I made my first horror film in 2011. The only thing is, I didn’t know it was a horror film until I received an invitation to screen in Tasmania at the Stranger With My Face International Film Festival (SWMFIFF), a festival that celebrates the work of women genre filmmakers.
To me, the genre of my film was a suspenseful, psychological drama. The fact that the main character was being haunted by a demon throughout the ENTIRE film, didn’t seem like it was enough to be able to call it ‘horror’. Why? Because I grew up with mainstream horror films that revelled in blood, gore and full of gratuitous violence. Ones that often denigrated women or contained and mythologised them as the ‘final girl’ and although there are some that I loved, they generally told stories that didn’t quite feel like they were meant for me.
When I travelled to Tassy to screen the film, I was inducted into an incredible community of female filmmakers revelling in dark genre and it struck me how much their films resonated. I wasn’t used to seeing the female gaze up on the big screen in this way. A portrayal of horror from the perspective of women and the deep-seeded fears we have, by nature of living in the patriarchy.
However, it quickly became apparent that these amazing horror films by women (most of which were low budget and independent), were not converting into career opportunities for the filmmakers behind them. At the same time, I was releasing my debut feature Crushed and experienced first-hand how difficult it is for female-led stories to get distribution and a wider release.
Inspired by the wealth of talent and frustrated by the lack of equality in the screen industry (80% of features are directed by men in Australia), I decided to team up with the SWMFIFF festival director Briony Kidd to curate Australia’s first all women’s horror Anthology Dark Whispers – Volume 1.
Dark Whispers – Volume 1: Trailer
We did a call-out for existing horror shorts by women and we received impressive submissions from a diverse array of women from almost every state and territory. During the curation process, it became clear that although there was a myriad of sub-genres and styles, many of the submitted films focused on character, and when you explore character you take a more psychological approach to the genre.
They also broadened the idea of what horror is and subverted the typical tropes; resulting in a fresh and unique perspective firmly embedded in the female gaze.
An example of this is Katrina Irawati Graham’s Indonesian ghost story segment White Song which features the famous Kuntil Anak spirit. Normally the Kuntil Anak is presented as an evil entity and the chief antagonist in a story, but in White Song she is the protagonist and the film explores the motivations behind this malicious spirit. Another example would be Kaitlin Tinker’s The Man Who Caught A Mermaid which gives us a peek into the psyche of a man as he is finally united with the object of his obsession.
The traditional tropes of blood and gore – which for many women comes part and parcel with everyday life (menstruation, menopause, pregnancy and childbirth) take a back seat to themes of loss, longing, regret, fear (of stalkers, abuse, strangers, losing a child or a lover) and toxic relationships.
The film’s title ‘Dark Whispers’ speaks to the private language women use to warn and reassure one another, advice and guidance passing from one generation to the next. After all horror films, just like myths and fairy tales, are often a lesson on how to prepare for life; understanding and naming darkness so that we can live with it.
Dark Whispers – Volume 1 is a feature film about a young woman who inherits her mother’s Book of Dark Whispers only to discover 10 disturbing tales within its pages. Starring Andrea Demetriades, Asher Keddie and Anthony LaPaglia, the Dark Whispers anthology is brought to you by 11 female filmmakers from across Australia.
Now available on SBS On Demand, iTunes and Google Play. Meet the creators at the International Women’s Day panel and networking drinks on Wed 10th March – tickets here.
Additional links:
Facebook: darkwhispersanthology
Instagram: @darkwhispersanthology
Twitter: @darkwhispers_au
