Horror Crush: Linda Cardellini

Thanks to a recent and hotly talked about streaming series, we have a new Horror Crush inductee. One whose connection to the genre started earlier than you may have realized: the gorgeous Linda Cardellini!

Linda Cardellini was born on June 25, 1975, in Redwood City, California. The youngest of four children, she is the daughter of Wayne David Cardellini, a businessman, and Lorraine Hernan, a homemaker. Her ancestry includes Italian, Irish, German, and Scottish roots, and she grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Her first public performance came at the age of ten, when she sang in a school play. She continued participating in school productions and taking drama classes, setting the stage for a career in acting. After graduating from Saint Francis High School in Mountain View in 1993, Cardellini moved to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in film and television.

In 1994, she appeared as a contestant on The Price Is Right and won a fireplace. She subsequently earned a degree in theatre arts from Loyola Marymount University's College of Communication and Fine Arts in 1997. In 2007, the university recognized her as a Distinguished Alumna.

In 1998, Cardellini appeared in her first horror movie, Strangeland. Written by and starring heavy metal rocker and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, the film features Snider as its antagonist, the psychotic Captain Howdy. Howdy uses the internet to lure and kidnap teenagers, holding and torturing them in his basement.

The villain's name actually comes from the Twisted Sister song "Horror-Teria (The Beginning) – A) Captain Howdy B) Street Justice," from the band's megahit album Stay Hungry. The song tells the story of an evil child killer who escapes the justice system, only to be immolated by an angry mob.

Directed by John Pieplow, Strangeland is very much a product of its time, reflecting 1990s anxieties surrounding the still-burgeoning internet, chat rooms, and the subculture of piercings and tattoos. Steeped in an alternative-metal aesthetic and featuring an awesome soundtrack, the film taps into the paranoia many parents felt about the dangers lurking online. As a result, some of its specific fears feel dated today, even if online predators remain a legitimate concern and continue to exploit people in different ways.

However, Strangeland also has a nasty edge. Its graphic violence, bodily violation, and torture predate the torture-porn cycle of the 2000s by several years. Snider delivers a solid performance as Captain Howdy, convincingly portraying a cruel and deeply disturbed individual.

As a metalhead and horror fan, I've always been quite fond of this flick and have long been a supporter of it. It's a shame that Strangeland has become overlooked and forgotten by some horror fans over the years. I was also immediately smitten with Cardellini as Genevieve Gage, the young woman who becomes one of Howdy's victims. She even gets a particularly nasty scene in which her lips are sewn shut, an image that was also used in the movie's poster art (above left). And that's how I became a fan of hers!

Arguably Cardellini's most famous role was as Velma in the two Scooby-Doo movies released in 2002 and 2004. I was well past the intended age group for these films, and while I wouldn't exactly classify them as horror, I can see how they could serve as a gateway into the genre for younger audiences. One thing we can all agree on, though: she single-handedly made Velma hot!

But, her genre connections extend well beyond live action movies. She has much voice work including the horror inspired video game Lollipop Chainsaw (2012) and the animated series Creature Commandos (2021). |

In 2019, Cardellini finally returned to live-action horror with The Curse of La Llorona. Produced by James Wan, the film has the dubious distinction of being shoehorned into The Conjuring universe, despite feeling more like a forgotten, unofficial side entry than an integral part of the franchise. Cardellini plays Anna Tate-Garcia, a recently widowed caseworker who investigates the apparent neglect of the two children of her client, Patricia Alvarez (played by the lovely Patricia Velásquez of the first two The Mummy movies).

The movie was a huge box-office hit, but it was panned by many critics. It's easy to see why. Despite the presence of Cardellini and Velásquez, there's little to recommend here. They and the rest of the cast deliver good performances, and there are a few well-executed moments. But, the film is otherwise thoroughly forgettable and generic. The aforementioned shoehorning into The Conjuring universe and a groan-inducing ending do it no favors.

Cardellini has appeared in her fair share of television series, including a 2003 episode of The Twilight Zone titled "The Path," in which she played Ali Warner. However, it's her role in the 2026 series Camp Crystal Lake that's cementing her status in the horror genre.

Conceived as a prequel to the original Friday the 13t and, by extension, its sequels, the series retcons the drowning of Jason Voorhees, placing the event in the early 1970s. The story focuses on his mother, Pamela Voorhees (Cardellini), and her life following the loss of her beloved son. Developed by Brad Caleb Kane and streaming on Peacock, the series greatly expands Pamela's character and explores the origins of Jason.

The show has been garnering strong reviews, including from mainstream critics, who haven't always been as forgiving of this franchise as genre fans. While some fans have complained that the series explains "too much," the majority have been singing its praises. It's also been pulling in impressive viewership numbers for Peacock, making it a major hit for the streaming service.

And to those fans bitching and moaning, remember that this is a franchise with a long, convoluted history and a timeline that's never been particularly consistent. We're talking about a series that brought Jason back to life like Frankenstein's monster, had him fight a psychic girl, killed him via toxic waste (which apparently runs through the sewers of NYC! Who knew?), and eventually had someone chow down on his heart so he could start possessing people Hidden-style via a worm demon. Oh, and he went into outer fucking space!

Personally, I think the explanations of Jason and his mother's past work really well with the mythology and are a welcome addition. The series is strongly written and acted, with plenty of Easter eggs for fans and some really cool twists. The final two episodes rank among the finest in recent horror television. Hopefully, we'll get a second season.

Cardellini is excellent as Mama Voorhees. She manages to be both sympathetic and menacing, making us care about her and feel for her. As a result, we find ourselves on her side for at least a portion of the series, if not most of it. She brings complexity and a grounded quality to the proceedings.

And on top of all that, who would've thought we'd be having the hots for Jason's mama?

While Cardellini has had her share of genre work since early in her career, it's her role as Pamela Voorhees that will undoubtedly cement her place in horror history. And, in turn, it's made me happy to finally have the chance to add her to Horror Crushes!

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Horror Crush: Tamara Glynn

It's Spooky Season, so it's the perfect time to add another actress from the Halloween franchise to Horror Crushes. This time around, it's the beautiful Tamara Glynn!

Tamara Glynn was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on December 6, 1968. She began pursuing acting as a teenager after being discovered by a talent agency. Her screen debut came in 1987 with an appearance on the television series Rags to Riches. Two years later, she entered the horror genre as Laura in the Freddy's Nightmares episode "Love Stinks," adding a Freddy Krueger-related production to her growing list of genre credits.

While I undoubtedly saw her episode of Freddy's Nightmares, the role that introduced Tamara Glynn to me was Samantha Thomas in Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989). Having grown up watching the franchise, I was dying to see what happened after the previous film's cliffhanger. At just 13, I needed someone to take me, and my late Aunt Berta kindly obliged, despite not being a horror fan herself. It became the first R-rated movie I saw in a theater, giving this admittedly messy sequel a special place in my heart.

Despite its annoying characters, questionable humor, and terrible jump scares, the movie has its strengths, including some wonderfully mean-spirited moments, bloody kills, and terrific performances from Danielle Harris and Donald Pleasence. But for me, Glynn was one of its most likable new additions. Samantha even gets a sexy love scene before Michael Myers cuts her life short with a spectacularly gruesome scythe kill. I immediately developed a huge childhood crush on Glynn, and she's remained one of my favorite ladies in the franchise ever since.

Glynn continued acting until 1991, with one return in 2001, all in non-horror roles. She eventually stepped away from acting to focus on her family, but would find herself returning to the genre in an unexpected way. As with other genre actors, social media played a big role in that comeback. On Facebook, she connected with horror writer and historian Justin Beahm, who encouraged her to join a Halloween fan page and share an update with fans. She didn't think fans would still care so much about her character, Samantha Thomas, but she was pleasantly surprised by their enthusiastic response.

That reconnection opened an unexpected new door in her career within the genre. This included appearing at conventions, taking roles in independent horror films, and supporting emerging filmmakers. In fact, in 2013, she co-founded the Hot Springs Horror Film Festival in Arkansas with Bill Volland, helping independent filmmakers learn, network, and promote their work.

In the years since her return, Glynn has built up an impressive résumé of indie and low-budget horror movies. These include titles like The Dark Offerings (2021), 10/31: Part 3 (2022), and Ouija: A New Beginning (2025), among others. Her filmography spans multiple subgenres, from supernatural horror and anthologies to more extreme fare.

Falling on the more extreme end of the slasher spectrum is the one film I know from her post-Halloween 5 horror career: Terrifier 2. The second blood-soaked entry in the ultra-gory series created by writer, director, and makeup FX artist Damien Leone, featuring his signature creation, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton), is a personal favorite of mine. Glynn has a fun little cameo as the Costume Shop Mom.

Glynn's role in Halloween 5 made her a fan favorite, and that alone would have been enough to earn her a place in horror history. But, then you add her modern contributions to the genre, including an extensive résumé of roles in independent horror films. The result is a unique story and career within the genre, making me very proud to have her included in Horror Crushes!

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Horror Crush: Inde Navarrette

In the early days of this website, I tried to give you guys even more horror write-ups than usual during "Spooky Season". As time went on, though, I didn't quite keep up with that tradition. Since I've been back to writing here, I've felt so reinvigorated that bringing it back just felt natural.

So let's do just that—while adding THE it girl of the moment to Horror Crushes: Inde Navarrette!|

Born Danielle Fabiola Navarrette on March 3, 2001, in Tucson, Arizona, Inde is the daughter of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of Mexican descent and an Australian hairstylist. Because of her father's military service, the family relocated frequently. In fact, by the time she was fifteen, Inde had attended a whopping eleven different schools.

After her parents separated, she primarily lived in Visalia, California, where she attended Mt. Whitney High School. She later moved to Los Angeles, attending Redondo Union High School.

So where did the name "Inde" come from? Her mother gave her the nickname because of her independent nature, and it eventually became the name she went by professionally. Inde also credits her family with helping spark her interest in acting. She got her love of horror from her father's side of the family, who introduced her to horror movies as a kid, while her mother's side gave her an appreciation for the other side of cinema—watching the Academy Awards together.

Considering where her career is heading, I'd say both sides of the family had a pretty good influence on her.

Navarrette's first role came in 2019 with the Snapchat original sitcom Denton's Death Date. However, I first became aware of her thanks to her role as Sarah Cortez in Superman & Lois. Her combination of beauty and natural acting chops on the superhero drama made me an instant fan. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I heard she would be starring in this year's massive horror hit Obsession.

As such, this induction isn't just because everybody has suddenly discovered how gorgeous Inde Navarrette is. It's because she delivered one of the standout horror performances of 2026 in Obsession.

Obsession is a 2025 supernatural horror movie written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. It tells the tale of Bear (Michael Johnston), who has a crush on his beautiful friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette). But instead of, you know, doing the right thing and simply telling her how he feels, he makes a wish using a store-bought magical item called a Wish Willow. It doesn't take long for him to learn a lesson we've been taught ever since The Monkey's Paw: Be careful what you wish for! Nikki's newfound "love" for him quickly escalates into a dangerous obsession.

First premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025, the movie was subsequently picked up for distribution by Focus Features. It received a wide release on May 15, 2026, and became a massive critical and box-office hit. And, it's easy to see why! It explores complex themes of obsession and control, delivering its horror in a smart and merciless fashion. Creepily shot, with an ending that delivers one final gut punch, it's without a shadow of a doubt my favorite movie of the year so far.

The film is propelled by great performances from the entire cast, but most especially Navarrette. She delivers a breakout performance that's both deep and complex, helping to make this lovely beauty absolutely terrifying. Thanks to this performance, she very quickly became the "it" girl of the moment.

Since the movie's release, I don't think a day has gone by without seeing a meme or post praising her acting, celebrating her beauty, talking about how cool she is (she's a gamer and a fan of bands like Paramore and Nickelback), speculating about her role as Rogue in the upcoming X-Men movie—the first installment in the MCU—or some combination of the above.

I mean, we have an absolute megastar on the rise, which is always exciting to catch here on Horror Crushes. The difference? Her trajectory might be the biggest one we've caught right at its inception.

Inde Navarrette's performance in a movie that's shaping up to be regarded as a modern horror favorite, if not a classic in its own right, made writing this post an easy decision. Add in her current trajectory in Hollywood, and I feel overjoyed to welcome her to the ranks of Horror Crushes!

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Horror Crush: Sienna Guillory

In the second part of the first ever Horror Crush Database, I promised you that more Crush inductees would be coming. Well, spurred on by the release of the recent and quite enjoyable Resident Evil movie, I have for you the first of this new batch. It's the beautiful British actress Sienna Guillory!

Guillory was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on March 18, 1975. She is the daughter of American folk guitarist Isaac Guillory and English model Tina Thompson. Her parents eventually moved to Fulham, London, and later Norfolk, while Guillory briefly lived in Mexico with cousins at age 10 so she could learn Spanish. She attended Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk, where she took part in various school productions. At 14, she had a horse named The Night Porter, or “Porty,” after the Italian film The Night Porter. She was a huge fan of the film's leading lady, Charlotte Rampling, who horror fans will know from movies such as Orca: The Killer Whale.

In 1997, Guillory was signed to Select Model Management. She worked as a model while pursuing her acting career, which began in 1993 when she made her acting debut in the made-for-TV movie Riders, based on the novel by Jilly Cooper. As a model, she worked for Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, and Paul Smith, while also appearing on the covers of several fashion magazines. By 1999, she had become the face of a Hugo Boss fragrance campaign.

Her first foray into horror came with 2001's Superstition. While I have never seen this supernatural horror/thriller, it did give her the chance to work on a movie featuring Charlotte Rampling, the actress we discussed above who she had been a fan of since she was young.

In 2004, she got her first major Hollywood role in Resident Evil: Apocalypse. It's the movie I first saw her in and what ultimately earned her this induction. A sequel to the hugely successful first action/sci-fi/horror movie and an adaptation of the popular survival-horror video game franchise, Apocalypse picks up where the first film left off, with the zombie plague spreading throughout Raccoon City. The evil Umbrella Corporation attempts to contain and cover up the outbreak, while the surviving Alice (Milla Jovovich) battles her way through the city alongside the other survivors—including her friend who, in the last film, was transformed into the monstrous Nemesis.

Over the years and multiple viewings, this one has become one of my favorites in the long-running film franchise. I actually now prefer it to the first flick, and that's largely thanks to Guillory's portrayal of Jill Valentine, one of the main characters from the video game series itself. She is an example of perfect casting. Not only does she really look like Jill, but Guillory studied the way the character moved and behaved in Resident Evil 3 to prepare for the role. The movie really comes alive anytime she's onscreen. And it is a shame that the following films in the series didn't push this further, as her character was really screwed over in the future installments.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened when Jill returned in Resident Evil: Afterlife. The fourth entry in the franchise, Afterlife came out in 2010 and takes place immediately after Resident Evil: Extinction, which did not feature Guillory. For most of the movie, Jill isn't around either, until the mid-credits scene reveals that she has been brainwashed by Umbrella and sets her up as the main villain of the next installment.

That terrible idea comes to fruition in the next one, Resident Evil: Retribution (2012). Jill battles Alice in a brutal fight, and I genuinely hate that the writers decided to turn her into a villain. It's probably one of the worst ideas in a franchise that has had plenty of them. At least Retribution is slightly better than the previous movie, but neither is actually any good. The fact that Jill doesn't even get her story resolved in the next and final film, the oh-so-imaginatively named The Final Chapter, makes matters even worse.

Jill should have played a much bigger role, fought alongside Alice, or, even better, gotten her own spinoff. But alas, we got this shit sandwich. At least Guillory still shines and does her best with the subpar material she was given.

Between the second and fourth Resident Evil movies, she starred in another genre film, Silence Becomes You (2005). Alicia Silverstone is one of her co-stars in this one, which gives Guillory another interesting connection to an actress I really like. And, despite being a fan of both ladies, I have not seen this one. The reviews are not very kind to it, to say the least. But maybe they're wrong? Maybe?

In 2021, Guillory returned to genre material with A Banquet. She plays Holly, a mother who must deal with her teenage daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) developing an inexplicable and horrifying eating disorder. The film itself may be slow-paced, but it is also deeply unsettling and the kind of movie that stays with you. Guillory and Alexander both give amazing, powerful performances in this British dramatic horror film.

In 2016, she appeared in the psychological horror movie Don't Hang Up. Like Superstition, I haven't seen this one either. However, I have at least heard of it. As the title would suggest, the movie involves phone calls, specifically prank calls that take a very sinister turn.

In 2023, she appeared in The Meg 2: The Trench. So while Jessica McNamee did not return, we did get another Crush in the form of Guillory. The film itself is only really fun during the final act, which is filled with giant sharks and giant tentacles, prehistoric reptiles, and a cute, ass-kicking doggy. But, like the first movie, you'll forget most of it once it's over. In fact, while writing this, I said to myself, “Oh yeah! Guillory was indeed in this!”

That brings us to her latest genre outing, the 2026 mystery-horror-thriller One of Us. It deals with members of a family who begin dying one by one at a funeral, while the youngest member of the family searches for the stranger in their midst. The film premiered at the Manchester Film Festival on March 28, 2026, and has since played at least one other festival, but a wide release has been harder to pin down. A UK digital release is currently listed for November 7.

Guillory is one of the film's principal cast members alongside Kit Connor and Douglas Henshall, so at the very least we know she has a substantial role. Hopefully, we'll get a chance to actually see it soon!

Diving into Guillory's filmography, we realize that she has a deeper body of horror work than we may have originally realized. But, even if we only took her performance as Jill Valentine into account, she more than deserves to be in the database. And so, I am happy to welcome this beautiful Brit to the Horror Crushes! 

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