WOMEN IN HORROR: A Month-Long Look into the Ladies Crafting the Worlds of Fear! Day 24 – Susan Catinski!

WOMEN IN HORROR: A Month-Long Look into the Ladies Crafting the Worlds of Fear! Day 24 – Susan Catinski!

1. What first drew you into the world of horror?

Halloween as a kid. My best friend Jen Morgan had a Halloween party and we had a “snipe hunt”. As I remember it, they paired us up (1 boy, 1 girl) and planted us in a few spots along her very spooky private drive. And then we just sat around, in the pitch black, waiting for some little creature to run by us. It tapped right into the fear of the basement or monster under the bed. In retrospect, it might be a little weird that we were basically paired up for primo makeout opportunity by a bunch of adults. But I think that was the beginning of liking that fear. By the time high school rolled around and a video store opened up in my little town my neighbor and I walked there every day sometimes a couple of times a day for a whole summer getting every horror movie we could get our hands on. From Texas Chainsaw Massacre to Faces of Death.

(And no, I didn’t make out with Jonathon) 

2. What film/book/show was the biggest influence on you?

Evil Dead. Horror plus humor and a strong chin…what more could a girl want? Honestly, though, I had watched all this super scary stuff and this was the first time I really fell for the characters and the campiness of it all. And frankly, that’s more my wheelhouse now. Scary is fine but not if it’s not laced with some humor and a possibility of a happy ending. 

3. What actor/director/writer do you consider your biggest influence?

Tim Burton, Sam Rami are probably the two who most spoke my language. I also really identify performance-wise with Shirley Manson of Garbage. I got to see her perform live for the first time a couple of summers ago and thought “Holy shit, I stole her entire schtick!” I had no idea I had. But I was super inspired by watching her slay the stage.

4. Who would you consider to be your horror twin?

Elvira Mistress of the Dark. I mean, do I really have to explain that? She’s a curator and a fan of what she likes. She takes no shit. And there is that awesome dichotomy of being both intimidated by her and also wanting to hang out with her drinking wine on a couch. And also Shirley Manson – see above.

5. What do you think you would you be doing if you weren’t involved with the horror community?

I do a lot that has nothing to do with the horror community, so guess I would be doing all that same stuff. However, I know many of the people I know because of The Deadites and throwing Halloween parties a hundred years ago so who knows? If I didn’t have the support I did in my 20s I might not have done any of the amazing stuff I’ve done. 

6. Plug some of your past, present, and upcoming projects.

I’ve been performing as a singer for almost 20 years. My main project has morphed over the years. I’ve been a dancer, then a singer, than co-front person in The Deadites. Now we perform only a couple of times a year but I sing primarily with Niki Luparelli and the Gold Diggers as a backing vocalist. In the immediate future and not all horror-related: I’ll be performing at the Haunted Speakeasies Halloween parties being held at the Secret Atrium in Worcester on October 18, 19, and 25, 26. It’s in an old jail! It’s a spooky haunted Prohibition Party! Tickets available here: https://hauntedspeakeasy2019.eventbrite.com/?fbclid=IwAR2H5AtfxNpU1HGZZFwGpgRY81MEf6h3f50iRiMyPVNENu1r2n2WCdGFjTQ 

On November 7thwe’ve also got Laser Stevie at the Museum of Science! We are performing IN the Planetarium and singing you all your Fleetwood Mac favorites. https://www.mos.org/public-events/edge-of-seventeen?fbclid=IwAR1I2yBQkt5MEl16DoXqnQClEwwMR7mhUR_2a5RT4oiWloyh4Bp5EGPlIw0

On November 23 we will be having a preview show of our Black Friday and Cyber Saturday (November 29 and 30) shows of our 8th! Annual David Boobie! Burlesque, aerialists, and a costume contest on the 30th supported by the premier female-fronted David Bowie tribute band Niki “Starbust” Luparelli and the Total Blam Blam David Boobie Band! 

And not to spill the beans…The Deadites will be back on Ralph’s stage in Worcester to celebrate the holidays in true Deadites style on December 28th. Come see the most monstrous masquerade and dance your faces off! Details coming soon!

7. Where do you like folks to follow you on social media?

Folx can follow the Deadites musically on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thedeadites/, or join us at The Deadites Secret Twilight Society to talk music, movies, RPG‘s, gear, toys, video games, comics, collecting (VHS, vinyl, cursed antiquities, art and whatever else), Monster Hunting, cryptozoology, cosplay, All Things Horror And The Worlds Spookiest Synth Pop https://www.facebook.com/groups/479839626093303/ 

Folx can follow Niki Luparelli and the Golddiggers at https://www.facebook.com/NikiLuparelliAndTheGoldDiggers/

8. Where can folks find your work?

Come to any of the above gigs! Or check out the Deadites at

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/user/1254235279/playlist/39JsGvE8YDsKk70CK4keYF?si=tplW1mn3QbKDTmpT-ipksg

Bandcamp
https://thedeadites.bandcamp.com

9. Which horror icon would you most/least like to go up against?

Ash of the Evil Dead…I wanna tell him to “Gimme some sugar, baby”

10. Any advice for young ladies aspiring to become involved in the horror community?

My best advice is: Don’t be intimidated, don’t be afraid to say yes, and definitely don’t be afraid to say NO. If I had allowed myself to be intimidated by the Deadites and not said “yes” when they asked me if I could sing, I wouldn’t be here. Know your worth and value; say “no” if it doesn’t feel right, if you are overextending yourself, or if you just don’t want to.

11. Who is on your Horror Mt. Rushmore?  This can be actors, writers, directors, characters.

My horror Mt Rushmore is Mz. Matrix, Tiny Wight and Dynamo and maybe a Zombie where Lincoln is.