Jen and Sylvia Soska
Jen and Sylvia Soska, known professionally as The Soska Sisters or The Twisted Twins, are Canadian film directors, producers, and screenwriters. Born on April 29, 1983, the identical twins have built a notable career in the horror and genre film industry, both in Canada and internationally. They are recognized for their visceral and often provocative style, directing films such as 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk', 'American Mary', and the 2019 remake of David Cronenberg's 'Rabid'. Their work has contributed to the profile of Canadian genre cinema, earning them a dedicated following and festival acclaim.
Early life and career beginnings
Jen and Sylvia Soska were born in Canada and graduated from Argyle Secondary School. Their interest in horror films began in childhood after their mother allowed them to watch the film 'Poltergeist'. Initially pursuing acting, the twins grew frustrated with the limited and stereotypical roles offered to them as a twin pair. This dissatisfaction led them to shift their focus from acting to filmmaking, specifically within the horror genre. They briefly attended film school, where they would create their first major project as a final assignment.
Breakthrough with Dead Hooker in a Trunk
The Soska Sisters wrote and directed 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' as their film school final project, inspired by Robert Rodriguez's low-budget filmmaking approach. The film was produced on a micro-budget of $2,500 and was later released by IFC. An absurdist dark satire, the film originated from a faux trailer the sisters created after their school cut the budget for their project. Jen and Sylvia starred in the film as twin sisters named Geek and Badass, respectively. The film garnered an 80% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes from five reviews. Its release was not without controversy, as a movie theater in Saskatoon cancelled a screening after receiving anonymous complaints about the film's content.
Critical success with American Mary
Following their debut, the Soskas wrote and directed 'American Mary', a film that significantly raised their professional profile. They cast Canadian horror icon Katharine Isabelle in the lead role of Mary Mason. To ensure authentic representation of body modification, they hired flesh artist Russ Foxx as a consultant and worked with Masters FX for special effects. The film premiered at several genre festivals including Film4 Fright Fest, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, and Monster Fest. Its critical success was cemented when it won the Special Jury Award at Fantastic Fest. The Soskas later announced development on a television series adaptation of 'American Mary' in collaboration with producers from David Cronenberg's company, Prospero.
Major studio projects and genre work
The Soska Sisters have directed several projects for major studios, broadening their filmography beyond independent horror. They directed the segment "T is for Torture Porn" for the anthology film 'ABCs of Death 2', produced by XYZ Films. For WWE Studios, they directed two films: the horror sequel 'See No Evil 2', which again featured Katharine Isabelle, and the action film 'Vendetta'. 'Vendetta', written by Justin Shady and starring Dean Cain, was the first film released as part of the Lionsgate and WWE Studios Action Six Pack initiative. In 2019, they co-wrote and directed a remake of David Cronenberg's classic film 'Rabid', starring Laura Vandervoort and wrestler CM Punk, which premiered at the London FrightFest. Their work for these studios demonstrates their versatility across horror and action genres. Key projects from this period include:
Recent film projects
The Soskas continue to produce and direct new work, often filmed in Canada. In October 2022, they premiered their film 'On the Edge' at the London FrightFest Halloween festival. The Canadian-produced film co-stars the sisters alongside Aramis Sartorio and Mackenzie Gray, exploring themes of kink culture and personal redemption. Their most recent directorial effort is 'Festival of the Living Dead', a 2023 sequel to George A. Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead'. The film, which follows the grandchildren of the original film's protagonist 55 years later, was released on the streaming service Tubi on April 5, 2024. It features a cast including Ashley Moore, Camren Bicondova, Andre Anthony, Gage Marsh, Christian Rose, Maia Jae Bastidas, Keana Lyn Bastidas, and Shiloh O'Reilly.
Work in comics
Beyond filmmaking, Jen and Sylvia Soska have written for the comic book industry. Their work for Marvel Comics includes a Night Nurse story in 'Secret Wars Journal #5' in 2015, a Guardians of the Galaxy short story titled 'The Ripley', and a Deadpool story for the 'Avengers Halloween Special'. In 2019, they wrote a five-issue 'Black Widow' series for Marvel. Expanding beyond Marvel, they wrote the character Yaira for Rippaverse Comics, with the story releasing in early 2024. This work demonstrates their ability to translate their narrative style and interest in strong, complex characters to the graphic medium.
Notable comic book works by the Soska Sisters include writing for Marvel Comics. They wrote a Night Nurse story for Marvel's Secret Wars Journal number 5 in 2015. They also wrote a short story called The Ripley with the Guardians of the Galaxy and a Deadpool story for the first annual Avengers Halloween Special. They wrote a Black Widow series that ran for five issues in 2019 and wrote Yaira for Rippaverse Comics in early 2024.
- Night Nurse story in 'Marvel's Secret Wars Journal #5' (2015).
- 'The Ripley' short story with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Deadpool story for the 'Avengers Halloween Special'.
- 'Black Widow' five-issue series (2019).
- 'Yaira' for Rippaverse Comics (2024).
Filmography
The Soska Sisters have directed a consistent output of feature films since their debut. Their filmography illustrates their progression from ultra-low-budget independent work to studio projects and high-profile remakes. Their first film was the low-budget Dead Hooker in a Trunk. They later directed studio films like See No Evil 2 for WWE Studios and a remake of David Cronenberg's Rabid. Their filmography also includes their newest film, Festival of the Living Dead, released in 2024.
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Vendetta | Action film for WWE Studios and Lionsgate |
| 2019 | Rabid | Remake of David Cronenberg's 1977 film |
| 2022 | On the Edge | Premiered at London FrightFest Halloween |
| 2024 | Festival of the Living Dead | Sequel to Night of the Living Dead. Released on Tubi |
Style and recurring collaborators
The Soskas' filmmaking is characterized by a visceral, often graphic approach to horror and dark satire, with frequent explorations of body horror and societal taboos. They have developed a reputation for working with a core group of collaborators across multiple projects. Key recurring figures in their work include actress Katharine Isabelle, who starred in both 'American Mary' and 'See No Evil 2'. They have also frequently collaborated with special effects house Masters FX and have worked with WWE Studios on multiple occasions. Their commitment to authenticity, as seen in their consultation with the body modification community for 'American Mary', is a consistent feature of their process. This collaborative network has been fundamental to their ability to produce distinctive films within the genre. Frequent collaborators with the Soska Sisters include:
- Katharine Isabelle, actress.
- Masters FX, special effects house.
- WWE Studios, production company.
- Russ Foxx, flesh artist and consultant.
Questions about Jen and Sylvia Soska
What is the Soska Sisters' most famous film?
Their most famous film is American Mary, which starred Canadian horror star Katharine Isabelle. The film was shown at Film4 Fright Fest, Toronto After Dark Film Festival and Monster Fest. It was awarded the Special Jury Award at Fantastic Fest. Following its success, the Soskas announced an American Mary television series.
Are the Soska Sisters twins?
Yes, Jen and Sylvia Soska are identical twin sisters, born on April 29, 1983 in Canada. They are professionally known as The Soska Sisters or The Twisted Twins. They collaborate as film directors, producers and screenwriters. Their love of horror began in childhood after watching Poltergeist. Initially trying acting, they were unsatisfied with stereotypical twin roles, which led them to work in horror filmmaking.
What was the Soska Sisters' first movie?
Their first feature film was Dead Hooker in a Trunk, which they wrote and directed as a film school final project. The film was shot for 2500 dollars and was later released by IFC. It received an overall critic rating of 80 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The twins starred in the film as twin sisters named Badass and Geek. The project originated as a faux trailer after their film school cut their final project's budget.
Did the Soska Sisters remake a David Cronenberg film?
Yes, the Soskas co-wrote and directed Rabid, a 2019 remake of David Cronenberg's 1977 film of the same name. The film stars Laura Vandervoort and professional wrestler CM Punk. Rabid had its premiere on the closing night of the 20th Annual Fright Fest in London. This project connected them with Cronenberg's producers at Prospero, who later helped develop a television series based on their film American Mary.
What is the Soska Sisters' newest film?
Their newest film is Festival of the Living Dead, a 2023 directed sequel to George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. It was released on the Tubi platform on April 5, 2024. The story follows Ben's grandkids and their friends 55 years after the events of the original film. The cast includes Ashley Moore, Camren Bicondova, Andre Anthony, Gage Marsh, Christian Rose, Maia Jae Bastidas, Keana Lyn Bastidas, and Shiloh O'Reilly.
Sources and further reading
- Jen and Sylvia Soska (Wikipedia)
- Twisted Twins Productions (twistedtwinsproductions.net)
- Interview, horror directors Jen and Sylvia Soska (list.co.uk)
- Directors Jen and Sylvia Soska break into the boys' club of ... (cbc.ca)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-05.
