Gruesome Twosome: One-on-Two With Jen And Sylvia Soska

 The sexy as hell Toronto After Dark Film Festival marked the Canadian premiere of our second born, beautiful baby. AMERICAN MARY. The whole experience left the two of us feeling like home coming queens and we want to thank Adam Lopez, the entire outstanding TADFF team, and the wonderful Canucks who came out to see the whole bloody affair go down!

We recently had the pleasure of chatting about the adventure with the ever so awesome Addison Wylie of FILM ARMY.

Here's an appetizer...

Addison Wylie: First off, this year’s Toronto After Dark couldn’t have had a better opening night. It was a great foot to start on by showing American Mary and great for Film Army to be co-presenting such a neat film. How do you guys find Toronto horror buffs and how has your experience been with this year’s After Dark?

Sylvia Soska: There is something very special about bringing your film home to have it’s Canadian premiere, especially with a cast and crew consisting entirely of Canadian talent. A lot of people in the festival circuit talked up Toronto After Dark, it is notoriously known as a festival put on by a team that truly loves the genre they promote and that couldn’t be more true. From the festival organizers to the festival goers – there was such a sense of commradity because everyone is passionate about genre films there. It was one of the best festival experiences we have ever had.

Jen Soska: Adam Lopez and the entire Toronto After Dark team blew away our already sky high expectations. It’s true, everyone on the festival circuit tells legends of how awesome TADFF is. So many festivals boast that they take films and their guests in like family and make you feel not just like a participant at the festival, but like part of the festival itself. And that is seldom the case except for a precious few fests. Toronto After Dark made us feel like we were old friends returning to a favorite haunt. I haven’t felt that level of patriotic pride since Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics and the Canadian mens and womens hockey both took gold. It was really a privilege to have TADFF host our Canadian premiere.

FULL delicious interview RIGHT HERE!!

A very special thanks to Addison for taking the time to catch up with a couple crazy ass Canucks ;)

Fatally Yours,
Jen

American Mary Takes Home Six Awards at TADFF

The Soska sisters and American Mary clean up another festival with an impressive set of wins. If you still need convincing after this then maybe you should have your head examined (Mary can help you with that too). Here is the list of wins:  

BEST DIRECTOR American Mary (Jen & Sylvia Soska)  

BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM American Mary   

BEST LEADING ACTRESS American Mary (Katherine Isabelle)  

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY American Mary (Brian Pearson)  

BEST ANTIHERO American Mary (Mary Mason, played by Katherine Isabelle)  

MOST DISTURBING FILM American Mary

Read the whole rad piece from SINFUL CELLULOID HERE.

Check out all the wonderful and rad TADFF winners here.

-Sylv

Three Girls Walk into a Bar, They Find a Stairwell to Talk

"Leaving the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, the Soska sisters and I hunted for a place to chat. Clad in their usual armor of sultry micro-minis and sky-high heels, we made our way through the downpour outside, and into the Pauper’s Pub. Scavenging the building for a quiet place to talk proved difficult. Ultimately, our goal was met. 

Sneaking up the stairs leading to the Pauper’s famous roof-top patio, now closed for the season, we attempt to perch ourselves on one of the plateaus. Not so fast, it seemed. The manager of the pub sent security after us, and they attempted to coax us back downstairs. Unfamiliar with such situations, I was prepared to go find another location. The twins had other ideas. 

In a flash, they not only managed to secure us the Pub’s stairwell to conduct our interview, but to charm these two men into oblivion. I’m in awe. Quick witted and fiercely intelligent, they know exactly how to work a room, without an inch of compromise. It’s no wonder they’ve managed to take the indie horror film circuit by storm. Shortly after this interview they cleaned up at Screamfest, walking away with Best Picture, Best Directors, Best Actress for Katherine Isabelle, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup. Each award skillfully earned and well deserved. 

With such acclaim comes much curiosity. The Soska twins have been flying just under the radar – until now. What fascinates me about these women is the quality of their work, and integrity of their work ethic. In a male-dominated industry, it’s a struggle to make a mark. The twins have what it takes not only to make their presence known, but to make a change, bringing female writers, directors, and producers to the foreground. Smart, creative, and driven, they’re starting an army, and are about to take the industry by storm."

I absolutely love this interview we did with Ariel Fisher at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. If you have a moment, please take a boo or two, fuck even three. It's one of my favourites that we've had the opportunity to do. Kudos to Ariel for killing it on the piece.

It's very easy to talk to such an intelligent, well versed woman in the industry and this interview gets some amazing insight on filmmaking, our experiences herein, and how we've gotten to the point that we're at.

AF: On that note, what’s your endgame? What do you ultimately want for your careers? 

JS: I would like our names to be synonymous with Horror. There are so many great male horror directors. I can’t name three great female horror directors. Mary Herron did American Psycho, and she’s done a couple of other things. 

SS: Mary Lambert – 

JS: done Pet Sematary – 

SS: They’re all Mary’s, aren’t they? I like Alice Guy-Blanche, I love her. She was the first director of fiction cinema. Most people don’t know that the first director that did non-documentaries was a woman. And it was because she was a woman that so much of her material- 

Just as they were about to give me an insightful glimpse into the first female director, the unsettling bar manager returns. For what reason, I’m still unsure. Bantering like pros, Sylvia and Jen swoon him into oblivion, getting him to leave. 

JS: Feminine wiles. 

SS: Oh, it’s so easy to do that. It’s like an evil superpower. 

JS: You should have seen us on Dead Hooker in a Trunk. Of course, we had no permits. It was half Rodriguez, half Ed Wood. If we got it ‘oh, it’s good enough! Let’s do it! Might happen in nature!’ But an officer would show up, and there’d be Sylv in her little outfit, just go over, act really confused – 

SS: And my makeup was even whorier than this, if you’d believe it.- 

JS: and just pretend you’re with a film school, and your teacher is David, and he said it’s okay. 

SS: it’s a double edged sword, because someone looks at a girl like me and assumes I’m the stupidest thing ever. Jen and I, we had a 4.0 GPA through everything, we never left the honor roll. After [Jen and I] graduated, [we] were hired on promotion teams, and we were paid $50 an hour to stand by things and smile, and I was so disgusted with myself, because my brain is important, and I am standing by a car and waving. […] So I decided I’m gonna use my brains, mix it with all this makeup and pushup bras, and do something with myself. What I would like to do is grow tWISTED tWINS to the point where we can open tWISTED tWINS Studios, where we not only make our films, but we finance our own films, like Troublemaker [Studios]. And we find other filmmakers, talented people that might not have the opportunity otherwise, and fund their project. And it would be nice, because I feel, especially in the horror genre, it’s so diluted with soulless crap. They know things make money, but they don’t understand why. And it would be nice to give the power back to the fans, the creative people. I feel like it’s a gift to have this opportunity, because this is a bit of a spectacle. This opens a lot of doors, and as long as you work hard, you don’t make any of the mistakes that a lot of people do, the pressures of an easy life, and you show that you can do it that way. Hopefully this is the start of a fucking army. 

JS: Little girls are always told – that’s how we got into acting – you can be an actress, you can be a model, you can be a singer. No one ever says you can be an executive producer. You could be the CEO. You know you could be a director or writer? Oh my god, we’re story tellers! If I’d known I could be a director, I wouldn’t have worried with all that acting shit. My happiest moment is when a little girl, or boy, messages us and says ‘I didn’t know if I could make a movie, but you girls made Dead Hooker in a Trunk and I’m gonna start my feature.’

READ THE WHOLE EXTREMELY REVEALING, HONEST, THOUGHTFUL PIECE HERE.

When you have the opportunity to travel as much as we have been blessed with, it's a special treat to meet new friends and kindred spirits - this was one of those lovely experiences.

-Sylv

Cinefemale's AMERICAN MARY Review

"Day one of Toronto After Dark film festival began with a bang. The Canadian premiere of a film by the twisted twins—Jen & Sylvia Soska—was out of this world and I was so happy to be in the audience. However, the show really began outside in the rain. It was one of those unexpected heavy downpours that was made extra gross by the already brisk fall forecast. As a passholder, there is little privilege to being able to go in first when you still have to wait outside in line. My feet were sopping wet but it did not deter me. I’m sure the girls noted the dedication of their fans because they ran outside to greet us, in sexy matching outfits, to thank us for coming and hug each of us down the line. Uhmazing start."

When it was confirmed that we had been accepted and would in fact be having our Canadian premiere of AMERICAN MARY at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, we swelled with patriotic pride. Not only because after a long and a highly anticipated wait we'd at long last be having our debut in our home country, but because we would be premiering at a festival that is known for being the best of the best. We felt like home coming Queens of Horror and it was a massive honor that filled us with the kind of patriotic pride we had only previously experienced when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics and both our mens and womens hockey teams had walked away with Gold. Having our own home country not only "get" the film but fully embrace it and us left us more than just a little teary eyed. And being able to discuss it with brilliant minds such as the Cinefemale has left us with lasting after glow.

"Let’s just forget  about how lovely and enigmatic the directors are for a second, because the film is strong enough on its own. Yes, it helps knowing the directors are awesome human beings, but I would have enjoyed American Mary regardless. The film follows Katharine Isabelle (known for her role as Ginger in Ginger Snaps) as Mary who is a medical student hoping to begin her career as a surgeon. Mary is an unconventional leading lady in many ways. She’s extremely complex and just when I thought I began to “get” her, she transitioned to something else. A phenomenal performance played by Isabelle, who really made Mary a believable character you could root for. When a tragic event happens to her, she hardly embodies the role of the victim."

 But you'll have to read on for the FULL REVIEW HERE.

Fatally Yours,
Jen

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

Toronto After Dark Introduction and Q & A with the Twisted Twins & Antonio Cupo

             

Adam Lopez (Festival Director and Founder) and the Twisted Twins (Jen & Sylvia Soska) introduce Canadian Premiere of American Mary at Toronto After Dark Film Festival + annouce that Anchor Bay Canada will be distributing their movie in Canada. (warning: some strong language - but remember it's 19+ admission to festival).

                

Adam Lopez (Festival Director and Founder) and the Twisted Twins (Jen & Sylvia Soska)Q&A after the Canadian Premiere of American Mary at Toronto After Dark Film Festival (warning: some strong language - but remember it's 19+ admission to festival) - these twins were great and the 
movie was AWESOME!!

-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

The Liberal Dead See American Mary at TADFF

"Hey everyone, Jeff here reporting on the first night of Toronto After Dark 2012! All in all, I’d say it was a great night; though I could’ve done without the rain (more on that in a minute). The Bloor was packed with energetic TAD fans, the beer was flowing, and the movies were both solidly entertaining."

A word of merit to the people who came out to see AMERICAN MARY at TADFF, there was a utter downpour that soaked the horror film fans. Jen, myself, and Antonio Cupo went outside to welcome and thank the fans who came to the screening. Which, also gave us a sexy wet look for the evening - WIN.

"After the first feature wrapped, I spent about 30-45 minutes standing outside in the pouring rain, which was rather cold and unpleasant, but no fault of the festival organizers (Note To Self: Bring larger umbrella tonight!). However, it was totally worth it, as about 20 minutes in, we were greeted by Jen and Sylvia Soska (aka The Twisted Twins), the writer/directors of the next feature American Mary.Not only were they super enthusiastic for two people who were running around in a miserable downpour while wearing short skirts and vinyl."

The only reason Jen and I get to do this, get to continue to do this, is because of the amazing people who line up to see the film, support it, share it with their friends, and get the word out. How would our Canadian Premiere go down?

"After that came the “main event” of the evening, the Canadian premiere of American Mary. If you haven’t heard, the film is about an aspiring surgeon who unwittingly finds herself thrust into the dark world of underground body modification. The film is a far leap in both tone and production value from the Soskas’ first feature, Dead Hooker In A Trunk, it is an impressive sophomore effort with stunning cinematography, a wonderful lead performance from Katharine Isabelle, great practical effects and makeup work, and some delightfully demented scenes. This one comes with a strong recommendation to horror and genre fans, and seeing as the Soskas announced during their introduction that Anchor Bay had just picked up American Mary for distribution in Canada, it sounds like it won’t be long before you get the chance." 

Check the whole review here.

-Sylv

Katie Chats to the Twisted Twins

           


 KATIE CHATS with Directors/Actors JEN SOSKA & SYLVIA SOSKA about their film, “AMERICAN MARY” at the TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL at the BLOOR (HOT DOCS) CINEMA in TORONTO, Ontario. 10/12

-Sylv

Katie Chats to American Mary Star, Antonio Cupo

      

KATIE CHATS with Actor ANTONIO CUPO about his role in the film, "AMERICAN MARY" at the TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL at the BLOOR (HOT DOCS) CINEMA in TORONTO, Ontario. 10/12

-Sylv

American Thorpey Reviews American Mary in Canada

There are a few things that I love with the entire essence of my being. Some of those things being: Deadpool, memes, and my dear friend, James Thorpey. Now, everyone knows that if you make a terrible film that your friend hates, so ends the friendship and so begins the self mutilation. 

James flew all the fuck up from the American East Coast to be at the screening, so would he like the film? Would we remain friends? He wrote a review on his blog...

"The film itself just looks beautiful, so visually different than Dead Hooker. The content of the two films couldn't really be more different either, showing the range that the Twisted Twins have as both writers and directors. While Dead Hooker was an amazing first feature, especially given the complete lack of budget, Mary is a whole other animal. It gives the audience a chance to see what the Soska Sisters can do when given a budget. What's more impressive is that the entir

e film was shot in fifteen days. Fifteen! That's unheard of, especially when you consider the quality of the film.

 

And now the numbers: 

Film - 5 out of 5 Stars 

Radness - 8 out of 5 Human Corsets  

Tribal Scarings - Get out of here 

It seems like everything is coming up Milhouse for the Soskas and their American Mary crew. They were picked up by Universal Pictures for European distribution over the summer, which is mind blowing. Monster Pictures is releasing the film in Australia, too. But there was big news revealed last night, and that is that Anchor Bay has bought the Canadian distribution rights, which I'm so stoked about. Now we just have to wait and hope to hear about American distribution. But that's not all: after an already busy year of screening Mary at different festivals, Jen & Sylv are going to be staying on the road for a few weeks more, heading back to LA for Son of Monsterpalooza and then to Monsterfest in Australia, where they get to hang out with THE Elvira."

READ THE WHOLE FUCKING RAD PIECE HERE!!

-Sylv

PS My favourite comedian, Brian Posehn is writing Deadpool starting this November, and James was cool enough to grab a Deadpool poster from NYCC so Brian - who would be at TADFF after I left could sign it. The TADFF team was cool enough to make sure that Brian would be signing. What does that mean? Somehow I am the luckiest chick in the world to have such dear friends that support not only my work but my nerdiness.

American Mary Finds A Home In Canada Courtesy of Anchor Bay!

Do you know what I love about ANCHOR BAY? Pretty much fucking everything. So honored to have this brilliant home of excellence in the horror genre be the ones bringing American Mary to Canada!!!

Read the whole press release here!!

-Sylv

Get Your Tickets for the Canadian Premiere of American Mary at TADFF

Fuck yeah, Canadian Premiere at TORONTO AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL - Horror, Sci-Fi, Action & Cult Movies - and we want to see you there! Meet me and Jen with our lovely escort for the evening, Toronto Batman. 

         
With this many people dressed in leather and that much blood on the screen, you don't want to miss this screening of American Mary!

-Sylv

Are You Motherfucking Ready for the Mod Shit?

Wicked meme by Jesus Novoa.

Two huge screenings coming up - Screamfest in LA on the 13th at 9:30pm, then the Canadian Premiere in Toronto at TADFF on the 18th at 9:45pm!

-Sylv