Women in Horror: Jen & Sylvia Soska

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

One month a year isn't enough to recognize the talented women that make up the horror genre, so Arrow In The Head is starting a column dedicated to celebrating the female filmmakers, screenwriters, cinematographers, and stars that fill such irreplaceable roles within the cinematic realm. May their paths inspire others, and may we never forget their important contributions to the film world.

FILMMAKERS JEN & SYLVIA SOSKA

This entry features the impeccable dynamic duo Jen & Sylvia Soska, two women who work while you sleep. Starting in 2009 with their debut feature film DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, the twins have been hustling ever since, going on to helm such projects as SEE NO EVIL 2, VENDETTA, the "T is for Torture Porn" segment of ABCS OF DEATH 2, HELLEVATOR, AMERICAN MARY, and the upcoming David Cronenberg remake RABID. The girls are also known for appearing in a vast amount of their friends' work, stepping in front of the camera in the "W" segment of ABCS OF DEATH 2 as well as popping up in Richard Bates Jr.'s SUBURBAN GOTHIC, and in their own AMERICAN MARY as identical twins hellbent on molding their bodies to match their inner desires. The girls have also made annual PSA shorts for the yearly Women in Horror blood drive, consecutively making one film each year for a solid decade.

As is customary, I'm going to list my favorite quote by the filmmaker. In this case, I will list one for each sister.

"No one is going to make it happen for you. I firmly believe you've got to set impossible goals. That way even if you get close, you're doing pretty fucking good." -Jen Soska

"I didn't want people to look at me and think Penthouse. I want them to look at me and have nightmares." -Sylvia Soska

BACKGROUND: Born on April 29th,1983 in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadian twins Jen & Sylvia Soska have been inseparable since birth. After sparking their love for the horror genre at an early age by by begging their mother to let them watch POLTERGEIST, the duo quickly decided to pursue a career in the field. Trying their hand first with acting, the Soska sisters became fed up with the typical twin roles they were being offered, and thus naturally evolved into directors and producers, seeking more control over their craft in the form of filmmaking.

After attending the Argyle Secondary School and a brief soiree into film school, the twins made their first feature length film in 2009 with DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. The movie was written, directed and produced by Jen and Sylvia and wound up being released by IFC Films. Gaining momentum, the girls learned that they preferred the guerrilla style of filmmaking, growing tired of the glass ceiling that sat so firmly on the top tier of the Hollywood industry, and opting instead to go off and make their own sophomore feature. The result was AMERICAN MARY, a body horror revenge slasher akin to early David Cronenberg, thereby proving their talents and solidifying their space within the horror community.

The girls developed their own production company called 'Twisted Twins Productions', going on to span 4 feature films, 2 graphic novels, a series of blood donation PSAs, and a television show.

The girls went on to host the horror themed program HELLEVATOR, in which a team of three contestants rides a haunted elevator through an abandoned slaughterhouse before being divvied up into solo sections and being scared nearly to death as they try to complete various sections of a giant jigsaw puzzle. The show premiered on the Game Show Network and was produced by Blumhouse Productions. 

Most recently, the duo teamed up to take on Marvel's Black Widow. In a new five-issue comic book series, the Soskas provide their own perspective on Natasha Romanoff, the wickedly talented international spy. The girls have written for Marvel before, penning their first comic book work in an issue of 2015’s 'Secret Wars Journal' miniseries, but it's incredibly exciting to see them bring their deep love for all things genre to the iconic superhero, infusing the Avenger story we all know and love with a unique edge and twisted fury.

BEST WORK: Without a doubt, the Soska sisters best feature to date is AMERICAN MARY. Starring GINGER SNAPS' Katharine Isabelle as the titular character, Mary is a struggling college student in the midst of training to be a full time surgeon. Unfortunately, medical school ain't cheap, and with little to no family in her corner, Mary soon finds herself drowning in debt. Down on her luck with nowhere to turn, Mary takes a job at a local strip club as a dancer, only to be pulled into the murky depths of the black market on her first night on the job. When a friend of the manager stumbles into the club screaming bloody murder, it's Mary who is asked to repair his wounds, as a trip to the hospital is out of the question. Mary abides, and slowly her descent into the underground culture of body modification begins, starting small with tiny fix-ups and escalating into full blown piercings, amputations, and anything else her client base desires.

Dark, twisted, and shockingly sultry, AMERICAN MARY is a perfect example of what happens when you breathe new life into a tired old rape revenge sub genre simply by allowing a different perspective to tell their version of the story. How refreshing it is to finally watch a horror movie where the girl gets hers and retains her femininity in the process. What a powerful performance by Isabelle as she transforms from a smart and sweet girl into a hardened dame who morphs her misery into consistent profit. As her pain arouses her art, so too does it awaken the monster within her, lashing out at various intervals and growing more deviant by the minute. It's a fascinating exploration of the female psyche post trauma, and an interesting conversation starter about an industry that most of us know little about.

Critics couldn't get enough of AMERICAN MARY, either. The film went on to win a Chainsaw Award from Fangoria Magazine, a special mention for horror features at the 2012 Austin Fantastic Fest, the Silver Raven Special Prize at the  2013 Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film, the Festival Trophy at the 2012 Screamfest in Los Angeles, and Best Director for Jen & Sylvia Soska, Best Actress for Katharine Isabelle, Best Cinematography for Brian Pearson, Most Disturbing Film and Best Antihero at the 2012 Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

CAREER DEFINING MOMENT: Deeply inspired by Robert Rodriguez and his 'Rebel Without a Crew' attitude towards filmmaking, the twins were working on their final project at film school when their funding was pulled and they were told all work would have to halt immediately. Determined to finish what they started, the girls raised $2500 and made their own movie, eventually selling the film to IFC and maintaining a positive score on Rotten Tomatoes. This low budget project put them on the map, getting their name out into the world and paving the way for their highly anticipated follow-up AMERICAN MARY. Jen and Sylvia wrote, directed, produced and starred in the feature about a road trip gone wrong, proving an uncanny ability to stretch the dollar and create an entertaining and effectively made feature on a shoestring budget.

Not only was their spot within the horror genre proven, but their ability to stand as a united front and conquer was also fully realized. It's no mistake that the twins are always dolled up and matching when you see them. Receiving feedback from two voices can be confusing and counterproductive for actors and crew alike. In their own personal style, the girls stand together as one solid system when working on a film, answering questions from their crew in such unison that they will often speak the same words at the same time. If any considerations need to be made in order to tackle a problem on set, the girls discuss the discourse behind closed doors, then approach their actors as one, confident and with a cohesive conclusion. Through their heightened appearance and decisive presentation, the twins portray no weakness, only strength, and absolutely zero problems working in tandem.

Up next, the twins are releasing their remake of RABID this year, starring BITTEN's Laura Vandervoort as Rose, the girl left disfigured after a horrific automobile accident. Determined to return herself to her former glory, Rose heads down a dark path to be beautiful again, a choice she may live to regret. As of right now, the film doesn't have an official release date, but it is expected to hit theaters sometime in 2019.