Podcaster and cultural critic Avaryl Halley has passed away, after 18 months of cancer treatment. At this deeply sad time, it is worth looking back on a life cut short, but well lived in the pursuit of sharing joy and insight with the world at every opportunity.
MovieBitches had been placed on hiatus after Avaryl was diagnosed with breast cancer, and commenced treatment. Occasional updates featured across the show’s social media accounts – with both Avaryl and co-host Andrew Galdi regularly thanking fans for their support, during her brave battle.
Tragically, the latest news from Andrew was that Avaryl had passed away peacefully. She “wasn’t in pain and she was surrounded by love, family, and friends.”
“My heart is shattered,” he wrote. “Avaryl was the best friend I could ever imagine. Spectacularly caring, light hearted, smart, and funny. We had the best times laughing, being creative, and of course talking about movies.”
MovieBitches had run for more than a decade, with Avaryl and Andrew posting more than 1,000 videos on YouTube in that time – most famously reviewing RuPaul’s Drag Race, and interviewing guests from the show to discuss their time there. They also reviewed hundreds of movies, old and new, over the years – garnering thousands of subscribers and regular viewers by determinedly finding a way to have a good time, even when the movies weren’t all that.
It was that remarkable positivity which led me to write a Critiquing the Critics review of the show earlier this year – praising Avaryl and Andrew’s refreshingly upbeat takes on films on a platform dominated by rage-takes and joyless nit-picking. They provided “a wonderful antidote to the toxicity of so much mainstream movie-talk – which is often so aimlessly angry that (speaking from experience) it leads to blow-up arguments between supposed friends constantly” – something which should stand as a wonderful legacy to Avaryl after her passing.
To that end, in his tribute to his friend and collaborator, Andrew added, “I never would have thought about it, but having hundreds of hours of footage of memories and laughter means I’ll always have the chance to hang out with Avaryl again, and to even watch a movie with her again too. Watching a movie with Avaryl was truly the best.”
Shared experience
At its best, cinema is a collective experience. It can form a collective tissue, a tapestry of warm memories – not only because it can remind us of those we have loved and lost in the technical experience each movie supplies; but because each shared viewing we have bonds us with those we enjoy or endure it with.
As an editor, producer and critic Avaryl Halley helped people to enjoy film on both fronts. On one front, her editing and producing helped to highlight so many films to her audience might never have connected with in the first place. On another, while cinema might be best experienced as a social event, not everyone has the opportunity to access that the particular juncture of their lives when they encounter a movie. But Avaryl and Andrew also provided warm and welcoming presences, through which audiences could feel they had kindred spirits to pick through cult movies with – something especially important for a show which so often focused on the LGBT+ community.
Avaryl also worked as a movie picking producer for the long-running podcast How Did This Get Made – another show which provides an enjoyable watch-along experience for its audience. In that role, she researched the films and also put together a number of hilarious super-cuts from some of the most feverishly enjoyable features the show has covered.
A statement from hosts Paul Sheer and June Diane Raphael on social media read, “We are devastated. In addition to being a kind, funny and talented soul. She was responsible for so much of what people love about HDTGM. Her taste was unmatched and she introduced us all to such an amazing films, campy characters and bizarre worlds. Our time with her off stage was always was full of warmth and kindness.”
Indy Film Library would like to send its love and support to Andrew, and Avaryl’s friends and family after this devastating loss.
Her warmth and kindness shone through in all her work – and touched millions of people around the world, even those she never knew. She introduced audiences to strange and brilliant new worlds, but also offered everyone in need of kinship a place to call home. As a human being, and as a librarian of culture, she leaves a legacy to be proud of – and which will continue to give people joy and peace around the world.