The Monsters We Call Family

Send us Fan MailWhat if the hardest people to face aren't the monsters? They're family.This week on Horror Heals, Kendall sits down with actor, writer, and producer Rae Jones to celebrate Soul Sisters, a Halloween-set horror short that proves family reunions can be every bit as terrifying as the darkest haunted house.The film follows three estranged sisters who come together hoping to reconnect, exchange gifts, and put the past behind them. Instead, old wounds reopen, trust is tested, and long-buried trauma collides with dark humor and horror in ways that feel both unsettling and surprisingly relatable.The conversation quickly becomes personal. Kendall shares how his own adoption journey and relationships with half-siblings unexpectedly mirrored some of the emotions at the heart of Soul Sisters, leading to a thoughtful discussion about fractured families, giving people grace, and the stories we inherit from the people who raised us and the people we find later in life.It's also a celebration of independent horror and the incredible women bringing fresh voices to the genre.Rae Jones is an actor, writer, and producer passionate about telling character-driven horror stories that blend emotion, humor, and suspense.She stars alongside Kamaria Williams, actor, filmmaker, and Horror Heals alum whose previous appearance quickly became one of our favorite conversations about representation, creativity, and finding community through horror. Kamaria continues to champion diverse voices both in front of and behind the camera.Rounding out the trio is Amber Watson, whose performance helps ground the film's emotional core while navigating the complicated dynamics of sisters trying to reconnect after years apart.Along the way, Kendall and Rae celebrate practical effects, haunted attractions, horror dates, final girls, and why scary movies have a unique ability to help us process grief, trauma, and the complicated relationships that shape who we become.Because every family has secrets. Some are just a little deadlier than others.Is horror good for mental wellness?Of corpse it is.In this episode:The inspiration behind Soul SistersThree sisters, one Halloween, and a reunion gone terribly wrongFamily trauma, half-siblings, and found familyWhy horror and comedy belong togetherIndependent filmmaking and women in horrorHorror as catharsis, connection, and communityWhy the monsters we fear most sometimes share our last nameThank you for listening to Horror Heals. Share the show with someone who loves horror and someone who needs a little healing.If you want to support our guests, check the show notes for links to their work, conventions, and fundraising pages.You can also listen to our sister podcast Family Twist, a show about DNA surprises, identity, and the families we find along the way.Horror Heals is produced by How the Cow Ate the Cabbage LLC.Is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is.