I was a little kid when I saw my very first horror film in the theater, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. Its a film that many fans consider the pinnacle of the series. Watching it today, I can truly appreciate the hard effort the actors and crew put into it, but as a little boy it was simply my first thrill ride. One of the most endearing qualities of the film is the fantastic acting. Its been said that The Final Chapter had a serious John Hughes feel, with characters to whom you could relate and sympathize. Perhaps this is why Trish Jarvis has become a fan favorite among the characters of the series. As a Final Girl, she not only had to fight for her own survival...she had the added burden of protecting her young brother, Tommy, as well. Much like the surviving stars of the previous 3 films, Trishs character was not perfect. Although adjusted to her parents recent separation, she obviously missed having them together. There was a sense of isolation that was apparent as well, and it wasnt difficult to see how excited she was to finally have company next door in the form of 6 vacationing peers. Still, as much as she wanted to escape the overprotection of her wary mother, she was loyal to her family and her responsibilities. Its fair to say that Trish would not have been quite the same without the talent of the beautiful Kimberly Beck Clark. An actress since the age of two, Kimberly brought grace and professionalism to the role that director Joe Zito has described as one of the productions best pieces of business. She gave Trish strength, intelligence, and vulnerability...qualities necessary for any horror film heroine, but absolutely essential for a heroine who would also play the role of protector for the films unexpected protagonist, her younger brother Tommy (a young Corey Feldman, who Kimberly bonded with on set as a former child star, herself). Kimberly was not completely unschooled in the horror genre, having starred as the survivor of the cult classic Massacre at Central High eight years prior. Even though horror was not her particular favorite, she was enthusiastic to give her role 100%...an enthusiasm that resulted in some of the most memorable moments in the Friday the 13th series. It isnt easy wearing the same clothes night after sleepless night, being covered in dirt and cold water. It also isnt easy doing the lions share of your own stunts (a feat that earned Kimberly her very own professional stunt person card). Add to that the daunting task of continually going head-to-head with a 63 monster of a man in a hockey mask and you get a recipe for exhaustion. Kimberly shined. Her performance was so believable, her effort so sincere, that you almost forget that her character isnt actually the one to finally finish Jason off (you have to give Trishs character credit...with 7 machete chops to the arm, a dozen blows to the head and stabbing in the neck with a claw hammer, electrocution with a television to to the head, a hand split in half, a machete chop to the chest, AND fist to face combat in a final struggle to the death, she gave Jason what was arguably his most devastating set set of wounds in the series, whether she delivered the death blow or not). In perhaps the saddest bit of the films history, Kimberlys self-proclaimed best scene (finding her dead mother in a truly terrifying dream sequence) was lost for 2 and a half decades before being found, sans sound. In the 30 years since the films release, The Final Chapter (aside from being the first of two entries to falsely promise a Final Friday) has become famous for the creativity of its special effects, the introduction of Jasons arch nemesis Tommy, and the over-all quality of its production (as opposed to the slew of imitators that flooded the theatrical and video market in the mid to late 80s). I think its safe to say that one of the brightest jewels in the films crown was Kimberlys incredible performance. It just would not have been the same without her! If you watch television, youre likely to see Kimberlys pretty smile in many other roles (notably Alfred Hitchcocks Marnie, one of Lucille Balls daughters in Yours, Mine, and Ours, Eddie Munsters female alter ego, and numerous other supporting roles in television and film to this day), which just goes to show that shes a Final Girl of many talents. Shes wonderfully gracious to her fans, and we here at Camp Crystal Lake Alumni are forever grateful to her for her warmth and genuine friendliness to us all. Kimberly, thanks for the thrills, thanks for the dedication, and a personal thanks for your friendship. :-) Today is your day here in the only summer camp open 365 days a year...I hope you enjoy it as much much as we have enjoyed having you here with us!
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:38:32 +0000
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