Anna Daniels
While there are seemingly as many talented directors with an affinity for creating horror films as there are stars in the sky, and any number of them could have been selected to helm a new Dracula movie, Karyn Kusama is undoubtedly a solid pick for the job.
Kusama is well-versed in the horror genre, best known for directing the cult classic Jennifer’s Body starring Megan Fox as the titular character, a high school cheerleader who becomes possessed after members of a rock band sacrifice her to Satan in exchange for their own wealth and popularity. In the years since the 2009 release of Jennifer’s Body, the film has undergone a metamorphosis: it’s no longer viewed as the not-scary-or-funny-enough feature that critics and audiences deemed it upon its debut, and is now seen as an underappreciated horror classic, a preeminent example of feminist horror, and a film to be seriously respected.
The director is more than Jennifer’s Body, though. In 2015, Kusama helmed the horror-thriller The Invitation, about a man who accepts from his ex-wife an invitation to a dinner party that quickly turns grim. The film was well-received across the board, and even picked up awards wins and nominations at several film festivals. (It’s extra heartening to hear that Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, who wrote The Invitation, are attached to the Dracula reboot.) Two years later, Kusama contributed her talents to XX, a horror anthology comprised of short films all directed by women.
Written by: Looper
