Girls! Girls! Girls!

So, February is Women in Horror Recognition Month! According to the website, it's February because of the 28 days in the menstrual cycle! Cool. Lots of great things happening in the horror blogging world this month and I hope my two penneth-worth will interest you. I'll be taking part in Dollar Bin Horror's Cyber Scream Queen Month feature which is underway now and you should get over there and check it out.

For me women are an essential part of the horror genre. They are many of the main characters of our favourite all time classics. Would Halloween be the same without Jamie Lee Curtis or Scream be any good without Neve Campbell? The idea of the Final Girl is wonderfully symbolic and perfectly broken down in Behind the Mask the Rise of Leslie Vernon. Vernon's victim was chosen for her virginality, to then be forced into life threatening choices and ultimately, womanhood. She then rises victorious, reborn, after emasculating our killer.

We also have been blessed with a plethora of female killers. Kathy Bates in Misery is all woman. Maybe not in your traditional sense but she is sensitive and obsessive in a way only a woman can be in films. And Cecile De France in Switchblade Romance, you can only feel for her. She's in love with her best friend. Hell, we've all been there.

It is not uncommon for people to be put off reading books by female writers but we are never put off by a female lead, certainly a female horror lead. Perhaps because these roles are normally taken up by easy-on-the-eye actresses and you won't hear me complaining. These characters can be enjoyed by men and women, straight or gay because they are strong, positive female role models and of course, they are hot, hot, hot.

So let's hear it for Women in Horror Month and long may the Lady Scares continue.

If you are doing something for Women in Horror Month let me know and I'll plug it shamelessly.