[WiHM] Interview with Podcaster, Horror Critic, and Founder & EIC of Slay Away, E.L. King
Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your role in the horror community?
I’m a horror critic, podcaster and journalist. Founder and EIC of the independent horror media outlet SlayAwayWIthUs.com and host of the Slay Away horror podcast. I love all things horror, macabre and spooky.
What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?
The first experience I had with horror was in film. I often spent long periods of time in the summer as a child keeping my grandmother company. One afternoon, we watched Stephen King’s Silver Bullet (1985) together and from that point on, I was drawn to creature features. Granted, I was five to seven-years-old when I first viewed a horror film, but after that I was introduced to Slashers like Friday the 13th, Halloween, Child’s Play and films like Poltergeist. I’d experienced trauma at a young age and found that horror films were a natural coping mechanism to process what I’d been through, before I really even knew what the trauma was. I dove head first into all things horror after that experience.
What does the horror community mean to you?
The horror community is my refuge. I have a deep passion for horror and the community offers me both connection, inspiration and continuous learning with regards to the genre. I’m currently taking horror studies lectures through the Miskatonic Institute and collaborating with other creators and podcasters as frequently as I can. I love discussing not only film, but other media within the horror and even science-fiction genres. I have a severe social phobia and anxiety, so the horror community also offers me as a neurodivergent individual a means of social connection and common ground I wouldn’t otherwise have. I’m grateful for that.
Who are your favorite women in horror?
I’m a big fan of the ALTER horror short SLUT and have really enjoyed Chloe Akuno’s directorial work in the genre. I’m constantly in awe of fellow horror podcasters and horror studies academics like Kat and Jazz of Girl That’s Scary, Lucy Pew of Ghoulfriends and Annie Rose Malamet of Girls, Guts and Giallo. I’m into pretty much anything Kier-La Janisse has her hands in. I also adore film critic and author of “1000 Women in Horror” Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and my friend and specifical effects artist who I met through podcasting, Kyasia Fields, creator of KyFx Horror Group. You’ll find me watching horror films or reading anthologies and academic horror studies more than digging into novels. I simply can’t find the time to sink my teeth into massive manuscripts.
If you could invite one woman from horror to dinner who would you invite and why?
Is it too weird to want to have dinner with Countess Elizabeth Bathory? I’m not sure I’d want her to come to dinner, but I have a macabre fascination with her, history, serial killers, true crime and horror. She’s a rather interesting character with many fictional representations of her life and crimes. Alternatively, Mary Shelley or Sigourney Weaver.
Women in horror have been making progress, but it’s clear that a lot of work is still needed to ensure that representation is correct and widespread. What is the importance of Women in Horror Month?
It’s a great time to put woman and non-binary femme presenting individuals like myself at the forefront of conversations about horror and not just film, but all horror media. Women should have a bigger seat at the table all year round and not just as the leading characters in horror stories, but as the people telling those stories.
In honor of celebrating Women in Horror, who do you believe readers should keep an eye on in terms of women in horror (creatives, content creators, podcasts, movies, television shows)?
Women and non-binary creators to watch in the horror space include Janine Pipe, VideoCoven (Kay), GoryCory, Nicole M. Wolverton, Dani Bethea, XeroGravity, Mimi Cave, Real Queen of Horror (Zena), Meagan Navarro, S.C. Parris, Ten Backe, Jessica Scott, Molly Henery, Prano Bailey-Bond—there are honestly too many people I admire and am inspired by to mention here.
What do you have coming in 2022 that you can talk to us about?
A new season of Slay Away is coming in May, more bonus episodes including panel discussions about topics within horror cinema and Slayer Roundtables where we tackle new big horror releases and talk about our first impressions. I’m working on a new podcast called The Podcast October Built, intent on uncovering all things horror. It’s a narrative and academic podcast experience exploring folk horror, myths, hauntings and urban legends. I also have a new macabre decor shop in the works featuring handcrafted bone art and other curiosities and oddities in addition to returning to creating content for YouTube and Twitch as time allows. I tend to keep really busy with my horror leaning passions when not locked away at my thankless day job.
