes (with no overlap this year), with something for every horror fan.

24 Nov 2023

2 Nov 2023

[Editorial] 9 Horror Nintendo Switch Games To Play

2 Nov 2023

In the six years since its release the Nintendo Switch has amassed an extensive catalogue of games, with everything from puzzle platformer games to cute farming sims to, uh, whatever Waifu Uncovered is.

2 Nov 2023

22 Oct 2023

[Mother of Fears] Mothering in Silence in A Quiet Place (2018)

22 Oct 2023

A Quiet Place (2018) opens 89 days after a race of extremely sound-sensitive creatures show up on Earth, perhaps from an exterritorial source. If you make any noise, even the slightest sound, you’re likely to be pounced upon by these extremely strong and staggeringly fast creatures and suffer a brutal death.

22 Oct 2023

14 Oct 2023

[Editorial] 5 Female Focused Horror Book Recommendations

14 Oct 2023

If you like cults, sacrificial parties, and lesbian undertones then Mona Awad’s Bunny is the book for you. Samantha, a student at a prestigious art university, feels isolated from her cliquey classmates, ‘the bunnies’.

14 Oct 2023

26 Sep 2023

[Editorial] 9 Best Slashers Released Within 10 Years of Scream (1996)

26 Sep 2023

The slasher sub genre has always been huge in the world of horror, but after the ‘70s and ‘80s introduced classic characters like Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Leatherface, and Jason, it’s not harsh to say that the ‘90s was slightly lacking in the icon department.

26 Sep 2023

24 Sep 2023

[Mother of Fears] Mother Vs. Monster in Silent Hill (2006)

24 Sep 2023

Mother is God in the eyes of a child, and it seems God has abandoned the town of Silent Hill. Silent Hill is not a place you want to visit.

24 Sep 2023

31 Aug 2023

[Editorial] 9 Terrifying Cerebral Visions in Horror Movies

31 Aug 2023

Being able to see into the future or back into the past is a superpower that a lot of us would like to have. And while it may seem cool, in horror movies it usually involves characters being sucked into terrifying situations as they try to save themselves or other people with the information they’ve gleaned in their visions.

31 Aug 2023

27 Aug 2023

[Mother of Fears] I Don’t Wanna Be Buried in a Pet Sematary (1989) and (2019)

27 Aug 2023

Both the original Pet Sematary (1989) and its 2019 remake are stories about the way death and grief can affect people in different ways. And while the films centre on Louis Creed and his increasingly terrible decision-making process, there’s no doubt that the story wouldn’t pack the same punch or make the same sense without his wife, Rachel.

27 Aug 2023