I have personally never really been a gym-type person. That's not to say I don't enjoy being active; I do, it just tends to be in settings where the workout bit feels almost like a trick or a hidden element of whatever activity I'm participating in.
And let's be honest. If you're not a gym type, the gym can be semi-intimidating. As a horror aficionado, I've always felt it was in my best interest to train like a final girl. How could I ever be expected to outrun a masked maniac if my cardio wasn't even up to snuff? Let alone wrestle a machete or chainsaw away from a lumbering lunatic before it was dripping with blood. So when our good friends announced their new endeavor, Killer Fitness, I was more than excited.
It's a gym, sure. But it feels like a gym made for us. No egos. When they say all levels welcome, it feels like a genuine promise that I'm not going to find myself totally out of my element, withering next to gym bros, only to be scooped off the mats at the end of the class. We wither together, dammit! And we can laugh about it together, too. This aspect was important to the founders of Killer Fitness from its inception, and that welcoming, non-intimidating atmosphere you'll find here is entirely by design.
“Early on, when talking about fitness and health and what it all means to us, we agreed on a few things quickly. The goal of working out isn't to look a certain way or fit a specific mold. It's about moving your body,” shared co-owner Ama Lea. Co-owner Vanessa Decker added, “We wanted to create this space that didn't exist for souls out there yet and give them the opportunity to experience fitness in another way. And most importantly, have fun!”
“Sweating, being active, and getting strong are so important for your mental, cardiovascular, and overall physical health. You never regret a workout! That's our entire credence,” Lea emphasized. “We are not out here trying to change your appearance, we're just here to give '80s pop culture and horror lovers an adult recess hour.”
In the spirit of that “adult recess hour,” the space itself feels like an experience, which makes the workout aspect feel like… a trick or a bonus. I'm really just hanging out with fellow horror fans and friends in a space that makes me feel like I've been transported to 1985. And in the process, oh are those accidental abs that I see?
How did this all come to be? Two of the three Killer Fitness owners, Ama Lea and Vanessa Decker, initially conceived the concept in 2017 during the opening art show for Slashback Video. “I had done a cover that was an homage to Linnea Quigley's Horror Workout. We started chatting about how we would love to actually make something in the same spirit,” said Lea. As a filmmaker, the journey to Killer Fitness first took the shape of.. What else.. a killer home workout video, Slashercise.
“We finally found the right producers, and in late 2023, we were off to the races to make Slashercise,” Lea explained. “From there, the movie came out, which we've self-distributed so far, and the response has been epic! We were getting asked constantly if we would ever do live classes, and after running into the folks at Dark Delicacies, who said their spot was up for grabs… it just seemed meant to be.”
“Not only was it an honor being able to take over an already established horror space (Dark Del), it's almost like getting their blessing,“ Decker said. “To bring our long-gestating idea to actual life. It's bananas!”
At that point, a friend and fellow Slashercise alum, Kay Elyse, stepped in to help make the vision a reality. The trio had the space, and in addition to offering horror-themed workouts, they decided to also turn it into a retail store and a micro cinema. Killer Fitness is offering more than workout classes with a horror twist, they're offering a space for community. Fitting for the former space of Dark Delicacies, which acted as a longstanding horror hub for Burbank area locals.
And beyond that, it's honestly a bit of a rebellion. “Killer Fitness is like an act of disruption,“ said Lea. “In the film industry and within the horror genre itself, there's a prevailing sentiment that women need to ask for permission or be extremely grateful when given an opportunity. With Killer Fitness and Slashercise, we really got to scream ‘fuck you‘ in the face of that. The demographic for loving horror isn't just straight white dudes, and we're proof of that. We made a movie and put it out all on our own. We've done the same with this business. Killer Fitness is a nerdy, feminine, and powerful space that welcomes everyone.”
In an act of further disruption and rebellion, the classes are super affordable, which only reinforces the welcoming atmosphere. As a local, I can confidently say that is most definitely not always the case when it comes to Los Angeles area fitness classes. The average price point often discourages people from even starting their fitness journey. Luckily, not the case here.
You can find a list of class offerings, killer merch, and upcoming screening schedules on the official Killer Fitness website. And if you're not in the Los Angeles area, Slashercise has you covered for at-home workouts.
