[Editorial] An Introduction to ‘Ladies Night’ Column

Welcome to Ladies Night, a monthly exploration of horror directed by women.

When I was considering what I'd like to contribute to Ghouls Magazine as a columnist, I wanted to find something that would play to my passions and let me focus on a specific area while still providing the opportunity to cover a variety of subgenres, decades and filmmakers. It didn't take too much noodling to realise that the obvious thing would be to choose a different female-created horror film for each monthly piece, and delve into themes across classics by directors like Mary Lambert and Amy Holden Jones, modern masterpieces by the likes of Jennifer Kent and Karyn Kusama, and female-fronted releases from newer voices in the genre like Prano Bailey-Bond and Nia DaCosta. So Ladies Night was born.

Ever the list-lover, I spent a magical evening putting together my Letterboxd list of horror directed by women, and realising that I'm going to have no shortage of material for my column; sometimes it can feel like female-directed films are few and far between but there are so so many. My hope for this column is to shine a spotlight on the directing talent and amazing output of these women in horror. Putting together the list also highlighted that while I've seen a good number, there are a lot of female-directed horrors that I'm yet to watch, and I can't wait to discover some new favourites. I'm also excited to expand my knowledge of and celebrate films by trans women and non-binary film makers.

From Velvet Vampires to Love Witches via Blood Diners and Devil’s Doorways, I'll brave the fantastic and multifaceted world of horror films lucky enough to have a woman in the director’s chair - if I can survive a Slumber Party Massacre or three. It’s an exclusive club, so be sure you’re on the list for Ladies Night.

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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