Scarah Finds Her Magick Roots in DAMSEL OF THE DOOMED [New Blood Drops]
Blood Babes, you know who I really appreciate amongst the denizens of the horrorsphere? Aside from each and every one of you, of course. And the Lost Skeleton.
These charismatic devils are educators of the horror scene, teaching both those just sinking their teeth into genre and seasoned Gorehounds alike about films, books, music — anything dripping with blood splatter. From celebrated archfiends like Vampira, Svengoolie, and Mr. Lobo, to smaller but no less important demons such as Midnite Mausoleum, Creature Features, and Dr. Destruction.
Indeed, it seems every state has at least one homegrown horror host, and that includes my homeland of Tejas. In this case, it’s one from center-state, home of Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, and many other towns pumping artistic culture within their social-veins. The host in question? Scarah, Damsel of the Doomed!
Scarah (portrayed by Sarah Webb) has joined the exclusive club of “horror-hosts-with-their-own-movies” with the recent release of her flick Damsel of the Doomed, serving a piled-high platter of delicious backstory and sweet lore to cater to our everlasting hunger for tales of horror.
Damsel of the Doomed
“A horror host searching for fame reluctantly comes face-to-face with her magical past, and ends up manifesting murder.”
Damsel of the Doomed is a joint effort, written by Scarah and directed by Corey J. Trahan of Bat City Scaregrounds fame. This is Trahan’s second time directing a feature-length film and Scarah’s first full-feature screenplay.
While watching the film, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a bit more grounded in reality than previously assumed. Upon speaking to the duo, it turned out I was on the right track.
Scarah: “The inspiration for this film came from my love of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Rosemary’s Baby (believe it or not), and my own experiences as a horror host in Austin. It absolutely is based on several real-life experiences. The movie is, in fact, a case of art imitating life. The ‘drunk girl’ character is based on an amalgamation of two different interactions I had with two different women.
James’ character is based on two different men I have dealt with. Leonard was written for my friend Lynn, who is an artist and caretaker out at Bat City Scaregrounds. The encounter with the creep in the parking lot is based on an experience I had. Of course, hyperbole was employed, but there are several moments in the film based on actual experiences.”
Trahan: “The concept of the film is really art imitating life. Scarah has been an actual horror host in Austin, TX for years now, and we have worked with each other on numerous projects since the start of our film production company, HorrorWeb. Damsel of the Doomed was written by Scarah, and although the film is fiction, parts of it were inspired by true events that really happened to her…
The film has its origins as a short film I wrote and directed in 2021 called The Witch’s Bargain. That film was our first HorrorWeb production, and went on to win 50 international awards in film festivals! The Witch’s Bargain was the first to explore the background of Scarah. The success of that short spurred on future Scarah films… Damsel of the Doomed lives in the same Scarah universe as our previous HorrorWeb films, and is the first feature-length production where he character is the focal point of the narrative.”
Of course, on top of that bit of reality, there’s a healthy helping of the more, shall we say, “fantastical” aspects of occult life.
Scarah: “This film is about a horror hostess who has the opportunity, through magick, to manifest everything she wants to further her career. The viewer gets to see her fulfill her heart’s desire as her career grows, and then see her come face-to-face with her magical past… This movie is definitely not a slasher and it is not chock full of kills, but it does entertain, and it does take the viewer along with Scarah through all of these cool horror events and experiences. We love practical FX around here, so when it is time for the kills, they are done the good old-fashioned way.”
Trahan: “I hope that as audiences watch the film, they are filled with a nostalgic love for horror hosts, and are reminded of the energy and fun these hosts bring to them. This is in addition to the lesson that there are no shortcuts to greatness, and this path to greatness should not define you or what’s important in your life.”
The film’s biggest takeaway is the absolute love it shows for Austin’s horror culture, with many scenes meant to showcase the local haunts, events, and creators—The Glass Coffin, Zombie Peepshow, Nosferatu Festival, just to name a few.
A lot of adoration is expressed for the community. From what I’m told, this was exactly the idea.
Scarah: “I am glad you picked up on that! Add Curia Araanum, Kick Butt Coffee, Doc’s Drive-In Theatre, and Cult Classic Convention to that list as well! In many ways, this movie is a love letter to the horror and goth communities of Central Texas. HorrorWeb has been partnering with many of the people/events you see in the film since 2018. We have always tried to showcase the horror community through interviews and events. When I wrote this movie, it felt natural to include all of the amazing artists and business owners into the story as they are all part of my real-life story as a horror host.”
Trahan: “Absolutely. The HorrorWeb owners — which include not only myself and Scarah, but also the film’s cinematographer Donavon Cavanaugh, production sound mixer John Beck, camera operator Zac Stojek, and assistant director/production manager Kayla Stojek (Zombie Peepshow) have been interviewing members of the Central Texas horror demographic since 2018. Our goal from the beginning has been to celebrate and help promote this community. Our ongoing support of these companies through the years positioned the film to have access to incredible locations. The film is definitely a love letter to our scene in Austin. It is a snapshot in time of an incredibly artistic and hard-working community of amazing people doing unique and impactful things.”
Added to the mix is a healthy helping of practical FX and, while not the most spectacular displays out there, they’re still plenty impressive for the budget.
Trahan: “Thanks! Hamil Bros Studios (Lubbock, TX) and Chisholm (McEacharn) were responsible for the digital effects of the film… The deaths in the film — including gore, special FX, etc. — were all practical and led by Stormie Steen and Gwenyth Williamson, two makeup/FX artists who are part of my Bat City Scaregrounds makeup team. These two women, along with a host of others who helped on practical effects, are all from the Austin area. I am proud to say that a majority of the film was Austin-based talent, particularly given the motivation behind its making.”
Damsel of the Doomed is planned to be released later this year after its festival run.
Scarah: “The film is currently making its rounds in film festivals, and we will be promoting it at horror conventions (Cult Classic Convention, Texas Frightmare Weekend, Houston Horror Film Festival, and Big Texas Terror). Our hope is to have the film distributed to streaming platforms this Fall (2025).”
Trahan: “The film is currently in its festival run now, and I’m thrilled to say it’s been doing excellent! We’ve already won a number of awards, and the film has been nominated for nine awards in the Austin Revolution Film Festival… Just being nominated is quite an achievement. My goal is to have the film streamable on the major apps by October 1st.”
Given the fantastic direction and talent, I’m not surprised the film is winning awards left and right. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I am.
As for what’s next on Scarah’s docket…
Scarah: “As for another feature… I have a few ideas in mind. We’ll just have to wait and see what I manifest. [winks]”
Categorized:Interviews News
