Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Amy Hesketh

Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Amy Hesketh

“The horror genre, like its spiritual cousin, rock ‘n’ roll, often suffers through long creative droughts until something ferocious and original suddenly pops up and renews your faith all over again. If you’ve been feeling a similar dry spell, the films of Amy Hesketh might be the shot of no-budget adrenaline you need. A talented director, actress, writer, and producer, Hesketh tackles subjects like the Inquisition and the story of Bluebeard, while packing in more violence, nudity and nihilism than any major film would dare. She’s also willing to risk it all for her art, including enduring weeks of being stripped, suspended and beaten while playing the lead role in Jac Avila’s Inquisition drama Maleficarum. But what’s truly surprising is that this expatriate American is doing it all in the remote mountains of Bolivia.”*

Location: La Paz, Bolivia

1. How did you get into the industry?

I was traveling in South America and responded to a casting call for a National Geographic documentary being produced by Jac Avila in Beni, Bolivia. A few weeks after shooting, I saw Jac’s film Martyr in a film festival in Oruro, Bolivia. I liked the film so much that we became business partners, and have been making films together ever since.

2. What Scream Queen inspired you most?

Barbara Steele. Her repertoire is great, and she worked with Fellini. Two others are Soledad Miranda and Lina Romay.

3. What are the next couple projects you are working on?

We just released Dead But Dreaming (Muerta Pero Soñando), the first vampire film ever made in Bolivia, to theaters here. Soon, the international DVD/VOD release of the movie will be out. It’s very intense and dark, no sparkly vampires for us! We just started pre-production for the next film in the Dead But Dreaming vampire trilogy, and, simultaneously, my fourth film as director, Olalla, based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story, about a family of vampires. Olalla will also be dark and disturbing, like most of my films…