All around horror creative Mel Heflin agreed to answer our questions:
To start, please introduce yourself:
Hello, I’m Mel Heflin, I’m an actress, model, voice artist and horror junkie. I have worked on over 100 films, mostly horror. I’ve dedicated a lot of my life thus far and even more of my soul to the horror genre. I love it so, and the fans!
What is horror to you, what makes a work of art one in the horror genre?
There’s something that can be said for fear, the crawling up your spine, the anticipated beating of your heart, the cold sweat on your hands and neck. It’s empowering and enslaving all in one. To give me the feeling of fight or flight while watching a film is what I consider art.
What made you want to work in horror?
John Kassir’s Crypt Keeper, as most of us in the horror genre say “it all started when I was young” I’m a complete cliché. I couldn’t get enough of the cackling skeleton, but I think I was more completely intrigued on if there was an actor inside the suit or not.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I pull inspiration from everything, sometimes I get inspired by some things as simple as the use of gel lighting, or a costume. I’m often inspired by drag!
What would you like your legacy to be in the genre (or elsewhere)?
I so deeply want to one day find a character that inspires fan art and fanfiction. Maybe have my own action figure. I can dream.
What is Women in Horror Month to you and why is it still important this many years later?
Women in Horror is so important to me because while there are so many great horror figures, women don’t first come to mind when thinking of the genre. We think of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, or Geroge Romero, not Jamie Lee Curtis or Neve Campbell, not immediately. We’ve always been a part of the genre. It’s time to think of it less as a man’s genre and see what the community is really like, a mixed bag.
Who are some of the Women in Horror who you look up to and who do you want to bring attention to in your field or others?
There are SO many women in this field that I love, but some highlights for me are Angel Bradford, who I believe can do anything at all, Jessa Flux, who is so talented beyond her perfect boobs, and Shiva Rodriguez, who can slather me in blood anytime!
What are you currently working on that you can tell us about?
I have been shooting almost nonstop with photographers lately to remind everyone of all my looks since I was away in Japan for so long, while studying scripts for Cheerleader Elimination and The Visitor. I recently voiced a piece for Ssssstoner Snake and getting ready to voice a piece for Hellvira’s Haunted Asylum. I also have Axegrinder 7, Death Bike, Night of the Dead Sorority Babes, and Murderjuana I’m preparing for to be shot this spring! I’ll also be doing a fun self-filmed segment for Air Fryer Slaughter. This year, I’m waiting for releases on the titles Blood Bitch Baby, Blood and Breakfast, Friday the 13th fan film: Jason in Indianapolis, Terrifying T-rex 2, Crickfoot, and Darbie’s Scream House. I hope I’m not forgetting anything! I’m so lucky to be so busy. There is so much on my schedule and I’m so grateful.
Thank you for taking the time to do this, we greatly appreciate it.
Thank you so much for including me, I’m honored to be mentioned amongst all the wonderful women in the horror scene!
Photo credits:
Vampire photos by The Paranormal Paparazzi
Cheerleader Elimination promo by Jake Carver