I n 1999, a fictional pop-rock band in a straight-to-VHS Scooby-Doo movie made every queer, goth and/or weirdo child feel seen. Debuting in Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost, a more straight-faced and late-Nineties take on the classic Scooby characters, The Hex Girls were only ever intended to be mysterious, guitar-shredding red herrings in a single movie – suspects in the rumoured sighting of a ghoul haunting a New England museum. But there was something about their rebellious, outspoken and vaguely homoerotic energy tenhat struck a chord.

Voiced by Jennifer Hale, Kimberly Brooks and singer/songwriter Jane Wiedlin, who came to fame in the pioneering new wave rock band The Go-Go’s, the Hex Girls were comprised of Wiccan musicians Thorn, Dusk and Luna – self-described “eco-goths” determined to protect the environment, who sported stick-in vampire teeth and possessed a direct line to the spirit world.

Born amid a wave of Wiccan representation in mainstream television, most notably Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, they were somewhat radical for entertainment strictly aimed at children. In fact, they were stroppy, defiant and infinitely cooler than Shaggy, Fred and Co, who could do little but stare in awe at the colourful trio bashing out catchy pop-punk tracks such as “Earth, Wind, Fire and Air” and “Who Do Voodoo”.

In the two decades since, they have occasionally re-appeared in Scooby projects and become cult icons – a camp and empowering testament to prepubescent pop culture for a generation currently struggling through their mid to late twenties. But it’s been the queer community that has most embraced them. A number of viral tweets this year have only jokingly blamed the Hex Girls for awakening them to their sexualities, highlighting a largely unappreciated element of late-Nineties queer culture in the process.

“I believe the Hex Girls were beneficial both as introductions to queerness as well as witchcraft,” says Moriah Benton, an illustrator and production coordinator and creator of the Queer Babes of Cartoons zine. “They provided many people, but predominantly young femmes, with the first notion that there was an alternative to societal defaults, both in gender presentation and spirituality. I think that’s why they’ve become such treasured queer figures despite not being specifically expressed as such. They represent so much of what the queer community is about: personal power, found family, the defying of traditional expectations of femininity, and being unabashedly freaky.”

37 horror films that are genuinely scary Show all 37 1 /37 37 horror films that are genuinely scary 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Funny Games (1997) Directed by: Michael Haneke Funny Games places the horror in the familiar setting of home. It follows two young men who hold a family hostage and torture them with sadistic games. The result is far scarier than anything featuring ghosts, witches or demons. Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Amityville Horror (1979) Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg The Amityville Horror is based on the true story of the Lutzes, a family who were run out of their home after being terrorised by paranormal phenomena in 1975. Just one year before, Ronald DeFeo Jr shot and killed six members of his family in the same house. James Brolin and Margot Kidder lead this film, which became one of the biggest hits of 1979. American International Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Audition (1999) Directed by: Takashi Miike Japanese horror Audition (1999) follows a widower who meets a woman named Ayoma after staging auditions to meet a potential new partner. Soon, though, her dark past begins to surface, which equates to a pretty disturbing climax. Omega Project 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Blair Witch Project (1999) Directed by: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez Although parodied to death, The Blair Witch Project popularised the found-footage format to terrifying degrees in 1999. People genuinely believed they were watching real clips of three student filmmakers being terrorised by a Maryland legend known as the Blair Witch. Artisan Entertainment 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920) Directed by: Robert Wiene Black-and-white silent horror film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920) is considered the quintessential work of German Expressionism, but also one of the scariest films in cinema history. It follows a hypnotist (Werner Krauss) who uses a somnambulist to commit murders, and Wiene's shadowed sets and striking visual style combines to unsettle the viewer in ways most filmmakers only dream of managing. Decla-Bioscop 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Candyman (1992) Directed by: Bernard Rose A contemporary classic of horror cinema, 1992 film Candyman – which spawned two sequels and has a Jordan Peele-produced remake in the works – follows a graduate student whose studies lead her to the legend of a ghost who appears when you say his name three times. TriStar Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Directed by: Ruggero Deodato Extreme enough to warrant a ban in Italy and Australia, Cannibal Holocaust (1980) was one of the first films to embrace the found-footage format – so much so that Deodato found himself charged with multiple counts of murder due to rumours that several of the film's death scenes were real. He was later cleared. United Artists Europa 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Descent (2005) Directed by: Neil Marshall Released in 2005, The Descent follows six women who, upon exploring a cave, battle to survive against the creatures they find inside. It's these creatures that earn this British horror film's placement on this list. Pathé Distribution 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Exorcist (1973) Directed by: William Friedkin One of the most controversial films of all time, The Exorcist – which tells the story of the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl named Regan (Linda Blair) – became the first horror to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 1974. Warner Bros 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Halloween (1978) Directed by: John Carpenter Sure, it may be dated, but John Carpenter's original Halloween film – released in 1978 – remains the daddy of all horrors. It re-defined the rule book and has been emulated in everything from Scream (1996) to Trick 'r Treat (2007). The tension, as babysitter Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) attempts to evade masked murderer Michael Myers, only heightens with every new watch. Compass International Pictures[ 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Hereditary (2018) Directed by: Ari Aster Proving that horror is a force to be reckoned with, Hereditary became independent distributor A24's highest-grossing film around the world upon its release in 2018. It tells the story of a family who find themselves haunted after the death of their secretive grandmother and features a final act that left many of its viewers with sleepless nights. A24 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The House of the Devil (2009) Directed by: Ti West The House of the Devil (2009) follows a student named Samantha who is hired to guard an isolated house with one rule: don't go upstairs. For most of the film's runtime, not much happens, which is what makes the action-packed final third so terrifying. Spoiler: she goes upstairs. MPI Media Group 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Innocents (1961) Directed by: Jack Clayton Based upon Henry James' chiller The Turn of the Screw, the plot of 1961 psychological horror film The Innocents concerns a governess who watches over two children and comes to fear that their large estate is haunted by ghosts and that the youngsters are being possessed. 20th Century Fox 37 horror films that are genuinely scary It (1986) Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace Forget the effects-laden remake – this version of It, released as a miniseries in 1986, is the most terrifying adaptation of Stephen King's beloved novel to date. It follows a shapeshifting demon who takes the form of a sadistic child-killing clown named Pennywise (Tim Curry). Lorimar Productions 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) Directed by: Takashi Shimizu Japanese horror maestro Takashi Shimizu – who also directed the pretty scary 2005 remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar – balances mystery with horror in Ju-On: The Grudge, a story based in a cursed house in Tokyo. Lions Gate Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Kill List (2011) Directed by: Ben Wheatley To describe the horrors of Kill List is to ruin the film's surprises, but let's just say this: the final 20 minutes of Ben Wheatley's violent drama from 2011 features some of the most unsettling scenes in any film from this decade. Optimum Releasing 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Lake Mungo (2008) Directed by: Joel Anderson Taking the form of a mockumentary, the little-seen Australian drama Lake Mungo may have received a limited release in 2008, but its story of a family attempting to come to terms with the drowning of their daughter stays with viewers long after. Arclight Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Martyrs (2008) Directed by: Pascal Laugier The polarising 2008 film Martyrs, often associated with the New French Extremity movement, is the kind of horror that leaves you needing a shower once the credits roll. It follows a young woman's quest for revenge on the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child. Anchor Bay Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Night of the Living Dead (1968) Directed by: George A Romero Younger viewers may be desensitised by the more extreme horror films to have been released in recent decades, but the scares featured in Romero's Night of the Living Dead – including the young girl zombie reveal – remain some of the most chilling committed to celluloid. Continental Distributing 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Nosferatu (1922) Directed by: FW Murnau Alongside Cesare in The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920), the character of vampire Count Orlok in 1922 film Nosferatu – played by Mac Schreck – remains one of the most spine-tingling in cinema history. Film Arts Guild 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Orphanage (2007) Directed by: JA Bayona Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this acclaimed 2007 chiller follows the disappearance of a young boy in an orphanage, which brings many of the building's terrifying secrets to the fore. Warner Bros Pictures de España 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Others (2001) Directed by: Alejandro Amenábar The Others (2001) is a towering achievement for Spanish filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar who wrote, directed and scored this Nicole Kidman-fronted tale about a woman trying to protect her children from supernatural forces. It's perhaps the scariest 12-certificate film of all time. Warner Sogefilms 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Paranormal Activity (2009) Directed by: Oren Peli Could Paranormal Activity be the scariest film of all time? It's certainly one of them. Just when you thought found-footage had had its day, Oren Peli's small-budgeted festival favourite became one of 2009's biggest hits. Audiences lapped up the story of a couple who capture supernatural presences on a camera in their own home. Paramount Pictures[ 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) Directed by: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman Paranormal Activity 3 earns its place on this list for its final 10 minutes. Set 18 years prior to the events of the first two films, we see the cause of the curse that follows characters Katie and Kristi for the rest of their lives – and it's down to a coven of witches led by their grandmother. Paramount Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary [REC] (2007) Directed by: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza Played out in real-time, the claustrophobic Spanish horror film [REC] is one of the better examples of found-footage cinema. Released in 2007, it follows a reporter and her cameraman who follow firefighters to a Barcelona building and soon find themselves locked inside with its occupants who are displaying murderous behaviour. Filmax International 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Ring (1998) Directed by: Hideo Nakata Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the story of Ring by now: viewers of a cursed videotape die seven days after watching it. While the inevitable Hollywood remake in 2002 was better than it had any right to be, Nakata's original is as terrifying as horror films come. Toho 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Rosemary's Baby (1968) Directed by: Roman Polanski Released in 1968, Rosemary's Baby follows a pregnant woman who suspects that an evil cult want to take her baby for use in their rituals. Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes and Ruth Gordon's performances tip this psychological chiller into classic status. Paramount Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Shining (1980) Directed by: Stanley Kubrick Forget the iconic "Heeeeere's Johnny" or that bath scene – it's the smaller moments that make Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining a terrifying watch, notably the trippy final act that sees Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) lose his mind to the Overlook Hotel. Warner Bros 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Sinister (2012) Directed by: Scott Derrickson Of all the Blumhouse horror films, 2012 release Sinister – which features the demonic character Bughuul – is the spookiest of them all. It stars Ethan Hawke as a true-crime writer who discovers a box of home movies depicting grisly murders in the attic of his new house. Momentum Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Sleep Tight (2011) Directed by: Jaume Balagueró This little-seen Spanish horror follows a concierge who, believing he was born without the ability to feel happiness, decides to make life hell for everyone around him. Filmax 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Directed by: Tobe Hooper The fictional Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), marketed as a true story, follows a group of cannibals – including Leatherface – who relentlessly hunt down a group of friends. Vortex 37 horror films that are genuinely scary 28 Days Later (2002) Directed by: Danny Boyle Many might not reflect upon 28 Days Later (2002) as one of the world's scariest horror films, but its desolate depiction of a viral outbreak seems more real than any other. When merged with the fast-paced infected and the usage of John Murphy's song "In the House – In A Heartbeat", it's hard to deny it such status. Fox Searchlight Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary V/H/S (2012) Directed by: Various Directed by six filmmakers, including Adam Wingard and Ti West, 2012 anthology film V/H/S is grimy horror of the tallest order. Look no further than David Bruckner's section "Amateur Night" following three friends who meet a mysterious girl who says nothing other than three small words: "I like you." Magnet Releasing 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Wailing (2016) Directed by: Na Hong-jin Twist-filled horror drama The Wailing follows a policeman who investigates a series of mysterious killings and illness in the mountains of South Korea. If the journey fails to scare you, its destination will leave you lying awake at night. 20th Century Fox Korea 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Wicker Man (1973) Directed by: Robin Hardy The Wicker Man is deemed the best British horror film of all time for a reason. It tells the story of a Police Sergeant who travels to an isolated island in search of a missing girl, only to find its inhabitants practising a form of Celtic paganism. British Lion Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Witch (2015) Directed by: Robert Eggers For the most part, it's not what you see in The Witch that terrifies, it's what you don't see. Eggers unsettlingly holds his camera a fraction too long in places as he retells the story of a Separatist family who encounter supernatural forces in the woods beyond their farm. A24 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Zero Day (2003) Directed by: Ben Coccio The horrors are all too real in Zero Day, a film inspired by the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. The majority of the film is portrayed through the video diaries of two students who are planning to attack their high school. Avatar Films

“I’m dumbfounded at the staying power of the girls!” Hex Girls creator Rick Copp tells The Independent. “We call certain characters ‘breakouts’, and if they speak to a certain part of the culture, they’re gonna be a breakout. I think it’s self-evident that’s really happened here. They were dangerous and fun, and for a Scooby-Doo movie they were edgy.”

“I occasionally go to conventions to promote other shows,” says Brooks. “But I always get a number of fans who come up and go, ‘I love the Hex Girls so much!’ or ‘I grew up with them! I wish there was more Hex Girls!’”

Adds Wiedlin: “They’re so sassy! I love that about them. A lot of female characters still tend to be milquetoast-y and just like – blah, bland and whatever. But these girls kick ass. Can you imagine being a little girl and seeing a cute, young woman bashing out on the drums? I think that could change someone’s life. That is a very big statement, but I really think it’s true.”

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost, and because the Hex Girls are today Halloween costume staples, The Independent gathered together Hale, Brooks, Wiedlin and Copp to run through the origins of the coolest fake band in animation, discuss the trio’s legacy today, and express why a Hex Girls spin-off series is long overdue.

The Hex Girls sing their signature track 'Hex Girl' in Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost

In 1998, writers Rick Copp and David A Goodman were approached by Warner Bros to write a Scooby-Doo animated movie to be released on home video. They wanted something slightly spookier than the Scoobys of the past, with genuine supernatural elements, less overt silliness and a more polished and grown-up look courtesy of Japanese animators with roots in anime. During the writing process, Copp had just one key request: he wanted the film to feature a “spooky girl band”.

Copp: Growing up, I was a huge fan of Josie and the Pussycats. I was a little gay kid and I think it was that girl power that appealed to me. But I was also fascinated by this group of girls travelling the world and getting involved in criminal conspiracies. So naturally I was like, “We have to have a girl band!” I remember coming up with the name Hex Girls and I kept thinking: “Is it too simple? Is it not clever enough?”

Casting began in earnest in early 1999, with producers searching for voiceover actors who could project strength and spunk, and hold a note. Famed voiceover actor Jennifer Hale, best known at the time for voicing Felicia Hardy on the classic Nineties Spider-Man series, was recruited to play lead vocalist Thorn. Relative newcomer Kimberly Brooks, who has gone on to an illustrious voiceover career in film, television and video games, was cast as keyboardist Luna. And Jane Wiedlin, of The Go-Go’s and a solo music career that included pop classics “Rush Hour” and “Blue Kiss”, was cast as drummer Dusk.

Wiedlin: I think I have a pretty unique voice but, to be honest, the people that really get work can do 10 or 20 voices at the drop of a hat. It’s a real talent. Me? I just kind of do variations of my normal voice. So I was surprised that I got asked to do this! But of course really honoured. I think someone over at Scooby-Doo thought, “Oh, how cool would it be to have a real girl from a real girl band be in this fake girl band?” So I kind of lucked out in that regard.

Brooks: I had worked with Jennifer on some other things so I was familiar with her. I had never worked with Jane, but I was a huge Go-Go’s fan so I was completely blown away. I was in awe. I still am when I’m around her.

Hale: I actually have never told Jane this, but I was in garage bands and started singing in clubs when I was 15 and we covered The Go-Go’s! So when I got this gig and Jane was one of the Hex Girls, I was just like, “What??!!” It was a wonderful confluence of events, a kind of circular experience.

The Hex Girls, sporting slight makeovers, alongside Scooby and Shaggy in ‘Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire’ (2003) (Warner Bros Animation)

Brooks: I grew up doing musical theatre, and I always wanted to be in a rock band. In fact, when I was in high school, it was career day and we had a psychic there. The psychic called me up in front of the entire senior class and did a reading on me. She didn’t know anything about me, but she told me, “You know what, you’re gonna have an amazing career using your voice.” So, of course, I was like, “Oh my god, I’m gonna be a rock star!” That didn’t really pan out. But I did get to play one on TV.

Wiedlin: Over the years, it’s kind of like a family reunion every time we see each other. They are wonderful women, and so talented. I’m a little bit in awe of them and what they can do and how easily it comes to them. I just try to breathe and relax. I feel like I’m this amateur walking in because I haven’t done a ton of voiceover, but they’re so nice.

During recording, all three actors quickly got a handle on their characters. But there was just one problem: nobody could figure out what an “eco-goth” actually was.

Copp: As one of the writers on the movie, I’m as baffled as you! I can’t imagine I’m smart enough to come up with that, so I don’t think it was me!

Wiedlin: I remember bursting out laughing when I first saw that description! They’re not really that goth. I mean, their music isn’t a bit goth, let’s face it. They have a goth aesthetic, though.

Hale: We actually had to debate how to pronounce it. We were like, “Echo-goth?” “Ee-ko-goth?”

Brooks: It definitely is sort of made-up sounding, but I also knew what it meant, in a weird way. I just thought: a bit of that tree-hugger thing? We love the earth, we’re vegan and we don’t wear leather. I think it was kind of a stereotype of that at the time? But now? Look at our planet, look at the state of what we’re in, look at global warming, look at how we’re polluting our planet, and we’re finally having to really take notice because we’re running out of time. So for me, now it totally makes sense – the “eco-goth.”

Dusk, Thorn and Luna of the Hex Girls in ‘Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost’ (1999) (Warner Bros Animation)

Copp and Goodman’s original script didn’t go into detail about the Hex Girls “sound”, beyond describing their music as “goth pop”. They didn’t write the lyrics either. Those were taken care of by co-writer Glenn Leopold, who also did a full polish of their script, with music produced by Bodie Chandler. The band’s vocals, however, were supplied by the actors themselves.

Brooks: That is us singing! And doing all the harmonies. Jane was so instrumental in developing those, and Jennifer’s amazing, too. They both have such great ears for the music. At some point we kind of sound like The Go-Go’s because of the way that Jane arranged those harmonies!

Hale: I’ll be honest, I don’t remember every lyric from every one of them, but they’re catchy songs, right? And the fans really enjoy them. I’m asked fairly regularly to bust out a small piece of a Hex Girls song when I go to conventions.

Wiedlin: As a life-long songwriter and musician, I always sort of thought, “Oh, they’re gonna come to me for tips and they’re gonna run these songs by me and see what I think.” But it hasn’t been like that at all, because I was hired as an actor, and not a musician and a songwriter. Everyone sort of stays in their lane, including me. Every single time I’ve gone into the studio to record my voice, I always say, “Don’t forget, I’m a songwriter if you ever need any Hex Girls songs!” So far it hasn’t worked. Except for one time [on “Who Do Voodoo”, a track heard in 2003 film Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire]. But at least I got to do it once. You never know, maybe in the future it will happen again. It was really fun to write a song for a cartoon.

Upon its release in October 1999, Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost proved slightly controversial due to its content – the film saw Scooby and the gang reading from spell books, while the Hex Girls were proudly Wiccan and believed in the religion being a force for good rather than evil.

Copp: The only blowback we got was from conservative parents because we were “promoting Wicca”. It was all “Scooby-Doo is a devil worshipper!” and stuff like that. It was crazy. But the movie was very popular so [that controversy] was silenced by the DVD sales, I believe.

The film was so popular, in fact, that Warner Bros briefly debated spinning the Hex Girls off into their own series.

Copp: They had found that there was a lot of chatter about the Hex Girls from the movie, and I remember my friend Linda Steiner [then the Vice President of Development at Warner Bros Television Animation] brought me in for a meeting to talk about a spin-off series. You can imagine my excitement! Oh my god, doing a girl band series! And they wanted David and I to develop it. We talked about it, but it just never... it was one of those Hollywood meetings that never really went anywhere.

Wiedlin: I absolutely think they could have their own show! Every time they could introduce a new song and they could be the defenders of the planet plus do rock concerts. It’s such an easy sell! If it happened I would be so excited. I live in Mexico, but I would totally fly back every time to LA to do the episodes. Totally, I don’t care.

Hale: I’d be there with bells on! I’d be beating down the door. I’d be 30 minutes early with coffee for everyone.

Brooks: There’s still time, right? I don’t know who to talk to – I need to call my agent, somebody needs to get the ball rolling here!

Copp: You never know, though, given their resurgence and their place in the history of queer icons, which is now a term I’m gonna say every day. In fact, somebody just contacted me from Cartoon Network not too long ago. Maybe I’ll pitch it to them again?

Brooks: I didn’t really recognise it at the time, but having my own daughter and now in hindsight with, I don’t know, just the state of the world right now and #MeToo and women striving so much for equality and representation – it’s even more of a bolster for the argument that we should be trying to revive these characters. We need strong characters that have their own point of view and their own perspectives, who speak their minds and aren’t stereotypical girls. I love that we’re different and that we represent all types of women, which is just so important right now. I think that definitely played a role in why people identify with them.

Treasured queer figures: The Hex Girls in ‘Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire’ (2003) (Warner Bros Animation)

There’s also the Hex Girls and their queer fanbase, which continue to celebrate them to this day.

Copp: In terms of the Hex Girls being queer icons, I take such pride in that! But it was completely accidental. I co-wrote The Brady Bunch Movie, and I very deliberately created a lesbian character in that because I wanted to make an impact and I wanted to push the gay agenda, so to speak! Then years later I did a series called Where the Bears Are, which is about gay bears. But with the Hex Girls, that’s a complete accident.

Wiedlin: I think any time anyone from the LGBT+ community as young people can have someone to look up to, they’re gonna look up to them – so it doesn’t surprise me. I didn’t actually know that [about the Hex Girls], but it doesn’t surprise me a bit. Of course The Go-Go’s have a huge queer fanbase, both with men and women, and I love it. They’re my people, they’re my tribe.

While the Hex Girls spin-off hasn’t (yet) materialised, the band have reappeared here and there throughout the years – in series including What’s New Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated.

Hale: When I look back on my career, Thorn definitely holds a very special place in my heart. The fact that they’re a group of strong women having a blast doing something they love, and then there’s the obvious, giant, all-caps “YES PLEASE” that I get to sing and do awesome stuff. It’s a dream role.

Brooks: I feel like those Hex Girls are the coolest characters I’ve ever played. They’ve got the songs, they’ve got the look, the girl band thing is amazing. I do a lot of voices, but they’re just special.