[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through this, women can openly step out of the constraints placed upon them and break free from assumed, imposed, and outdated roles.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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