Janelle Monáe Explains Partnering With AMC to Host FearFest, Being a ‘Halloqueen’ and Her Favorite Horror Films: ‘It’s Where I Find My Comfort’

As a child, the chilling melodies of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” sent shivers down my spine and made me fear the dark corners of my room. The first true horror movie that truly scared me was undeniably this iconic film. I remember staying up all night with my cousin Miron, our eyes glued to the screen, hearts pounding as Freddie Kruger’s menacing laughter echoed through the house.

Janelle Monáe openly confesses to being deeply fond of the spooky season. “I’ve had a profound fascination with horror, the enigmatic, mysteries, and psychological thrillers since I was young,” she says to EbMaster. “My mom claims that after Halloween, I was still in my Halloween costumes, and during middle school, I slept with my ‘Child’s Play’ Chucky mask on for at least three nights until someone took it. I believe they took it because they grew weary of me wearing it around.

Currently, the versatile artist, actress, and business magnate is particularly enthusiastic about commemorating horror in a deeper fashion. Just recently, she collaborated with AMC and AMC+, taking on the role of the official host for their annual “FearFest.” This event spans over 700 hours of horror movies, series, and related content. For the duration of this month-long celebration, Monáe will be known as the “Halloqueen,” a term she coined herself, making appearances across the programming lineup to share intriguing tidbits about horror and presenting a block of her preferred horror films such as “Carrie,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” and “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Apart from her terrifying enthusiasm, Monáe’s creativity never stops. Every year, her extravagant costumes are as intricate and imaginative as Heidi Klum’s, if not more so. In previous years, she has donned the costume of Diva Plavalaguna from “The Fifth Element” and a headless bride, and this year, she hints playfully that her outfit will be based on a movie character. She is also organizing a haunted house experience called Monáe Manor at Los Angeles’ Haunted Hayride, and is preparing to create and star in a film inspired by Medusa titled “Don’t Look” through Universal and Wondaland Pictures.

Currently, Monáe seems to be embracing the eerie atmosphere that this particular month allows, a time when sporting a Chucky mask before sleep could possibly be considered fashionable.

What do you love about horror or even the macabre?

I have a deep affection for narrative artistry. In many ways, I’m both an actor and an artist. My stories come to life in various forms, such as music and cinema. For some, the horror genre might be intimidating, but it’s a place where I feel at ease. Whether I’m watching or creating horror films, this genre provides me with comfort. I run a TV and film production company, and I also offer a haunted house experience. So, in essence, it seems as though my makeup was designed this way.

What made you want to be the host of FearFest for the month?

Indeed, they extended an invitation for me to serve as the host for the Halloqueen event on AMC, which is quite an honor. Refusing such a prestigious offer would be downright foolish. Moreover, FearFest carries a legendary reputation and is widely recognized as iconic, making it an exciting opportunity.

Why does this selection, ranging from “Carrie” to “Candyman”, resonate so deeply with your passion for horror? What aspects of this collection make horror such an appealing genre for you?

Reflecting on these moments, they evoke such heartwarming nostalgia – memories of my cousins and I gathered at our grandmother’s or aunt’s house, immersed in the movies I had chosen. Laughter filled the air as my nose bled (a minor inconvenience), and yet I was brimming with joy. It seems this time of year always triggers recollections of youth and cherished moments spent with loved ones. A shared experience of fear, excitement, and chills that we enjoyed together.

What movie made your nose bleed?

“I recall watching ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ alongside my cousin Miron. When the tune “1, 2, Freddie’s coming for you, 3, 4…” played, he became petrified and I think my nose started bleeding. Given my history of frequent nosebleeds as a child, it could have just been a coincidence. However, I choose to believe that the character Freddy Krueger caused my nosebleed. That’s the tale I prefer.

What was the first true horror movie that scared you?

“A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Because it’s literally about Freddie Kruger coming to haunt you in your dreams. So all the kids knew not to go to sleep. And so we would just stay up, we would be scared. We knew it was a movie, but when you’re a kid, you’re like, oh my god. Freddie is really going to come in our dreams, we have to stay up. So you’re eating junk food all night and are completely wired up on soda and you’re like, I can’t go to sleep. That was the first one. And then I think when I saw Stephen King’s “It,” I would see the book when I would go to the grocery store with my mom. I saw the cover and was like, whoa this is scary. But the movie? Oh my god. I was scared to walk down my neighborhood and look at my sewer drains, because I just knew Pennywise’s face, eyes, nose, fingers, the balloon — everything was going to be waiting for me and my cousins.

How is it that each year, you go all out with your costumes? What excites you most when it comes to dressing up for Halloween annually?

Anticipating the excitement, I’ve been planning my Halloween costume two years ahead. The costume I’ll be wearing this year, I decided upon way back then. Unfortunately, I couldn’t wear it last year due to our strike with SAG, as it represents a movie character. I stood united with my fellow SAG-AFTRA members, and they requested us not to portray any film characters during the strike. Thus, I held onto it until this year, and I’m thrilled about collaborating with my prosthetics and special effects team again. For six to eight hours, we’ll be immersed in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie scores by Bernard Hermann, watching our favorite horror films on TV, and getting ready for the experience.

Given your experience in horror movies, such as “Antebellum,” could it be that this movie is moving towards being considered a cult favorite?

To begin with, the movie I worked on was exceptionally challenging. We were based in New Orleans and often started shooting at ungodly hours, like 4 or 5 am. This eerie plantation we filmed on might strike a chord with some as a potential cult classic. For others, it may not resonate. That’s the beauty of art and cinema – it elicits varying responses. Some viewers find it hard to watch because they feel it mirrors reality too closely; for them, it’s a horror story since such events could actually occur in real life. A friend of mine even confessed that he would never view an Uber the same way due to this film.

Are you still spending a lot of time on your musical projects, and “The Age of Pleasure” was released last year. Can fans look forward to any new music from you soon?

Yes. There is music that haunts me in my nightmares. This is a great high, creative season for me, because I have so many ideas and have so many sounds that I have nightmares about. The most beautiful nightmares about. So I’m excited to share when it’s time to share.

2024-10-17 20:47

Janelle Monáe Explains Partnering With AMC to Host FearFest, Being a ‘Halloqueen’ and Her Favorite Horror Films: ‘It’s Where I Find My Comfort’

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