Delayed interview

Sadly due to Christmas, (bloody Christmas) My interview with the wonderful Eileen Dietz has been held up.... But hold on, it will be here. But happy birthday to the Exorcist anyway, released today 40 years ago in 1973.

Please sir can I have more Shani Wallis - An interview

I stood with the others outside the stage door... Oh to meet my idol, what a exciting moment. At any moment Shani Wallis, star of 'Oliver!', the one true Nancy, was going to be leaving through that door and if I was lucky, I would be able to talk to her, maybe even get an autograph...

I held on tight to my programme, getting crumpled and damp, curled up in my sweaty hands and waited. People pushed and shoved to get to the front, but I just stood patiently, knowing if it was meant to be it would be...

Then suddenly, like a tap was turned on, the heavens opened and the rain came pouring down, everybody ran to take cover, but I stood there, a little rain wasn't going to put me off meeting my idol.

Shani Wallis was born in 1933 in the Tottenham borough of London, she is perhaps best known for her roles on the West end and of course her role as Nancy in the 1968 Oscar-winning musical Oliver! A friend of the stars, she now lives in California with her husband, Actor Bernie Rich.

The rain got heavier and there was still no sign of Shani, most people had left, soaked through, but I stood fast. Then finally the door opened and out she came, looking radiant. A few fans rushed to her and she signed their programmes, but then she noticed me, hair clinging to my face, my dress sodden, gosh, I must have looked like a sorry excuse for a person. She smiled at me sympathetically and excused her self from the crowd and rushing forward towards me. Grabbing my hand she pulled me under her brolly and said in her soft, still very British voice "How about a cuppa and a chat eh?"

We dived into the first little cafe we could found and sat down, ordering a couple of cups of tea she asked me, what I wanted to know...

I started off with an obvious one. I asked, how did you get the part of Nancy? Is it true that having a really cockney accent helped? 

"Oh definitely, definitely. But what truly happened was that I was doing a Broadway show and the Broadway show, believe it or not, was called A Time for Singing and it was, you must know the book How Green Was My Valley?"

I nodded,

"Well you know that and I played Anne Harred and Ivor Emmanuel, a beautiful Welsh singer, played the male lead and um that’s what was happening at the time. If you ever get a chance to hear the music from A Time For Singing it is glorious! Glorious! But unfortunately it was a very sad ending and at that time, you know there are a lot of musicals now that have sad endings, but at the time it didn’t work so it didn’t last very long. 

But Ed Sullivan came in to see the show and he saw me sing the ballad and it’s a very beautiful ballad. I was in period costume and he said “Would you come on my show and sing the song?” and I said yes I would. So I went on, the song is called Let Me Love You and I was seen by, well, obviously seen by millions of people, I mean his show was very popular. Mike someone, head of Columbia Pictures in Hollywood, was looking on the television and saw me. He knew me from England, he was also head of Columbia in England and he saw me in Irma La Douce and a lot of other shows but he happened to see me on television and sent me a telegram. It said I have a role that will suit you totally and completely, fly out to Hollywood! And that’s how I, and I went out there and of course he wanted me. 

His partner was John Wolf in England and John Wolf was not too sure about me but he said “Well, we’ll see, does she have a Cockney accent?”. I had to go to England and I had to record a lot of the dialogue in my true Cockney accent because I am a Cockney. It took me a long time to get that role. I mean I went through the mill, they put wigs on me and they didn’t look right, and eventually I said oh come on, let me use my own hair, which at that time was very nice and very strawberry red but they said but she’s always had black hair. I said well, it doesn’t suit me! I’ve got a tiny little face and it just won’t do! So eventually I landed up with my own hair. I know I took a long time to get to that, but that’s how it happened."

Wow, so you’re a real, true Cockney Londoner? Where were you born?

"In Tottenham. In North London. I’m very proud of it, I’m very proud of coming from Tottenham. I went to Tottenham High School and I used to go to the Royal Tottenham which was a, I had a, my biggest desire was to be on Dancing with the Stars, which I will probably never make but the Royal Tottenham was the ballroom place and I used to stand outside hoping that somebody would take me in, you know, you needed somebody to take you in those days. So I’m very proud of coming from there. "

I know you now live in California, Do you get home much? 

"Um, well my husband is sitting here with me, we don’t get back to England that much do we? I mean I’ll do a show there, I used to do TV, my own television show I did there and then I did a play there, a musical, but...oh yes, then I’d go back for the Tom Jones show, the Humperdink show, you know, and oh yes of course 42nd Street! Oh my God, I did that for almost 2 years. They wanted me to stay and I said my husband’s going to divorce me if I don’t go back! You know, that was wonderful, I really enjoyed doing that. Actually I started off doing it with Frankie Vaughn."

Oh wow! I exclaimed

"Yeah, and then um, he had problems and he wasn’t able to finish his contract. I mean, apropos of nothing, it’s a little incidental thing, but there was a lovely young lady in the show who used to be very interested and used to come and see me in the dressing room and everybody was off and she was the understudy to the understudy and she went on one night and she was absolutely fabulous! It turned out to be Catherine Zeta Jones..."

I read that you practiced for six months before you even had a camera on? 

"Oh yes, yes, totally. I mean we did a lot of dance movements, you had to limber every day and you know, everybody was learning the songs and oh yes, it took a long time, that musical. But, the wonderful part of it is, that everybody, when you see it, it doesn’t have a digital work like it does today, you know, instead of their being six people on screen they go de dum de dum de dum and they multiply it, everybody that you saw on that screen was there."

It was all filmed indoors, wasn’t it?

"Noooo, I mean there were huge huge huge studios yes, there was Fagin’s Den and there was where the whole of Fagin’s Den sort of disintigrated and where I did the song If He Needs Me, and that was a huge cold, very cold studio. But, um, all of the, that, that was a facade all built, that whole Bloomsbury was all you know, the homes and the houses that was all a facade. Then of course it was a natural, all the lawns and everything was all natural, it was outdoors."

I blushed cursing my error... Oh, it was outdoors? 

"Of course, yes, and then they had the street, you know, but I’m thinking of Harry Secombe’s song, ohhh, what was it?"

Boy for Sale? 

"Yes, Boy for Sale, yes, the filmed that whole thing on a wonderful exquisite set with all the snow and everything outdoors.

Oh wow! Well, how did it feel just to walk around? Did it feel like it was real when you walked around it?"

"Definitely, because you know it was a whole different era and I mean, I look back on those pictures and on my photographs and everything and you see us just looking, well, pretty gross standing there in the freezing cold and talking to our friends on the set. But then you look around at the set and it’s all in a totally different era. It was quite amazing and especially Consider Yourself with Jack Wilde and Mark Lester, that set. And the train, the train going across. That was built. That was all built outdoors! Then, you remember the boat that goes by in Be Back Soon, that was in a studio, in the big studio.

I’ve just been with Ron Moody. I was with him in Chicago, when...a couple of months ago? And with Mark Lester, we were all reunited and we had a great time and it was wonderful. And of course Ron, there is no other Fagin. There is no other. There is no other. You can’t go any further than that."

... And you are the only Nancy, I said...

"Yes, well this was the thing, they always want to do the same thing. You know, oh well we’ve got this and they put you into a little box but if it doesn’t suit you you have to stick to what you believe and nothing about the look when I first was chosen, you know, I had to do a lot of, I had to do a film test just the same as everybody else. I was with great company and I felt....Lewis Gilbert did the test and it was strange because Sir Carole Reed, who directed the movie, did not do the test, did not actually meet me then. When he did meet me, one evening with all the big wigs you know, he said “but you’re so tiny and you looked so enormous on the screen!”. So, you know, I was a tiny person in person but very big on the screen. "

And I had to ask about Olly Reed... He had a fearsome reputation, I wondered if it was justified...

"You know, I think, Sir Carole Reed was the most amazing director, I shouldn’t say this....one of the biggest reasons why Oliver was so incredibly successful and so incredibly good was because Sir Carole Reed insisted, even though the music was great, even though the dancing was great, and everybody there used their creativity and everything was so great....the main thing about Sir Carole Reed was that he was stubborn. He said I will not give up this story, this story means everything. This drama means everything. You know, when you think about musicals, oh it’s music and it’s all happy, but no, he insisted that everything was drama first then music. He had more rows, he didn’t get along with I think Oom Pah Pah, which everybody loves, everybody loves Oom Pah Pah. But the whole drama of that scene was that Nancy was taking Oliver away, how was she going to do it? He was being guarded by the dog! And the whole reason for Oom Pah Pah being the success that it was was not just the song but the drama that went with it. Am I going on? 

But you’re asking about Oliver Reed. Oliver Reed was a very strange person. Yes, I think you said in one of your questions have I ever seen him besotted? Yes, I have, and he was very rude, which didn’t help with the Screen Actors Guild when they were showing the new vision of Oliver when it was redone. And um, he obviously he had gotten worse since Oliver, but he was very intense, very intense, everything had to be so darned real. I mean if you take that last scene where he kills her, and Nancy goes to the bridge and takes the little boy, well he said to me “You do what you want. I will do the rest”. And that’s how that became so dramatic, that last scene, because when I went out I did not expect it, I said ok go to Oliver for him to go up the bridge and um, he just grabbed me, I mean the way the camera caught it was real! "

So did he actually hurt you?

"He grabbed me and I fought him, I scratched him and I punched him, but he’s a strong son of a gun and he made it, and that’s what made him such a good actor. But I think he went too far, I do. He was very intense, a very uncommunicative type of person. I did not find him....I mean if you talk to Ron Moody perhaps he’d tell you a totally different thing about how charming he was and how sweet he was. I never found him that way. And Mark Lester, and various other people. But then, you know, it’s your own version of what you see about a person. Everybody has their own vision of people. Or their own version of people.

As an actor, of course, he was great! He was wonderful! And he was wonderful in the role."

But he was perfect for the role wasn’t he? Very unnerving...

"Perfect....and the very first day he went into it, that very first line “Three Days!!” and I reckon he must have done that line about fifty million times...Carole Reed had him doing it over and over and over again."

Was it Carole Reed who didn’t like it or Oli Reed who didn’t like it?

"Ummmm, I don’t know whether he liked it...I had very little contact with him, I don’t know whether he liked doing Oliver, but he must, I mean, I think he must have wanted to do it, don’t you?" 

I just had to ask this next question...  as a mum, I have birthday parties and there are lots of children about and sometimes it's hell... But some of these kids were so young were there any tantrums or major strops? Did you have any problems working with so many little kids or were they professional theatre children?

"No they weren’t! They weren’t all professional theatre children. Not at all! But when it came to it you had Sir Carole Reed, you had Honor White who did the choreography, I mean, you better mind your manners, Cockney or no Cockney! I mean they’d walk out with these wonderful characters, the children, and I mean the shots of those children....and when I went back to do the reunion, to see all these guys who are like 50 years old or something, they were very funny! Very funny, wonderful, warm individuals. Warm people, we had a great time."

From Judy Garland to Sinatra, I knew Shani had worked with them all... But I had to ask about her friend, the very glamourous, the very fabulous, Liberace...

"Ohhhhhh! I travelled with Liberace, I travelled with Jack Benny, I travelled with many people. But Liberace was a dear friend, a dear dear person. It was so funny, I get a lot of fan mail and I just got a letter from a little girl who is 9 years old, her name is Christiana, and she asked “Who are your favourite people?”. Mine are Al Jolson, Liberace and somebody else, I don’t know. But Liberace I travelled all over the world with. I went to Australia with him, I went all over the United States, I was in England, I mean it was just amazing! And what a wonderful guy! A wonderful, wonderful person....

....Do you want to hear a good story? A true true story. We were in Vegas, we did Vegas together quite a few times and I used to go to the dressing room and he’d be sitting there in his underwear doing his make up and I’d say “Hi Lee”, I used to call him Lee, and I’d sit down and we’d talk. And he’d say, Shani, I’ve got a robe, you know the robes he used to wear? He said, “I’ve got a long robe, I really don’t want it, the only piece I want his the neck area because it’s a really beautiful piece of fur, I can’t give you that but do you want the rest of it?”. And I said “Lee, I’ll make my husband Bernie a pair of shorts and a shirt, I’ll make myself a dress, yes please, I’ll take it”. I made two dresses out of his robe, one was from the inside which was gold and the other, which was the outside, was silver and all diamonds. I still have that dress. I still have that dress, and when it was finished I went on stage, I surprised him and he looked at me and he said “Oh Shani! Oh! Where are my sunglasses!” Just like that! It was like he knew it was his dress, you know, I mean not his dress but his robe! But he was a wonderful man, I still have that dress. I’m trying to say to myself what shall I do with it, you know, should I give it to a Liberace museum or something?"

But unfortunately I’ve had it cleaned so many times that the cleaning fluid smell won’t come out of it, but I still have it! And as far as Jack Benny is concerned, Jack Benny, I don’t know whether you know of him or have heard of him, but he was like a father to me. My husband adored him, we travelled all over the world. You know, I have been a very very lucky person, I’ve been so lucky and so blessed and I can’t tell you. It has been a wonderful life and it’s not over yet!"

So, names were flying everywhere, so I wondered, which one was her favourite? 

"I haven’t worked with Judy Garland, I’ve only met Judy."

I think my heart stopped beating for a second ther.... Have you met Judy Garland?! I cried, What was she like?

"Oh, she was lovely! I mean, just lovely! Obviously incredibly talented. One woman, there’s one woman I haven’t met that I just loved as a young person and her name is Doris Day. She still is living, I’ve never met her but I’ve always wanted to meet her. So there you are, you see. But as far as, Katherine Hepburn I loved."

Katherine Hepburn?!

"I met Jimmy Stewart, oh I’ve met a lot of people...."

I begged for another story...

"Edward G. Robinson, have you ever heard of him?"

I nodded with anticipation

"Well, we met him with Jack, in Vegas, and he was deaf and my father was deaf, my father never heard me sing! And when I met, I was with Jack Benny, I was appearing in Vegas with Jack and Edward G. Robinson came backstage and sat with us. We all went in to Jack’s dressing room and I could communicate completely with Edward. G. Robinson because he lip read and that’s how I used to communicate with my father...."

And my husband, not forgetting my husband, he’s met everybody! From Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, well you know, we both met Frank Sinatra but that was Vegas...I spent a lot of years in Vegas. It’s been a wonderful adventure.

My priviledge and my gain and my blessing to to work with these people. So, you know, I feel the same way as you do in a way because I looked up to them too."

But, I only read about them in books, watch their films or stare at their photo's, I said... You got to meet them!

"Yes, yes that’s true and I know I did the Hollywood Palace with Buddy Epsom but of course I come from a different era, you’re young, you’re the same age as my daughter, you know, so it’s a whole different thing. So going back a lot of years, I’m getting very old!"

A bit older maybe, but still as charming and as beautiful as she was in Oliver!

I could see the bottom of my cup now and my hair had dried into a lovely frizz, Shani checked her watch, it was getting late and the tubes stopped soon. I thanked her for not only her time, but for the tea.

She got up to leave, but I had one more question... A very good question to end this perfect evening with... 

"What do I think she would have done? I think that this little boy, Oliver, brought out all the goodness in her and I think, I really believe the only way was the fact that he would kill her. I do think that was the only thing that could have happened to this poor woman. And even though her love was beyond belief for Bill Sykes I think the love for the child was even more. And I think she probably said to herself, I know this is what’s going to happen to me but be that as it may I am doing what I have to do. That’s the way I am, that’s the only way I can answer that question."

No that was perfect.... Just perfect

Find more infor on Shani at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shani_Wallis

or http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908861/

Back to Camp with Ari Lehman - an Interview

I bundled my suitcase into the trunk of my old Trans-am, a trip to a summer camp was what I needed after the year I'd had, being dumped by my high school boyfriend and that pregnancy scare, this was going to be a great week of sun, swimming and may be if I was lucky more... we drove along, my friend Sherri singing loudly to Cindy Lauper and giggling with excitement, Camp Crystal Lake wasn't too far from our home in New York, but it was far enough from our old lives for us... If only for one week.

As we pulled up to the gate I felt a strange chill run down my spine... Like I shouldn't be there, like someone was trying to warn us off. I turned to ask Sherri if she had felt anything, but she was far too busy squealing like a stuck pig to feel anything right now. 

We found our cabin, it was right on the lake, the name said it all 'Crystal' and I couldn't wait to dive in. 

We changed into our bikinis, ready to take a dip, but as we got nearer to the water we noticed a rippling... then a splashing... Someone... Something was in the water and it was making waves...

Sherri clung tightly to my arm as we stared for what seemed like an eternity, grounded to the spot in fear, we had all heard the stories of this place... The drowning boy... and the murders, but that was all talk... Or so we had thought....

Suddenly there was an almighty splash and we saw him, emerging from the lake, his clothes sodden, carrying something shiny in his hand and wearing some sort of mask... I held my breath as he neared us, Sherri hid behind me, eyes tight shut... I stared, my eyes not letting me shut them, not wanting to miss a second... The masked figure approached us and then spoke...

"Got it!" he said removing his swimming mask and snorkel! "Didn't want you gals cutting yourself on that, did we?" He held up an old rusty sign, it read 'Danger Deep Water', "Must have fallen off during winter"

His voice was friendly, as was his face, long brown curly hair and a fancy beard framed his face well... a face that I knew... A face that I recognised... A face belonging to Ari Lehman... The first Jason Vorhees in the stunning Friday 13th horror series.

Friday the 13th is an American horror franchise focusing on the fictional character Jason Voorhees (origionally played by Ari lehman), who drowned as a boy at Camp Crystal Lake due to the negligence of the camp staff. Decades later, the lake is rumored to be "cursed" and is the setting for a series of mass murders. Jason is featured in all of the films, as either the killer or the motivation for the killings. The original film was written by Victor Miller and was produced and directed by Sean S. Cunningham. However, neither returned to write or direct any of the sequels. The films have grossed over $465 million at the box-office worldwide.

Catching my breath and taking a chug of my beer I introduced myself and starting asking questions...

So Ari, How did you get the part of Jason Voorhees? 

“When I was twelve, I lived in a town in New England where the great Director Sean S. Cunningham happened to have his offices, perhaps due to the proximity to New York City, where I was born. I actually snuck into the audition for MANNY'S ORPHANS, a Comedy about inner city ruffians who play Football (we call it "Soccer" here haha). That movie was not widely released, so Sean S. Cunningham decided to produce FRIDAY THE 13TH in an effort to make up for it. I got a call on the phone at home during the following Summer, and Sean basically asked me the famous question - "can you swim?".

Ha... I thought, so how did you celebrate? I asked 

I was very excited to be in another film. Of course, when I got the script for Jason, I immediately noticed that there were no lines at all. I decided that I would have to rise to the challenge and convey the intensity through my eyes and body language alone. Then, Tom Savini later informed me that I would actually have a glass eye. Undaunted, I made up my mind to put all the feeling into one eye! haha... 

Now the brilliant Tom Savini did the makeup for the cast, how long did yours take to do? What was it like?

To be 14 years old and get to see the inner workings of a Horror Special Effects Studio is amazing, especially since we were all crazy about movies since the release of Star Wars and Jaws. It was a revelation to see all the severed limbs, decapitated heads, weaponry, and explosive props that Tom Savini and Taso Stavrakis were creating for F13 and other films. I worked with them just before they made another film called KNIGHT RIDERS a wild movie about jousting on motorcycles, and stars Ed Harris. It was a great deal of fun to work with Tom for about 4 weeks prior to the film and on the set for several days on and off. Tom always made it a point that I learn about the Classic Horror Greats like Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Vincent Price.”

Now the film was made on a shoestring, so I wondered how much did he get paid for his silent role?

“First of all I am the only Jason who does not get residuals. The pay was the day pay for a junior stunt man at that time which was $225/day. I have the honor of being an integral part of the Jason Mythos and that has led to the creation of my Metal project FIRST JASON, that is recently enjoying some success performing at major Metal Fests and Film Festivals in the Us and Europe." 

And what direction did Sean S Cunningham give you to play the part?

"Sean Cunningham really is a great Director who deserves more credit for the success of the series, I believe. He continually urged the actors not to be "over-the-top" or obvious. He even allowed for some improvisation on the set, much of which made it to the screen. The crucial moment was when we shot the scene, he said "Ari, you are the Director this time. When you go under the water, that's "Action" then look up and wait for the bubbles to clear and go for it!"”

I looked down at the mask he was holding, not quite the hockey mask his character was known for (although it was not until the 3rd film that a hokey mask was worn by the character).

At my website http://www.firstjason.com there is a sequence of photos that shows the removal of the mask. I believe Tom Savini has all of that Special Effects material. “

Now obviously the famous scene and the one he almost rein-acted for us today was the final scene where he slashes about the in the water, I had to ask how cold was the water in that lake? How long did you have to stay in it?

“The famous final scene was not in the original script. In fact it was shot afterwards, prompted by Sean Cunningham seeing the film CARRIE. We had originally wrapped everything in August. But in October I was called back to work on the final scene. In my mind, Jason comes back to life to seek vengence. However I was told that was not the case, this was a dream sequence. My objections were quelled by Tom who told me, "Play it like a ghost, because if you were a ghost in a dream, you would believe you were a ghost. right?" So I did, and in fact I was right. Jason LIVES!!!”

Why did you only appear in the first film?

“By the second film Jason was to be much larger, although this has YET to be explained... "

Did you ever believe that the film would become such a huge franchise, with 12 sequels, a television show, novels, comic books, and tie‑in merchandise?

"At first it was really the story about Pamela Voorhees and Alice Hardy that made FRIDAY THE 13TH so unique of course. Honestly it was not until Sir Richard Brooker played Jason Voorhees in PART 3, when the Hockey Mask Jason was born that I started to hear friends of mine making that now famous ch-ch-ch sound and asking me about FRIDAY THE 13TH & Jason Voorhees. That sound, by the way, and the soundtrack by Harry Manfredini are crucial to the series' success."“

What do you think of Betsy Palmer saying that she only took the part because she needed a new car and that the film was “a piece of Shit”?

“Betsy Palmer is one of the most amazing people in the world and I Love Her. Betsy has devoted so much time and energy to the fans of F13 that it overrides any previous trepidation. Let's just say that we are all lucky that her Volkswagen broke down that day, because she readily accepted the role and elevated the entire film with her memorable performance. Certain lines in this film are absolutely unforgettable when you hear her say them too. I have seen her and the Author, Victor Miller discuss this famous quip, and they laugh about it together. If not for Betsy Palmer, F13 and Jason Voorhees himself may never have had the impact that they now have. Jason is the fragile child trapped inside the body of a indestructible monster. It's Pamela that says "I'm not afraid."”

Have you ever been tempted to go back to camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in New Jersey and scare the livin’ bejesus out of the campers? Actually have you ever been back?

“I have not been back since but there is a Facebook campaign to get it open for F13 Tours.”

Do you know if it’s true that Jason was origionally called Josh, but it sounded to nice?

“I have never heard that before you'll have to ask Victor Miller.”

Now Friday 13th had scared to b'jesus out of me, but what scared Ari, I wondered?

“Halloween is a scary film, and Michael is creepy. Recent films that I like include THE WOMAN IN BLACK and LORDS OF SALEM. But there are films that are scarier by far, for instance [REC] or even CANDYMAN, so if you are asking for SCARY there's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST too. The next phase of that genre is coming from Eli Roth with GREEN INFERNO, perhaps also a good scare.“

It’s interesting to note that victor miller admitted that he was riding off the success of Halloween...

“Honestly the success of "Friday the 13th" has to do with many films that preceded it. In the 70's there was a plethora of female-driven Horror Films like CARRIE, ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE EXORCIST. Then it was JAWS reminding the audiences that they love a Monster. Two films came out in 1980 that reflected these elements - FRIDAY THE 13TH and THE SHINING. For some reason, although both of these films were hits, the public wanted the mindless thrill of the Slashers.”

Now he must... he has to... and I wondered... How many conventions does he attend every year?

“Originally I would do several Horror Conventions a year. With the release of FIRST JASON'S first album "JASON IS WATCHING!" I began to tour the US and EU on the music circuit, playing in Punk/Metal Venues and Festivals more than Horror Conventions. Please check out these videos of FIRST JASON LIVE AT THE VIPER ROOM in LA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxLZ2XPI2yc

FIRST JASON: JASON'S BRIDE MUSIC VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6e4bzpsQDc “

And what's the best question you've ever been asked?

“Well it's hilarious when little children ask me questions about being "Big" Jason's brother!”

What are you fans like? Can they get pretty weird?

“I am always amazed and impressed by the dedication of the F13 fans. I feel that there is something about the Summer Camp, and Jason, but most of all Momma Voorhees. It's like a big family of Horror movie fans who truly feel nostalgic for Camp Crystal Lake, as if they had gone to camp there when they were young. It's a fun collective illusion that provides recreation and distraction from the everyday routine."

But why do you think the film is so popular?

"FRIDAY THE 13TH takes viewers on a journey back into the woods every time they see the Welcome To Camp Crystal Lake sign and hear the sound of Jason. It's an escape from reality."

Ari turned to leave... This was going to be the coolest holiday ever I thought, perfect... My troubles had already faded and now I was ready for a dip, Sherri's grip has loosened and her rushed breathing stopped, actually I couldn't hear her at all now... But I could still hear Ari behind me, so without turning I asked....

So Ari, If he was real what do you think is Jason Vorhees would be doing now?

“Jason would be fighting off the Frackers who are drilling the woodlands and lake country if America for oil more and more every day. Also I see Jason laying waste to an army of zombies.”

I laughed and turned to say my goodbyes.... But gazing at the mutilated body of my best friend lying dead on the deck beside me, I guessed my goodbyes were going to be more permanent than I thought.......................................................................................................................................................................