Mandy Griffiths
The original “Black Christmas” (1974) is credited with being one of the first slasher films, but the scariest thing about its legacy is that the theme it addresses – women being persecuted for not conforming to socially acceptable (read: pacifying) forms of female behaviour – is still so relevant.
The film has scored a killer feminist update for a new generation, and ahead of its release we spoke to one of the stars of the film, Brittany O’Grady, about horror as the medicine we need to release stress, the difference working with a female writing team and director, and portraying the positive side of female friendship.
I just want to say this was such a refreshing film to watch. Is this the kind of script that doesn’t come around that often? Particularly having so many female characters involved?
Brittany: Yes it was so exciting, I think the most exciting part was having a female director [Sophia Takal], and female writers [Sophia Takal and April Wolfe] being the spearhead of it all and creating the vibe and creating that energy and literally setting the tone.
Had you worked with a female director before?
Brittany: I’ve worked with a couple of female directors on television shows and this is my first time working with a female director on a film. So that was really exciting. The process has just been really incredible and Sophia being an actress as well, she really set the tone for all of us. She really dived into her character. She was amazing and I think the process was the most exciting thing.
The bond between all of the female characters, all the friends, was so believable and wonderful to see. Is that something you guys really worked on?
Brittany: Yes we did. We did a lot exercises together with Sophia, we created our characters and walked around Dunedin [New Zealand] with Sophia and acted out their characters and acted with one another as our characters and put ourselves in scenarios and created a backstory and literally acted out the backstory with one another.
Was it an interesting set environment being quite isolated in New Zealand?
Brittany: Totally, because I don’t think any of us had been to New Zealand before.
I have to say, I’ve had the “Ho Ho Ho” song that you guys sing stuck in my head ever since I saw the film, which is a great thing.
Brittany: [Laughs] Awesome! Really catchy, all the lyrics.
Was that an interesting scene to film, for you guys?
Brittany: You know, it’s hard to perform in front of strangers and that was one of the first things we all did together. But it was so exciting and very emotional too. And just to watch Imogen [Poots] portray Riley so beautifully in that scene, was, I think, emotional for all of us.
It’s an interesting trend at the moment, using horror to more than just scare but to also provide social commentary, and I know this is a remake of an original film, so “Black Christmas” from 1974 was a real trendsetter in addressing real issues. Do you think that’s a good thing, that horror can do so much more than just scare people?
Brittany: Oh absolutely, I love that trend. I love that. I think that’s what really attracted me to horror in this age and made me excited to do a horror film. After watching “Get Out” I was like, I think I’m getting the political message and society is for it and that’s really exciting. There can be a deeper meaning.
There’s some really interesting research as well that horror is working as a sort of cathartic experience for people, that they’re finding it a bit of a stress reliever; by seeing their fears play out in a contained environment where they know that they are going to be okay, everything is okay, but they can still sort of experience the journey makes them feel so much better afterwards. So horror these days is really kind of doing two things – it can bring out some important messages and can make people feel better.
Brittany: Oh my gosh, that’s such interesting research, that’s so funny. I love that.
So really, people, they should go see this film for social justice but also for themselves as a bit of self care.
Brittany: [Laughs] Absolutely. That’s a great way of putting it. I love that.
Performing in it, did you feel a sense of catharsis as well?
Brittany: Yeah, it was really kind of refreshing to create or feel validated in just being a woman. Creating these feminine characteristics and having it not be just made fun of. It just is what it is and just the honesty, the honesty of it all, I think, was really exciting. I felt like Sophia and April and all the actors — you know, again, the creativity of it all and I love that. That was the refreshing part for me.
We don’t have sororities here is Australia but we know about it from film, and they’re rarely portrayed very positively, I would say, and people that have actually been a part of sororities or had these female friendships and strong female bonds are probably like ‘Who are these characters?’ and ‘We don’t relate to that at all’ … Do you think this film captures that sorority spirit a little bit better?
Brittany: Yes, I think in America we watch those films as well and we have these ideas of fraternities and sororities and it can have that cliquey aspect for sure. But then also, there is that sisterhood and there is that bond and when I went to college I saw a lot of my friends feel validated in their sorority and feel like they had a community. I think that’s also important and I know it creates a community and either it could be positive or negative and I love that they show the positivity of the sorority; in a more modern-day light rather than just making fun of them.
Yeah, exactly, because so much female-dominated media has been, sort of written off as lightweight. So it’s great to see it penetrate more male-dominated areas like horror. We’re not just the victims early on. And project-wise, what’s coming up next for you?
Brittany: Actually I just wrapped up an Apple series called “Little Voice” and it is with Sara Bareilles and J.J Abrams and Jesy Nelson and I’m really, really excited about that one. It is about a struggling singer/songwriter in her twenties and her experience in New York City. I’m really excited about that one and I think it should come out some time next year.
Oh, brilliant. Something to look forward to. Thank you so much for your time. It was really lovely to chat to you.
Brittany: Thank you.
“Black Christmas” is in cinemas 12 December.
