The Twisted Twins and Painkiller Jane: A Marvelous Match Made in Action-Horror Heaven

There were many highlights from this year's San Diego Comic-Con (in fact, you can read my horror highlights here), but there was one exclusive announcement which took prevalence, causing all action-horror pundits to squeal with delight.

During the WWE panel, Jen and Sylvia Soska (aka the Twisted Twins) announced their plans to direct an adaptation of the 90s comic, Painkiller Jane. This is, without question, a genius pairing and here's why...

The Twisted Twins are fast becoming an unstoppable force in horror. In 2009, the two debuted their directorial efforts with Dead Hooker in a Trunk - a low-budget, comical exploitation film that follows four young adults and the fight for their lives, following the discovery of well... a dead hooker left in their trunk. With violence, sleazy motels, pimps and chainsaws the film indeed became a cult hit. It wasn't until 2012 however, and the release of American Mary, that the Soska Sisters truly shot to critical acclaim.

American Mary is a female-centric, body-horror revenge film that follows the tumultuous journey of Mary Mason and her descent (or ascent, depending on which way you look at it) into the world of underground body-modification.The physical and emotional strife of a young adult woman, combined with gore and a seedy yet elegant aesthete, makes for one compelling feature film. Starring Katharine Isabelle as the titular character, the film is easily one of the best female-themed horrors to emerge from the genre for quite some time.



Indeed, this garnered the two monumental success and since then, the Soska Sisters have been very busy. In addition to directing and appearing in numerous shorts, they have also directed the upcoming See No Evil 2 - which looks like an enjoyably raucous neo-slasher, starring female leads Isabelle and Danielle Harris - and a segment for The ABCs of Death 2 - details of which, are yet to be confirmed. They have also just finished directing Vendetta - a WWE Studios film about a detective who seeks vengeance against the man who murdered his wife - and are currently filming a segment for XX - an upcoming, all-female horror anthology film.

Although relatively small, recurring trends throughout their filmography are clear. Stylistically speaking, the two are accomplished and well-versed in executing atypical horror aesthete - relishing the scuzziness, exploitation, gore and titilation. Yet there also feels a non-descript seamlessness which adds a contemporary feel. Having written the majority of their films, the Soska Sisters also manage to deliver very smart and well-thought dialogue, that occasionally diverge into the realms of black comedy.

Thematically speaking is where the two really shine however, thanks to the recurring focus on female characters. Gender politics in the horror genre is a bit of a landmine, so claiming the two as feminist filmmakers is a rather loaded statement. Yet, when stripping the twins' work down to its basics, it's undeniable. All of their films, whether likeable or not, have primary female characters. They are thoughtfully developed and have a depth or purpose, representing areas of the female psyche or experience that to-this-day remain marginalised. Sylvia explains...

"You see so many flawless female characters...they're the girlfriend or they're the nagging wife and you're like 'Who are these people?' I think the modern woman is a lot more interesting than we're seeing represented on film... I'm a chick and I know the crazy that goes through my head"



In the quest to truly represent a contemporary female perspective, their films are predominantly female-focused. That's not to say men can't enjoy their work or indeed, that all women do enjoy it, but the female-centricity is certainly refreshing, which is why their partnership with Painkiller Jane is such a marvelous match.

The comic Painkiller Jane was released in 1995 and created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada. In a five issue mini-series (with later crossovers into Punisher, Vampirella and Hellboy) it follows Jane Vasko, an ex-cop who is virtually indestructible. The origins of how this came to be vary from source to source. In one instance,whilst on duty undercover, she is caught in a bomb explosion planted by her mafia 'boss' Joey Fonti. In the other, she is tortured and drugged rather than blown up. Either way, she mysteriously awakes with regenerative powers.

Minor injuries heal in mere seconds and anything more serious takes only minutes - even from an axe embedded in to her spine to a shoutgun wound to the face. Overall Jane's healing abilities - teamed with a pair of handguns and a martial arts skill set - make her a rather badass vigilante, to take on all sorts of crime, oppression and further wrongdoing. That's not to say her injuries don't hurt however, hense the given name. 

Okay so it's more action than horror per se, but Painkiller Jane's narrative and aesthetics pair perfectly with the talents of the Soska Sisters. We have a complex, female lead for them to once again explore (with added depth as an LGBT character), and their attachment to the horror genre is ideal for delivering those gory set pieces. All in all, there is no one better to direct such a violent, female-themed film than the two ladies who have received such acclaim for recently, and brilliantly, doing so in the first place.

Sources: 

http://www.nsnews.com/entertainment/twisted-sisters-jen-and-sylvia-soska-scare-people-for-a-living-1.364387#sthash.CaS1bOPw.dpuf

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/soska-sisters-direct-painkiller-jane-720772