Horror Monster

"my very personal MONSTER. quentin tarantino, the soska sisters, wong kar-wai and wes craven. a bunch of amazing directors — with Jen Soska, Wong Kar Wai, Quentin Tarantino, Wes Craven and Sylvia Soska." - Annie Wong

-Sylv

Complex Talks to the Twisted Twins about Dead Hookers, Skull Fucking, Evisceration... You Know, The Best Girly Stuff

Back in the late 1970s and early ’80s, when exploitation movies were in vogue, a movie title like Dead Hooker In A Trunk would have fit right onto the marquees of sleazy drive-in theaters and seedy grindhouse venues that played such classy gems as Cannibal Holocaust and I Spit On Your Grave.

Today, however, such a shamelessly tasteless and provocative title is more taboo than ever, but that’s what makes Dead Hooker (currently available on IFC Midnight’s Video On Demand service) so much fun—it’s batshit in ways most modern-day films are too reserved to emulate. Aside from its titular call girl corpse, the midnight-dark comedy features a cowboy pimp, an Oldboy-esque scene in which a guy’s teeth are assaulted with a drill and an icepick, a pipe smashing a girl’s head so hard that one of her eyeballs shoots out, spilled intestines, and a little girl shooting her father to death with a handgun, amongst other insanity.

Now here’s the best part: Dead Hooker In A Trunk comes from the minds of two sexy and morbidly inventive twin sisters, stars/writers/directors Jen and Sylvia Soska. Paid for with credit cards and shot with minimal resources two years ago, the Canadian siblings’ passion project has worked its way up from word-of-mouth buzz to various genre film festivals; last month, Dead Hooker In A Trunk reached its highest plateau when IFC Midnight picked it up for the company’s VOD platform (special midnight theatrical screenings are in the works). Not bad for a super-low-budget and wonderfully insane horror-comedy from a couple of rookie filmmakers.

To top it all off, the Soska Sisters are also really hot. And, as you’re about to find out, they’re quite funny, as well as legitimate gorehounds and promising young filmmakers. Complex recently spoke with the duo behind Twisted Twins Productions about Dead Hooker, skull-fucking, Britney Spears’ awful film career, how they once upgraded Quentin Tarantino’s birthday, and their film’s positive message. Let’s pop the trunk!
- Matt Barone, Complex

Complex Media is fucking cool. We had the pleasure of being approached to chat with their Matt Barone, who embodies that kick ass-ed-ness. But what is this media beast? And why is it just so damn cool. Oh, my dears, I'm so glad you asked...

COMPLEX MEDIA NETWORK is the premier online destination for the most influential 20-something male consumers. This discerning audience is driven by style, sports, music, games, gear and girls. The Complex Media Network reaches these style-makers and trend-spreaders through its uniquely credible and authentic viewpoint into all things Complex.

At the center of the COMPLEX MEDIA NETWORK is our flagship site, complex.com, the online incarnation of the influential Complex Magazine, the proven voice of the people that matter – the insider's Bible.

Other COMPLEX MEDIA NETWORK sites are carefully selected and curated to maintain the perfect balance of innovative content and editorial integrity – allowing us to create highly engaging and deeply sustained conversations with our target – the 20-something male.

It was downright joy~gasmic to be approached to chat with Matt. We've been told we have the minds of 20-something males and the story of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK really is a film that not only the 20-somethings can enjoy, but the every-somethings out there. It makes us so happy to be able to share our story and our Hooker with the masses. After all, sharing is caring ;)

Complex Media is truly a unique and incredible experience and source for all things cool. It was an honor to have our twisted selves and our DEAD HOOKER invited to chat. And what did we chat about?

A pethora of twisted goodies including (but certainly not limited to) Britney Spears and Crossroads, Russ Meyer, Faster Pussycat Kill Kill, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, dead hookers in mattresses, cowboy pimps, punching a bear, and much, much more. I'd love to spoil it like some bastard spoiled the end of the Usual Suspects for me, but I'm so not "that guy".

But you can be that guy and grab the FULL FANTASTICAL INTERVIEW WITH MATT BARONE OF COMPLEX MEDIA right here!

Thank you so much to Matt for taking the time to chat with us and we look very forward to chatting again soon!

Now go check it out, boys and grrls! Here's a little something something to whet your appetites...

Jen: I think I’ve always had a hooker fixation. Have you see that movie Four Rooms? Robert Rodriguez’s fourth vignette, “Misbehaviors,” with Antonio Banderas, has a dead hooker in a mattress, and I just thought that was the funniest thing. [Laughs.]

Sylvia: A dead hooker in a mattress is the funniest thing? [Laughs.]

Jen: Hell yeah! We should have done Dead Hooker In A Mattress!

Sounds like you have the sequel all figured out.
Jen: [Laughs.] I think you’re right!

Bloody Best!
Jen and Sylv

Hobo With A Shotgun and Dead Hooker In A Trunk Double Feature ONLY in Texas

Once upon a time, in a crappy film school not too far away, two twins found themselves frequently leaving class. Were they bad students? Were they "too cool for school"?

Quite the opposite in fact.

They wanted to learn about film. Not being stimulated or supported or inspired in the least, they went to where we all fell in love with film, the movies. At the time a little double billing was making the rounds. Though it was met with mixed reviews (opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one), they knew that this very special double billing could teach them more about film making than anything happening inside those school walls.

Of course, these twins were none other than we Twisted Twins.

And the double feature? Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's GRINDHOUSE, featuring Robert's PLANET TERROR and Quentin's DEATH PROOF.

And I don't have to tell you that these men are without a shadow of a doubt two of the greatest living film makers in the world. If you disagree, kindly walk yourself into my fist as I don't like to exert too much energy smackin' a fool.

But cinematic Gods Rodriguez and Tarantino weren't the only ones to come out and play in this epic double billing... Oh, no.

GRINDHOUSE quite famously had a healthy serving of awesome fed to hungry film goers in the form of "faux trailers". Directors included the coolest Jew since Jesus, Eli Roth, rocker turned badass director, Rob Zombie, the brilliant Brit behind numerous comedic gems, Edgar Wright, and one Jason Eisener, Canuck extraordinaire who birthed the now world renowned HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.

As most of you know, we were very inspired by this HOBO. To think a Canadian film maker could play with the big boys? We made our DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK originally as a faux trailer in hopes of perhaps making it into GRINDHOUSE 2, should such a happy day have come to pass. But, our path went in a different direction and our DEAD HOOKER, like so many youths before her, grew up before our eyes and became a full length feature. She's hit the festival circuit, made many friends of horror fans and reviewers alike, won numerous awards and praises, and now she's being released to the world. On May 23rd, the lucky folks in Australia and the UK can bring her home at LONG last and we'll be making an official announcement on when the rest of the world can cuddle up with our girl.

But there's more...

I'm sure you're saying, "dammit, Jen, we know this already!" and you should. What you don't know is the point to this lil' blog that I've been crawling towards at a snail's pace.

DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK premiered to the USA in the first annual WOMEN IN HORROR month (brain child of our beloved Hannah Neurotica of Ax Wound Zine) compliments of DOA Blood Bath Entertainment's Andrew Rose. Andrew has been a friend of our Hooker from the very beginning. When he learned that the Texas Theatre in Dallas was running HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN, he saw an opportunity for a match made in independent, horror lover, Canadian heaven. What if DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK could play with HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN?

No need to ask "what if?", my friends. It's a reality. HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN and DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK will be playing together ONE NIGHT ONLY at the Texas Theatre in Dallas May 30th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(No, there aren't enough exclamation marks in the known universe to properly express my epic joy and excitement.)

Here's the story...

From the coasts of the Great White North comes two of the greatest exploitation films made in recent history! From the west coast the Soska Twins bring us DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK and from the east coast Jason Eisener brings HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.

And only, in Dallas, Texas at The Texas Theatre can you see them both at the DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK AND HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN DOUBLE FEATURE!

Come dressed as a hooker or a hobo for a chance to win one of many prizes to be presented by DOA Blood Bath Entertainment!

Show time starts at 7:00 PM! Tickets and details available at http://www.thetexastheatre.com/ in the near future!

Dead Hooker in a Trunk Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SAEN43OHZc

Hobo with a Shotgun Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSFKGn5ocLI

This is going to be one for the history books. I know not everyone in the world lives in Texas, but I'm telling you truly, IF you can find any way to be there, do it.

It's going to an absolutely epic event and we will be doing everything in our power to make this one of the biggest and bestest (yes, that's totally a word) events to ever grace the planet. TWO Canadian films that hit the world hard despite the overwhelming odds and obstacles. It truly is a triumph for both film, independent artists, and the people who love cinema and horror.

I want to extend our most heart felt gratitude to both Andrew Rose and theatre creative director Jason Reimer for making this impossible dream a reality.

And will the Twisted Twins make an appearance? Now, that would really make it one for the history books. You'll just have to wait and see ;)

Please spread the good word, boys and grrls. There's nothing we love more than the horror community. After all, together we're an army.

Bloody Best!
Jen and Sylv

Exclusive Twisted Twins interview with Kotori Magazine!!

Kotori Magazine kicks ass. Plain and simple.

"Sometimes the truly creative hand us a movie whose title packs as much punch as the movie itself, luring us in and giving us not only what title promises, but more coolness to spare. Hot Tub Time Machine, Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Natural Born Killers spring to mind. In 2009 Jen and Sylvia Soska- two Vancouver film school drop-outs- wrote, produced, directed and acted in their own hometown horror-comedy, Dead Hooker in a Trunk, and the fruit of their labors is every bit one of those aforementioned pictures.

They delivered on the title, albeit without the putrefaction we so loved from the dead hooker in the mattress in Robert Rodriguez's "Misbehavers" short (from the anthology Four Rooms), and they yielded a 92-minute hodge-podge of heightened gore, deadpan gags and solid, admirably rough-and-tumble female leads with lines like, 'You think dying's gonna kill me?'" ~ Bob Freville, Kotori Magazine

Not only was Bob Freville, the gore~geously worded writer and associate editor of Kotori, wicked awesome enough to review our beloved baby, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, he also took the time to have a little chit chat with this dynamic duo. The result? Many an exclusive revealed.

Want to know more about AMERICAN MARY?

How will our upcoming feature differ from DHIAT?

What's the gnarliest thing we have in store for MARY?

What's the easiest way to separate a disinterested studio exec's nads from his body?

And much, much more juicy yummy~ness.

For your FULL TREAT aka EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW click here!

Please enjoy and stick around to check out the wicked wonderment that is KOTORI. You're quite welcome in advance, boys and grrls.

Bloody Best!
Jen

Flush the Fashion Brings on the Rad Storm!!

Flush the Fashion brings on the awesome! When we merrily agreed to have a little chit and chat with Pete Graham, editor extraordinaire of the site, we had hoped for a nice little interview. What we got was an insanely fantastical interview with questions we've NEVER EVEN BEEN ASKED BEFORE!!

The piece is articulately and gore~geously written. The man clearly knows his stuff and has a true passion (not only for fashion) for film and art.

What do we feel makes a good horror movie?

How do you make excellent fake blood on a budget?

How awesome is one mister Eli Roth?

How do we collaborate with one another?

Do we want to work within the Hollywood system?

Who inspires us?

Would we ever make a film outside of our beloved horror genre?

All this and SOOOO much more is answered within this astounding article. Without further blabbing on my part (and my dear friends, you DO know I enjoy a good blab fest), here is the main course.

Check out the FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Please enjoy, boys and grrls!!

XO,
Jen

Sally Menke

“I’ve learnt so much from every film and every director – a new perspective, a greater appreciation of the art.” -Sally Menke

Who is Sally Menke? Oh, I think you know. I can guarantee that you've seen her work.

In her career, she has won a San Diego Film Critics Society Award and a Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award and been nominated for two Academy Awards, two American Cinema Editors ACE Eddie Award, two BAFTA Film Awards, and an Online Film Critics Society OFCS Award. She has edited over twenty films. Still not sure where you know that name? Well, she has been the one and only editor for one Quentin Tarantino.

"I do feel there’s an internal rhythm in every person which is reflected in your work. Somehow a painting looks like its painter. There’s an innate response to footage that I feel is very much mine. Sometimes it’s not at all what Quentin or another director wants, so I change it. I approach the footage in a detailed way, looking at mannerisms as much as I listen to the dialogue- what their body is saying." -Sally Menke

That's damn right. Sally was the genius editor who brought you every Tarantino masterpiece from Reservoir Dogs to Inglourious Basterds. They met when Quentin held interviews for an editor. He sent her the script for Reservoir Dogs and she said that she thought it was "amazing".




Sally Menke was hiking in Canada when she decided to call and see if she got the job and was told that she had been successful. Sally went on to work with Tarantino on everything that he has done; Tarantino has been quoted as saying, "The best collaborations are the director-editor teams, where they can finish each other's sentences," and that Sally was his "only, truly genuine collaborator." Sally Menke was later elected as a member of the American Cinema Editors.

“I don’t do match cuts really. That’s a ridiculous thing to say – I do. But we always explore how we can propel a scene, and that’s including dialogue, without doing match cuts. Because the audience is really willing to accept a lot of discontinuity.” -Sally Menke

It is with great sadness that I say that we lost this incredible woman this past year. She has left behind a legacy of cinematic history and a void that can never be filled. Sally Menke was an amazing talent and I am very happy to include her amongst our inspirational Women in Horror.

I sincerely hope that her work inspires future women to follow in her footsteps. In a world where little girls are told to grow up and be actresses, I hope that Sally's astounding contributions to film will encourage little girls to be story tellers themselves and step behind the camera.

~Jen

Bad Ronald reviews DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK

Bad Ronald likes him some movies. And he recently took a gander at our beloved first born feature, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, and the man liked what he saw.

"Seeing the Soska Sisters in action will answer that age old question of what would happen if Quentin Tarantino were to mate with the Suicide Girls?"

Oh, my. He used the "Q" word. The man certainly knows how to charm a Twisted Twin. He goes on to say...

But, wait! If I say it all on here, why would you read the review? Silly me, you'll just have to read it all HERE.

Bloody Best!
Jen

Insane, in a Good Way

When you creatively make something - films, artwork, music - the part of yourself, your own personality, makes it stand out. It's for this reason that I feel incredibly naked and vulnerable when 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' is screened. If you look closely, you get to know so much about Jen and me. What makes us laugh, what we find creepy, what makes us the twisted twins that we are.



I am in love with this recent review on us and our film from Jonathan Weichsel, of filmradar.com. What is film radar? Let's see what they have to say for themselves --

"(Our) goal is to bring the virtually endless world of specialty film-going in Los Angeles right to your fingertips. This site covers revival, repertory, and special film events and the venues which house them. Whether your taste is classic Hollywood, documentary, avant-garde, foreign films, silent films, or cult classics ... FILMRADAR has it covered!"

Back to Mr. Weichsel. His sharp intellect and mastery of language gives the review a depth and life that makes me feel like I am looking at the film with new eyes. Which is hard to do after being married to our hooker for going on three years now. Bravo to you, Jonathan, and thank you for your most rad review.

How rad is it, Sylv? Well, it's off the meter in radness. Here's the deliciously rad intro --

"There are certain filmmakers whose personalities shine through in every film they direct. As examples that everybody knows, I would cite Woody Allen and Quentin Tarantino. You can not watch a Tarantino film without just knowing who Tarantino is. Based solely on their debut film, Dead Hooker in a Trunk, I would also cite identical twin sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska. The personality of these two filmmakers shines through so strongly in this film, that after watching it I felt I knew exactly who they are.

So, what do I know about The Soska Sisters, who wrote, produced, directed, and star in Dead Hooker in a Trunk? For starters, I know that they are insane, but in a good way. I know that they have a twisted sense of humor, and don’t merely tell sick jokes, but revel in them. I know that they are outrageous, irreverent, whimsical, sarcastic, stylish, and imaginative. Dead Hooker in a Trunk is a film with lots of personality, and one of the most stunning debuts I have seen in years."

I know, right? Totally fucking rad. Revel in the article's entirety here. Treat yourself to checking out more of his work on the site. The gentleman has a way with words and gives a fresh perspective on even your most memorized favorite films.



There are two films that we are in the midst of pre-production on, some new darkly fucked up stories we are dying to tell you, girls and boys, so keep an eye out. We'll be posting as with as much details as we get these bad boys (or girls) up and running.

~Sylv

PS Have a fabulous Monday!

TWINS SEE INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS WITH SPECIAL GUEST ELI ROTH

The Scotiabank Theatre in downtown Vancouver had a special secret advance screening of "Inglourious Basterds" with special guest, director and Bear Jew, Eli Roth. The event was put on by CFOX and ROCK 101 and we'd like to give Mike Cohen a special thanks for enabling us to be present at this momentous event.

The film is everything you've heard and more. Certainly a masterpiece. The characters were amazingly developed and engaging and the story was incredible. The violent scenes were brilliantly executed. Though obviously playing out in a morbid time, it was filled with trade mark Tarantino humor and unexpected laughs. I'd say, "go see it" but unless you live in a cave, I'm sure you will.

And mister Eli Roth was unbelievable. Bloody smart, funny, and cooler than you could ever imagine. He was kind enough to meet with us after the screening and talk about projects, present and future.

Many more good things to come.
~Jen

A LITTLE NEWSPAPER FOREPLAY

Last Friday we made our very first newspaper print on page A2 of the Province. We even beat the Cheeky Ground Squirrel (who appeared after us on page A3). Yes, our short parody for the MTV Tarantino Basterdization Contest got our work aired on international television. We made the Top Three and, thanks to all the support from our fans and supporters, we are getting some publicity.
Today we sit down with Glen Schaefer, of the Province, for a more in depth chat. More to come!

~Sylv

"TARANTINO'S BASTERDS" MAKES TOP THREE IN MTV CONTEST

Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth dropped by MTV: Live today for a little Q & A about INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, which premieres in Canada tonight in Toronto. They also chose the winners of the Tarantino parody contest, awarding 'Tarantino's Basterds' as one of the Top Three Finalists. Experience the excitement here.

It's like they say, first the worst, second the best, third the nerd... and I'll take that.

~Sylv

TARANTINO'S BASTERDS UPDATE

Our entry in MTV's Tarantino parody contest has made it into the top ten and will now be judged by Quentin Tarantino himself!