Bloody Disgusting Talks WiH with Hannah Neurotica

"WiHM Founder, Hannah Neurotica Forman, decided such a month should be set in place after becoming engrossed in feminist studies during college, while at the same time indulging a deep passion for horror and slasher films—leading to feelings of feminist guilt and discomfort. Loving these films yet understanding why they were problematic sparked an internal conflict for Hannah. She felt guilty. It wasn’t until she discovered Carol Clover, author of Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film that Hannah was able to reconcile these two passions. Loving horror and fighting for women’s rights didn’t have to be oil and water.

Although she initially faced a few disgruntled consumers, the cause gets stronger each year, bringing in new advocates and fans in droves. Two of WiHM’s biggest advocates are those sexy albeit crazy twisted twins, literally The Twisted Twins, Jen and Sylvia Soska. Best known for their unapologetic attitude toward horror, and female-driven genre films Dead Hooker in a Trunk and the recent cult success American Mary."

Read the whole piece right here!

-Sylv

Bloody-Disgusting Talks to Mary

Bloody-Disgusting: You spend a lot of the movie conversing with someone who is surgically altered to look and sound like Betty Boop. Is it hard to maintain character through that?
Katharine Isabelle: Tristan Risk, who played Beatress, is fucking amazing. Not only did she have to get there 4 hours early to get her prosthetics on, but she had an absolutely stellar shining attitude. She so utterly absorbed the part that there was no disconnect between myself and her, she literally just became Beatress. She came onset literally without any makeup on and people were like, “I’m sorry we’re going to have to ask you to leave.” No one recognized her [even though she's one of the stars of the movie]. She is brilliant, she exuded Beatress through every pore.

Bloody-Disgusting: Out of all the procedures your character has to perform in the movie, which one disturbed you the most?
Katharine Isabelle: I don’t think any of them disturbed me. There was the clitorectomy scene where I’m dropping bits of bloody vagina on the floor, and if we get a walkout that’s usually when it happens. But I’m not actually performing it, it’s just a tray with little bits of bloody latex. Honestly, I think the suturing of turkey got to me the most, I’m paranoid about raw poultry.

READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW HERE!

-Sylv

Adult Content Exclusive Clip On Bloody Disgusting

Exclusive American Mary clip on Bloody-Disgusting featuring Samantha Mack and Russ Foxx. It is adult content, so underage people, lie about your age on the site so you can watch it. Tell more underage people to watch it too!

WATCH IT HERE.
-Sylv 

Bloody Disgustingly Good Chat with The Twisted Twins

"Jen and Sylvia Soska are the Canadian ladies behind Twisted Twins Productions. After the release of their first grindhouse-inspired feature, Dead Hooker in a Trunk, the twins went on to release American Mary, a critical darling of the indie horror scene last year. On top of their filmmaking careers, the Soska’s are dedicated advocates for the Canadian horror industry and they made an appearance at Rue Morgue’s “Festival Of Fear” over the weekend as part of the Vancouver Fan Expo.

Jen and Sylvia sat down to chat about their upcoming monster movie, their love for comic books, Sinister Cinema, and plenty more."

READ IT HERE.

-Sylv

Bloody Disgusting Talks to the Twisted Twins After Dark

Rad interview with Bloody Disgusting at TADFF 2012, following our Canadian Premiere of AMERICAN MARY. 

BD: You have a line of comics coming out?  

Sylvia Soska: We get to do a version of all our scripts in graphic novels with First Comics. It’s going to be the director’s cut because there’s no budget with comic books. We’re the writers and everything. I hope comic book version of me is hot. I’d bang comic book me.  

Jen Soska: You’d bang any version of you. 

It's true. HERE for the FULL INTERVIEW!!! 

-Sylv

American Mary Comes Home to Canada at TADFF 2012!

"As the lights went down, the Toronto theater was taken over by emotion, disgust, and the indescribable beauty of absolute ugliness.The screening was a hit! So what's the news? Anchor Bay has picked up American Mary for distribution!" - Sinful Celluloid (full article) 

"Jen and Sylvia Soska, otherwise known as the Twisted Twins, first came to our attention back in 2009 with the outrageous onslaught of insanity that was Dead Hooker In A Trunk; their micro-budget debut that quickly became a cult hit the world over. 

But Dead Hooker was done with no money when the movie world wasn’t ready to believe that two feisty females from Vancouver had what it takes to leave a mark on the horror genre. Oh how wrong they were. The Soska’s came back this year with American Mary, premiering at London’s Frightfest to an enthralled audience and receiving nothing but shimmering reviews across the board. Their Frightfest success was to be the first in a string of festival experiences which has seen fans, critics and academics alike heap praise upon the twisted twosome." - Chelsey Burdon, Bloody Disgusting (full article) 

"The Twisted Twins have made a fantastic film, filled with dark humour, some odd characters like Beatress (Tristan Risk) and Ruby (Paula Lindberg) (both of whom have incredible make-up effects), wonderfully crafted surgical scenes and a standout performance by Katharine Isabelle. 

Isabelle begins as a frustrated, almost naive, definitely innocent character, and through the course of the film, you see her change, grow and develop, taking on a darker, stronger edge that begins to frighten some of those around her. 

She changes and embraces her gift, moving from initial repulsion, so bad that upon arriving home she stumbles to the toilet to vomit, to full acceptance of the bod-mod culture. Isabelle has never been better or looked sexier, the Twins seemed to make sure that all of her outfits made her look fantastic, and you simply can’t take your eyes off of her." - TD Rideout, The Mind Reels (full article)

"...the Soskas offer up a social statement about the potentially disastrous modern perception and preoccupation with physical beauty. Weirdly compelling, interesting, drily amusing yet never mean-spirited, American Mary quietly contains a totally unexpected yet thoughtful commentary that surfaces as a profound, resounding element within the framework of the film... American Mary is certainly not the kind of garden variety, over-the-top, white-knuckle, cheap-thrill bloody gore-fest that some audiences may be expecting due to its unusual subject matter. Rather, the Soskas have crafted an experience that is thoughtfully restrained and refreshingly nuanced enough to leave them thinking, instead."- Rachel Fox, Twitch Film (full article)

"In a genre long dominated by men writers and directors, the Soska twins are a welcome and vibrant addition to the horror world. They have told a tale about women, from a woman’s perspective filtered through the world of horror. This bodes well as to the work they will produce in the future. Highly recommended." - Xavierpop (full article)

"This movie is thoroughly enjoyable and if you like modern torture horror movies, then you’ll love this one because it’s the way the characters are written and the way the story is structured, the shock value of the horror scenes doesn’t lose anything upon multiple viewings. Plus, you’d be surprised at the number of funny moments in the movie. The line that may have gotten the biggest laugh in the movie simply involved Mary enjoying a milkshake. In context, the scene is great and funny.  

Right now, American Mary is making the festival tour. It’ll play at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival this weekend, but has no major release date. Hopefully it gets one soon. And if not, buy the movie when it goes on sale. If you’re a horror fan, you’ll be glad you spent the money." - Javi Perez, PlayMakerOnline (full article) 

"Katharine Isabelle delivers a Mary who is initially very likeable, then terrifying as she grows increasingly icy, then savage. Dark humour and ample gore provide the thrills, but it’s the vivid verbal descriptions that chill to the bone." - Andrew Dowler, Now Toronto (full article)

"And although American Mary reminded us of movies The Human Centipede, Hard Candy and even a tad of Boxing Helena, American Mary stands on its own as a competent and effective horror thriller that is sure to get your attention and then twist it like a wrung out sponge leading to the unexpected concluding chapter. 

It has only been a few years since we were first introduced to the Soska sisters.  But in a short period of time, they have matured and honed their skills and are near perfection in American Mary.  These sisters are a triple threat having wrote, acted and directed their feature.  And each of their pursuits have been elegantly displayed as they have moved from our ‘To Watch’ list and on to our ‘Can’t Wait For the Next Project’ list.  Well done." - GregMO Roberts, Killer Reviews (full article)

"This is a challenging film. It defies any single definition, but is exceptional in so many ways. Canadian writers/directors Jen and Sylvia Soska, a.k.a The Soska Twins, achieve in creating a dark, amusing and, most importantly, captivating film, that takes audiences on a unique journey. Not only are viewers inside Mary's head, but they are invited into the intriguing world of body modification.

Isabelle is outstanding. Her performance is chilling as she acts without emotion in every situation. Mary's support for her clients and their modifications is always offered with a fake smile. She's mostly motivated by her desire to make money and the control these procedures offer her. The more difficult the request, the more she engages. Isabelle definitely achieves a new level in this role." - Sarah Gopaul, Digital Journal (full article)

"Katharine Isabelle is hypnotic as Mary, and her dry delivery of dialogue produces laughter in the oddest of places, which is much needed for some of the dark places this film goes. From genital modification to twins wanting to share a little too much (oh, hello, amazing Soska Twins performance!), you’re never sure of where this film is going next. There are some great subplots and twists that keep you on your toes, not to mention scenes that you will haunt you when you turn the light off at night. 

The Soska Twins have brought us an incredibly original, disturbing piece of work with their latest effort. If you thought Dead Hooker in Trunk showed the girls had potential, American Mary cements this. Prepare yourself for more; they have a lot to give." - Charlotte Stear, Rue-Morgue (full article)

"I can’t help but feel just a little bit dirty for admitting that I very much enjoyed American Mary – the latest film from Jen and Sylvia Soska (also known as The Twisted Twins). A bit surprised too. I was curious going in and hopeful that lead actress Katherine Isabelle (best known for Ginger Snaps) would provide some spark to a concept that didn’t have much appeal to me, but I had expectations the film would be gory for gore’s sake. So much for expectations." - Bob Turnbull, Row Three (full article) 

-Sylv

Fantastic Response from American Mary's American Premiere

"I've been covering horror movies for a while now, and over the years I've noticed a lot of very interesting genre films about women -- that are also written and directed by men. That's meant as a compliment. Indie filmmakers like Paul Sole

t (Grace), Mitchell Lichtenstein (Teeth), and Lucky McKee (May, The Woman) are clearly and admirably fascinated by females who exist in an environment of dark fiction, but let's be frank here: there should be more horror films about women -- that are also written and directed by women. The dark and disturbing, yet oddly accessible American Mary looks like a firm step in the right direction. Written and directed by a pair of twin sisters from Vancouver, American Mary is easily one of the most fascinating female-themed horror stories of the past few years, and it should absolutely serve to open a few more doors for the audacious and plainly talented Jen and Sylvia Soska." - Scott Weinberg, FearNET (full article)

"All of which leads rather too neatly to the latest gory slice of body horror making shockwaves around the cinematic world, and having its Northern Premiere at Grimmfest: Jen and Sylvia Soska’s darkly funny and at times deeply disturbing di

ssection of the cult of beauty, cosmetic surgery addiction, body image and body modification, American Mary.

Combining the visceral physicality and ambivalent perspectives of Cronenberg or Barker, with a kind of raised-eyebrow archness and cold-eyed camp grotesquerie worthy of John Waters, and featuring a stunning, emotional powerhouse performance from Katherine Isabelle, already a Body Horror icon from the Ginger Snaps films, it tells the story of impoverished medical student Mary Mason, who gets pulled into the shadowy underworld of illegal body modification surgery after she performs a few questionable procedures for a local mobster.

The Soskas know their stuff.

The film explores every aspect of body horror head on: sado-masochism, fetishism, physical transformation, fear of sex, discomfort with one’s own appearance, loss of control. It might almost serve as a primer for a whole sub genre." - Steve Balshaw, Mancunian Matters (full article)

"American Mary is filled with splendid gore sequences, the odd humour and superb acting throughout. Ginger Snaps star Katharine Isabelle puts on a great performance in her role as Mary Mason and is still stunning as ever… The Soska sisters 

seemed to convince viewers with this film how they are capable of making a truly entertaining and edge of your seat Horror flick. The Twisted Twins also make an appearance during the film, so keep an eye out for that…

The film is highly recommended to all viewers (except young children), as it is one of the most entertaining Horror films of 2012 along with The Cabin in the Woods and it will have something to satisfy almost any Horror fan. Humour, gore, Katharine Isabelle… What is not to like?" - Adam Chabbi, The Daily Horror (full article)

 "American Mary isn't just the most startling and original horror film of the year, it's also a feature that announces the arrival of two very exciting talents to the genre in the shape of sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska." - Chris Tilly, IGN (full article) 

 "Katharine's character, Mary, was so compelling and the tone and production design of the film so distinctive (see it with a Goth chick you know, she'll love it), we liked it anyway and will definitely be checking out whatever Jen and Sylvi

a do next. The story focuses on the culture of underground body modification surgery, and thus a lot of the shocks in the movie were of the naked variety, including one (technically) full frontal shot of a woman who willingly had her nipples removed and vagina sewn shut to look more like a doll. Katharine’s non-nude streak continues, but considering she spends several scenes dressed in a corset, thigh-highs, and/or a latex apron, there’s still plenty to feast your eyes on here.

American Mary was definitely one of the more interesting Q&As we attended as Jen and Sylvia took the mic with co-star Tristan Risk wearing replicas of the (very revealing, by the way) ensemble Katharine wears in the film." - Skin Central, Mr. Skin (full article)

"But that was way back in 2010. What have they done for us lately? Many is the filmmaker that crashed and burned following a fast rise. Oh god, what if it was all a fluke? 

Well, the Soskas are back with their sophomore feature, American Ma

ry, which had its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest last night. And I’m happy to report that the Twisted Twins’ success is no fluke. American Mary delivers the goods. It’s no Dead Hooker, but don’t despair; that’s a very good thing.

One of the most impressive things about Mary is how completely different it is from the Soskas’ debut. Where Dead Hooker in a Trunk was a gonzo thrill ride, American Mary is a frosty revenge thriller — all warm, pulsing viscera beneath a cool, steely surface." -Theron Neel, Planet Fury (full article)

"AMERICAN MARY is a huge step fowards after DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK (which I am a big fan of), and not just from a budgetary standpoint, but from a confidence level displayed in the writing and directing by the twins. It portends even greate

r works of art from these powerful, creative, and risk-taking filmmakers." - 

 Corey Mitchell, Bloody-Disgusting (full article)

"With American Mary, the Soskas present a unique canvas of surgical oddities and “freaks” not often seen on the screen, calling to mind some of the characters who would breeze through Nip/Tuck. However, the Soskas give them more purpose and heart than Ryan Murphy’s series did, creating a strong, eclectic gallery of personalities like Beatress (Tristan Risk) – a woman who transformed her visage to resemble Betty Boop and comes pretty damn close to stealing every scene she’s in. 

Brian (Drive Angry) Pearson’s photography is gorgeous, shifting from one color palette to the next as we’re carried from Mary’s makeshift surgery room to the grungy environs of the strip club scene." - Ryan Turek, Shock Till You Drop (full article)

"With American Mary, the Sisters Soska definitively prove they’re more than just a pair of pretty faces by delivering a film that is not only a quantum leap from the previous feature but also, without getting to hyperbolic about it, represe

ntative of one of the most exciting new voices in the genre. Eschewing genre clichés and easy pandering, this sophomore effort delivers a textured, engaging and original effort that should deservedly break out amongst the horror faithful.

" - Johnny Donaldson, Geek League of America (full article)

 -Sylv

Fear File #3: Twisted Twins Jen and Sylvia Soska

"I'll be the first to tell you how overtly absurd DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK sounds. It's a messy, straightforward title that leaves little to the imagination. In fact it's that title alone that has recently caused a censorship upheaval and serves as a deterrent for light-hearted movie goers.

As Juliet so eloquently said in her famed Shakespearean tragedy- What's in a name? Sure, there is a dead hooker and they do find her in a trunk, but the film goes much deeper than that. It's as if Tarantino took a stab at a chick flick and gave it a welcome dose of steroids and blood. Intrigued by the film's raw, side-splitting intensity, I tracked down the filmmakers- surprisingly sweet identical twins Jen and Sylvia Soska. These two women are a breath of fresh air, an inviting balance to a testosterone filled world. They're the yin to my yang (what can I say, we've bonded) and two of the genre's most talented up and coming filmmakers.

Ladies- I think we may have found our anti-heroes." ~ Andrea Albin, Bloody Disgusting/The Albin Way

Bloody Disgusting is fan~fucking~tastic. If you don't know that by now you've been spending too much time living in that cave. For horror news, reviews, and assorted goodies, it just can't be beat.

And speaking of the fantastical and wicked awesome, let me say that it has been a great pleasure to have met and been interviewed by Bloody Disgusting's Andrea Albin, writer, reviewer, and interviewer extraordinaire. It was an esteemed pleasure to speak with this brilliant and talented woman. Not only that, but through our communications we now have an incredible new friend that we have much more in common with than simply horror (sushi, religion, OCD... the list goes on).

We were delighted to speak with her and be featured on her Fear Files. Fear File #3 is an in depth interview with us with a very special guest appearance by everyone's and our favorite badass director, Eli Roth.

"People often ask me for advice, and truthfully, a lot of people don't want to hear an answer like 'try again' or 'it takes years,' they just want everything solved instantly. The Soskas are the opposite. They are very, very smart, and if they don't know something they learn it fast. I have also seen how they handle themselves in interviews, and how they face the attacks for their feature, which is a very self-aware and absurd title, and they can eloquently defend what they do and why they do it." ~ Eli Roth

For the full FEAR FILE (#3), grab a shot of Jack (or whatever it is you moisten your palate with) and enjoy it RIGHT HERE.

Want the FULL INTERVIEW with we Twisted Twins AND hear what Eli Roth has to say about us, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, AMERICAN MARY and more? Boom. RIGHT OVER HERE.

A very special thanks goes out to Miss Albin for the gore~geous interview. It is such a pleasure to walk away with not only an outstanding article and interview, but also a wonderful new friend. And on the note of wonderful friends, thank you to our favorite Bear Jew for being precisely that that.

XO,
Jen and Sylv

Keep Your Peepers On These Five - Horror Directors On The Rise

From blood-soaked slasher flicks to spine tingling paranormal feats, scary movies rip at our souls. It's the thrill, the unanswered questions, the taboo, the unknown angst that makes us shudder, yet yearn for more. And that's what makes the genre special- what breathes new life into it. Horror hits a lot closer to home than most would care to admit- and that's what makes it appealing. And frightening.

Dozens of names have become synonymous with the genre: Wes Craven. John Carpenter. George Romero. Eli Roth. We've seen it all- from teenagers going on killing sprees, to tourists being forced into human torture chambers. And there's a lot of exploration left, but where else can it go? And who is going to take it there? We've taken the time to compile a list of the top five up and comers in the horror game. Some of them have already established their credentials, while others are just stepping into the limelight. - Andrea Albin, Miami New Times

I have to share, Eli Roth introduces us to some of the best people on the planet - I can't even begin to express how much his friendship and support have changed our lives. First, he introduced us to Hannah Neurotica who - if you're new to the class, is our separated at birth sister, we are just that perfect for each other - and over last the last week we met the sensational Andrea Albin, keeper of all horror knowledge who is brimming with so much talent and eloquence that it is impossible not to love who she is and what she does.

Andrea Albin is a professional writer - you can see her work on Bloody-Disgusting.com and Stiff Magazine, as well as her personal fierce blog, The Albin Way - with a knack for cutting through the bullshit and going for the proverbial kill. Which helps a lot if horror is your game and she is a master at it. In a culture where the safer road is often the one most traveled, it's a breath of fresh air to have someone like Andrea who prides herself on having one of the edgiest Hollywood blogs around. No bullshit, indeed.

It was a supreme pleasure talking to her about the industry, our work, and everything in between. The article is on its way, but she has bestowed another great honor on us by including us on her list of Five Up-and-Coming Horror Directors About to Hit It Big.

2. The Soska Sisters
Beautiful identical twins that thrive off of intensity and violence? Sign us up! These girls were busy brainstorming nightmares while others were planning fairytales -- and that we can appreciate. These sisters are right at the top of the watch list for the simple fact that their film, Dead Hooker in a Trunk, is one of the best low budget, independent horrors circulating around to date. It's a bloody romp that's sure to impress even horror purists and captivate skeptical watch hounds. American Mary, their latest project, has eyes set on Cannes, and who knows where their groundbreaking films will lead them- hopefully into a cemented spot in terror history.

I am so honored to have myself and my twinnie included on this list that Andrea has really hit the proverbial nail on the head with this article. Daniel Stamm (THE LAST EXORCISM), Oren Peli (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY), Darren Lynn Bousman (REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA), and James Wan(SAW) are innovative, creative artists that films that are unique and are breathing a life into horror that big studio films often lack.

It is a true privilege to be included. For those of you that are unfamiliar with these names - I implore you to hit up the full list and get your knowledge on. These gentlemen are going to be creating the films that you will be talking about tomorrow.

~Sylv

Bloody Delightful, Mr. Disgusting

"Everyone seems to be a pretty huge fan of Dead Hookers in a Trunk, and directors Jen and Sylvia Soska are back with their second indie feature, American Mary, which we've learned will star both Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, Freddy vs Jason) and Paula Lindberg."

Mr. Digusting of Bloody Disgusting was kind enough to post on the site about upcoming AMERICAN MARY and is such a clever fox that he even has some rumored casting to share. A filmmaker is quite often judged on merit and staying power with their second feature and, with the success of the first feature being so wholly due to the support of the horror community, it is of the utmost importance that we make something unique and exciting in thanks to those who have gotten us to this point.


We will be keeping pretty tight-lipped until we shoot this summer. Which is very very hard. What I can tell you, as horror nerds ourselves, we are making something that will keep people talking. I hope you dig and thank you for the kindness that you have already extended to the new film.



We love horror and Katie is one of the best talents in the business. Looking very forward to sharing this new film with all of you. Thank you, Mr. Disgusting, for posting about the project.

~Sylv

Ted Brown of Bloody Disgusting gives DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK 10/10

"Every once in awhile a film comes out of left field that is such a innovation in film making that within moments of starting it you just know that you are witnessing something important that will one day become a cult classic that other aspiring film makers will look to for inspiration. This is exactly the sort of film Dead Hooker in a Trunk is and the twisted twins Jen and Sylvia Soska are destined to become a part of the next generation of iconic horror writers and directors." ~ Ted Brown, Bloody Disgusting

This morning, Ted Brown, of Bloody Disgusting, a truly gore~geous site that we adore, posted an outstanding review of our beloved DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. With the film being released in the UK and Australia on May 23rd and with official news of the world wide release just at the tip of our collective tongues, we were excited to see what he had to say. Bringing the film to where it is has been quite the epic journey and bringing the film to Ted Brown, who is not only an incredibly adept writer with a beautiful turn of phrase and intimate style, but also a true fan of horror and cinema. We are honored by his wonderful review of the film. Ted is exactly the kind of person that we made the film for and to get the right film to the right people makes us so happy.

I could easily go on and on about his review, which contains no spoilers, but you really ought to treat yourselves to a little read.

Check out the kick ass review right here!!

Please enjoy. I know we did.

And if you're not familiar with Bloody Disgusting, there's no time like the present to read up and make friends with this wicked site.

XO,
Jen

Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

If you don't know, you SHOULD know, that BLOODY DISGUSTING is bloody awesome. Wicked awesome, I dare say...

They've teased about our teaser (for our latest creation, AMERICAN MARY) and the upcoming film. Treat yourselves to a little looky loo and check out the buzz HERE.

A special thanks to mister Disgusting himself for sharing our new girl with the world!



XO,
Jen