Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Henric.
Jay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up as an only child, stories became my closest companions. Whenever I had a bad day, felt lonely, or found myself stuck inside on a rainy afternoon, I would disappear into a book, a movie, or a video game. I had a story for every mood, every holiday, and nearly every significant moment in my life. Those worlds entertained me, but they also taught me about people, fear, grief, resilience, and what it means to feel less alone.
That relationship with storytelling eventually became a calling. I earned my MFA in Screenwriting and began building my career as a writer and director, with a particular love for horror. I have always been drawn to the genre because it allows us to explore deeply human experiences through heightened, unforgettable imagery. Horror can be frightening, but it can also be emotional, beautiful, and strangely comforting. It gives shape to the things we are often afraid to say out loud.
My short film *Don’t Let It In* was released through ALTER and has reached more than 300,000 viewers, while my short film *Unknown* received the Jury Prize at Popcorn Frights. Those experiences helped affirm that there was an audience for the kinds of stories I wanted to tell: female-driven, atmospheric horror rooted in character and emotional truth.
I am now preparing to direct my first feature film, *Dollkeeper*, a contained psychological horror film that will be produced in South Florida through Voodoo Pictures. The project is influenced by the immersive dread of horror games like *P.T.* and *Resident Evil”, along with films that blend family trauma, mystery, and supernatural terror. It is deeply exciting to bring the film to life in the place I call home and to help showcase the incredible talent and cinematic landscape South Florida has to offer.
The biggest lesson I have learned is that there is no single moment when you suddenly “make it.” This industry requires you to continue creating, growing, and fighting for the next opportunity. Momentum is everything. Every project becomes another step forward, and every setback teaches you how badly you want to keep going.
For me, filmmaking still comes back to the same thing it did when I was a child: the power of a story to transport someone, stay with them, and make them feel less alone. That is what first made me fall in love with movies, and it is what I hope to give audiences through my own work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle is the concept of “making it.” The truth is, you never really do. You are always working toward the next project and the next opportunity. The minute you sit back and think, “I’m good,” you risk losing momentum.
Momentum is everything in this business—and, I would argue, in life. My husband and producing partner, Stephen Henric, is actually giving a talk on this very subject at the SEMA Summit in Toronto this year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a genre filmmaker – I mostly do horror or horror adjacent films, Stephen King once wrote that when people asked why he chose to write about such gruesome subjects, he responded, “Why do you assume that I have a choice?” I deeply relate to that. Horror is often judged as something dark or strange, but for many of us, it is simply the language through which our imaginations naturally express themselves.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love our beaches and the Everglades. I love being surrounded by the unique landscape of South Florida. What I like least is that we could do so much more to protect it. I encourage everyone to support organizations such as Friends of the Everglades and Miami Waterkeeper.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.voodoopictures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jaydawn_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@voodoo-pictures
