Meet Hailey Mccoy

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hailey Mccoy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hailey, thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?

It’s funny— refining my communication skills is actually one of the reasons I started creating content! I knew this was an area I needed to improve. I noticed that when I watched a movie, I had a lot of thoughts but had a hard time effectively communicating them. I started making videos and writing reviews and analyses to help better sort out my thoughts and improve my ability to express what I wanted to say. I love the community I’m in, and since I started making videos, I feel so much more comfortable including myself in these conversations.
Another reason I started is that I grew up with a stutter. Over time, and with practice, it became much easier to manage and barely showed up in my day-to-day life. Of course, there were issues here and there, but it really stopped bothering me. Then, late last year, I left my customer service job, where I spoke on the phone with customers and coworkers for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I noticed within weeks of leaving that my stutter was coming back as I spent more time away from that job. I wasn’t talking as much, so I wasn’t exercising my speech. I started to feel upset and uncomfortable when talking to my friends, and frustrated with myself.
Making these videos has given me a lot to say. Most days, after my current job, I go home to watch movies and then record myself talking about them! It’s basically practice—talking—and it’s been really helpful in my day-to-day life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’ve been obsessed with horror movies for as long as I can remember—probably too young, honestly. At 11, I was convinced I was going to be an SFX artist. By 13, I was running an Instagram account where I reviewed horror movies. Looking back, I was a pretty harsh critic with questionable taste, but I can’t be too hard on 13 year old me.
I went to school for film for a while, but when COVID hit, I dropped out. Even though I still loved movies, I started doubting my passion, thinking that leaving school meant I wasn’t as into it as I thought I was. Then in 2022, I saw The Evil Dead in theaters for the first time—and it was like something changed in me. That showing reignited my love for horror, but in a deeper, more intense way. It wasn’t just about watching them anymore, it was about fully engaging with them. I couldn’t stop talking about horror. I realized that a lot of my love for film came from this genre. Horror has a unique way of telling stories that other genres can’t touch—it’s often a brutal commentary on life, usually disgusting, always thought-provoking. I felt myself seeing the genre in ways I hadn’t before
So last year, I decided to start making videos about horror. Since then, I’ve watched more horror films than I ever thought I would, and I love it. I love making videos because it gives me a platform to share my passion for these movies, I make recommendations and analysis. I love sharing my watchlists and favorite movies. I love watching B-Horror, movies you’d never think to watch, but end up being so much fun.
I also love collecting physical media. Streaming service prices have gotten crazy, and somehow they never have what I want to watch anyways. So I started collecting DVD, BluRay and VHS. I make videos talking about making the switch, showing my hauls, and trying to spread the word of finally owning the movies you love again.
I recently started a small business on Etsy, creating merchandise for fellow horror lovers like me! I realized there were so many niche items I wished existed for the specific movies I’m obsessed with, so I started designing stuff just for fun. Now, I’m learning what it’s like to run a small business. I currently only have bumper stickers for sale. Soon, I’ll be offering tote bags, sticker packs, shirts, and a bunch of other cool items. It’s been such an exciting journey, I’m learning a lot and having tons of fun doing so.
With this newfound love, I’ve found an amazing community of horror lovers, and I couldn’t be happier.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I honestly think just getting over the fear of rejection and being embarrassed to post is the most important thing. I know so many people who want to create content, or make videos, but they are scared of what people will think. I was the same way before I started. It’s weird posting to 0 followers and 0 likes, but everyone has to start somewhere. Once you stop worrying about how many views or likes your posts will get, you’re able to create content better than before and content that is able to better reach that specific niche you’re looking for!
I think getting comfortable with being yourself on camera is super important for running an account. People can tell when you aren’t confident and excited about what you’re talking about. Just start posting for yourself, and everything else will follow. I’m still learning that too.

This goes for starting my business too. Of course you should consider if your products are buy-able, if there is a market for them. But having confidence that if you like it, other people will too. Make stuff you want to see in the world because chances are other people do too.
There is no shame in starting small, with just a few products. I always had this idea that I had to have everything figured out before I could even start at all. And sure in some cases that is true. But selling with Etsy, I had the opportunity to start really small and just get my stuff out there as I’m also working on more stuff! You don’t have to have everything figured out to just start.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

I only started this page in August 2024, and my business is just a month old. All the growth I’ve had has occurred in less than a year. I’ve been wanting to do something like this for awhile and I’ve been too scared, now since I’ve started I can’t stop. I’m always wanting to do more because I love it so much. My biggest area of growth is probably just starting. That was huge for me to get over myself and just try to start putting myself out there. Without that starting point, I couldn’t be anywhere.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @horrorhail
• Other: TikTok; @h0rrorhail
  Business: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AllHailHorror
  Letterboxd: @HailofTheDead