Horror Favourites – Rachel Ward Heggen and Heidi Ervin

Director Jason Berg’s frighteningly fun horror-comedy Black Holler premieres On Demand this November and to celebrate Rachel Ward Heggen and Heidi Ervin co-writers, producers and actresses took part in our Horror Favourites interview.

In 1989. street-smart Laquita Johnson is forced into a camping trip with a bunch of ridiculous white students on her first day at a new school. All the students make it to the woods, but very few of them make it out of Black Holler.

Tamiko Robinson Steele (“Smoketown”) headlines an ensemble cast including Jesse Perry, Nicholas Hadden, Sarah VanArsdal, Rachel Ward Heggen, Brian Russell, Katie Gant, Bruce Ervin, Betty Williams, Heidi Ervin, Lee McCue and Brad Edwards in a film written by Heidi Ervin, Rachel Ward Heggen and Jason Berg. Directed by Jason Berg.

Below Rachel Ward Heggen and Heidi Ervin answer the question What’s your favorite scary movie?

Heidi: Wow, so many! Well, when I think of you, I think of the Sleepaway Camp movies.

Rachel: Those movies are great, and we’re both big fans of 80s slasher movies.

H: Yes, Friday the 13th definitely influenced Black Holler. We always used to say it was Friday the 13th meets Wet Hot American Summer.

R: Yes, with a little bit of Evil Dead in there too.

H: Totally.

R: Let’s see, horror movies. It’s tough, but I think my favorite scary movie – and I think you and I agree on this… would have to be-

R & H: Scream

H: Yeah, I feel like it’s the obvious answer, but I have to be honest. I could watch it any time. It’s so entertaining.

R: Yes, and it changed the game in the 90s. H: Oh yeah, It’s also so nostalgic. Like I remember when phones looked like that… and when bangs looked like that. R: laughs*

H: Plus, when it came out, I think it was the first time I heard my peers talk about a horror movie.

R: Yeah, I remember everyone was prank calling after Scream came out. It was pretty disturbing for a 12-year-old.

H: Yeah, I didn’t see it right away because when I was a kid, just seeing movie trailers on TV would give me nightmares. Sometimes, walking past VHS and DVD covers in Blockbuster would.

R: Yeah, even to this day, my Mom doesn’t want me watching the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. I think she got tired of me having nightmares.

H: Yeah, I started watching horror movies in college. Everything with Freddy, Jason and Michael Meyers. All the classics and the late 90s/early 2000s flicks as well, but my favorite, to this day, is Scream. It’s just so clever and fun! Terrific screenplay. Best opening sequence of a horror movie ever. Can anyone even argue with that?

R: It’s a must-watch every year for me!

H: Same. Plus, you used to work in the news, so what do you think about the Gail Weathers character?

R: I think it’s funny they still call the photographer a “cameraman”. But I love the Gail Weathers character!

H: What about the sequels? How would you rank them?

R: Scream 1, of course, is the best one! I would say my next favorite is Scream 4, then the 2nd and the 3rd would have to be last for me.

H: I think I’d have to agree with you there. I saw Scream 4 in theaters and had a great time! Are you excited to see the new one? I just watched the trailer.

R: I am SO looking forward to the 5th one! A lot of the original cast will be in it. Neve Campbell looks amazing! I need her skincare routine.

H: Yes, she’s gorgeous! So, overall, Scream, even if it’s the first horror movie you ever watch and you don’t get any of the horror references, you can still really enjoy it. Plus, it might even be the gateway to you exploring other horror movies.

R: Yes, agreed. Thank you, Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven, for bringing us this masterpiece. And remember, “Don’t blame the movies. Movies don’t create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative.”

H: Absolutely, worked for us.

Black Holler out now on Digital from Wild Eye Releasing.