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!