Meet HorrorFuel owner Kelli Marchman McNeely:
To start, please introduce yourself:
Hi, I’m Kelli Marchman McNeely, owner of HorrorFuel.com, executive producer, and writer.
What is horror to you, what makes a work of art one in the horror genre?
Horror in a film or series is something that elicits a response, fear, shock, disgust. It draws an emotion, leaves you thinking, or makes you question thoughts and ideas.
For example, even though I have become a bit jaded, 30 years after I first saw The Exorcist, I can watch it now and I still have to turn away from some scenes, like the crucifix scene. The film haunts me and still makes me feel uneasy. That’s the sign of a great horror film.
What made you want to work in horror?
I’ve been a horror fan since I saw Friday the 13th when I was 9. I crave that safe fear and excitement to this day. I have always wanted to be a part of horror, to talk to people in the industry and other fans.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I find inspiration in real life, which is often more frightening than any movie. Whether it comes from a nightmare, and experience, or a fear, inspiration surrounds us.
What would you like your legacy to be in the genre (or elsewhere)?
I have spent years covering genre news, reviews, and more. I’ve done over 300 interviews with filmmakers, writers, actors, and makeup artists. I want to be a name that people can trust for news. But I also hope to make a movie of my own that will cement my place in the genre.
What is Women in Horror Month to you and why is it still important this many years later?
Women in Horror Month is so important. Women have a unique vision and have points of view that only they can share. And that needs to be celebrated. Women have had such an amazing influence on the genre, most recently with films like The Substance (Coralie Fargeat).
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?
I look up to women like Mary Shelley, she wrote Frankenstein in 1818. It is still a masterpiece to this day, what more could anyone want? In more modern times, there’s Mary Lambert who gave us King’s Pet Sematary, Fran Rubel Kuzui, producer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Nia DeCosta who brought Candyman to a new generation.
I want to bring attention to all female filmmakers, producers, writers, actresses, and more. I want to help bring their unique voices and visions to light.
What are you currently working on that you can tell us about?
I’m ALWAYS working to bring horror News to readers on HorrorFuel.com. I’m also currently working on a script of my own, a horror-thriller that I hope to make soon. It’s dark, unnerving, and peppered with real life events.
Where can readers keep up with you?
HorrorFuel.com
HorrorFuel on Facebook
HorrorFuelDotCom on Instagram
HorrorFuel on X
HorrorFuel on TikToK
Kelli R. Marchman McNeely on Facebook
