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Alice (Friday the 13th)

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Alice Hardy
Friday the 13th character
Adrienne King in Friday the 13th (1980)
First appearanceFriday the 13th (1980)
Created byVictor Miller
Portrayed by
In-universe information
Full nameAlice Hardy[a]
Occupation

Alice Hardy is a fictional character in the Friday the 13th franchise. Alice first appears in Friday the 13th (1980) as an artist working as a camp counselor. She is portrayed by Adrienne King—who reprises the role in the sequel Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) and the fan film Jason Rising (2021). Alice's creator, Victor Miller, scripted her as a flawed character, envisioning her in an affair. Once production began on the original film, budgetary constraints limited the deeper exposition intended for Alice's character.

Director Sean S. Cunningham and casting director Barry Moss wanted an established actress for the part but realized they could not afford one. An open casting call was made for the part of Alice, and King secured the role over a hundred actresses who had auditioned. King was asked by director Steve Miner if she would be willing to return for the sequel, and she agreed. Alice is prominently featured in literary works of the franchise, appearing in three novelizations adapted from films and two original novels. Additionally, Alice cameos in the Friday the 13th comics published by WildStorm, and she has been featured in merchandise and works of fan labor.

Alice's confrontation with the villain Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer) and her nightmare sequence of Jason (Ari Lehman) acts as the catalyst for the rest of the events of the series. Film scholar Carol J. Clover cited Alice among the original examples of the "final girl" theory developed in her 1992 nonfiction book Men, Women, and Chainsaws; however, others have challenged Alice's designation as an archetypal "final girl". The depiction of Alice's death in Friday the 13th Part 2 helped spark a new slasher film trope, in which the primary surviving character from the first film is unexpectedly killed off in the subsequent sequel.

Appearances

Alice appears in three of the twelve Friday the 13th films—the first, second, and the twelfth film as a camp counselor that beheads Pamela Voorhees, setting off her son Jason's murderous rampage. The books and comics in the expanded universe explore Alice in-depth, providing her a backstory and offering insight into her psychological effect on Jason.

Films

Alice first appears in the original Friday the 13th (1980).[3] The film depicts Alice as an aspiring artist hired as a counselor at Camp Crystal Lake.[3] After numerous killings at the camp by an unseen assailant, Alice manages to survive, largely by chance. Alice ultimately decapitates the villain, revealed to be Mrs. Voorhees, driven to kill by the death by drowning of her young son, Jason, which she blamed on negligent camp counselors.[3] The film ends with a dream sequence: Alice's nightmare of being attacked by Jason in a canoe.[3]

Alice's second cinematic appearance comes in the sequel, Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981). Although Adrienne King received top billing for the film, suggesting Alice would be prominently featured throughout, the character is suddenly killed in the prologue by Jason, who is revealed to be alive, fully grown, and seeking vengeance for the death of his mother.[4] Alice's unexpected demise became a catalyst for a trope found in later slasher films, in which the main surviving protagonist from the first film is unexpectedly killed off in the subsequent sequel.[5] In the franchise's 2009 reboot, which reimagined the events of the first four films, Alice's analogue is an unnamed character portrayed by Stephanie Rhodes. The unnamed camp counselor character beheads the crazed Pamela Voorhees (Nana Visitor), an event witnessed by the young Jason.[6]

Literature

Alice appears in three of the twelve novelizations based on films in the franchise and two original novels. The character made her literary debut in Simon Hawke's 1987 novelization of the original Friday the 13th (1980).[7] Alice's story arc and backstory depict her in a love affair with two men (John in California and Steve Christy at Crystal Lake). Despite liking them both and struggling to choose one, Alice wants to leave them as they do not put her above their agendas, just like her late father that worked himself to death. Alice wants to separate herself from men that take life too seriously. Hawke's novelization also features Alice being aware of the camp's grim history that began with the drowning of the young boy Jason.[7]

A comic book panel from Friday the 13th: Pamela's Tale #2 that features Alice, left, and Pamela Voorhees, right, depicting their encounter from the 1980 film
Panel of Alice and Pamela Voorhees in Friday the 13th: Pamela's Tale #2, which shows their first encounter

Alice later appears in Hawke's 1988 novelization of Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), which expands on her aftermath and trauma. Alice is troubled by recurring nightmares of her encounter with serial killer Mrs. Voorhees and the recollection of being pulled into the depths of the lake by her supposed drowned son Jason. Alice now resides in Crystal Lake and frequently visits the lake in an attempt to deal with her trauma, which strains her relationship with her mother who refuses to understand or listen to her. Unlike the film, the novel details how Jason manages to locate Alice's whereabouts, with the revelations that he recognizes her during one of her visits to the lake and memorizes her car. The book then follows the prologue of the film, with Jason murdering Alice in her home.[8]

Alice's consecutive appearances in the world of literature act more as a psychological insight into what fuels Jason's anger—each detailing that the memory of him witnessing Alice behead his mother torments him. While not appearing in the film Freddy vs. Jason (2003) itself, Alice appears in the Stephen Hand novelization as a shade in Hell plaguing Jason's mind.[9] Alice later appeared in two original 2006 novels. Alice's first appearance in the original books, is in Christa Faust's novel Friday the 13th: The Jason Strain when Jason becomes enraged when he hallucinates a soldier taking the form of Alice in the process of killing his mother again.[10] The second of the original books is in Stephen Hand's Friday the 13th: Carnival of Maniacs, which adapts the ending of the 1980 film as its prologue.[11] The protagonist, Glo, later discovers Alice's corpse in Jason's shack.[11]

Alice made her debut in comics in two WildStorm publications, both being cameo appearances adapted from scenes of the first film. The sixth and final issue of WildStorm's Friday the 13th, depicts a flashback of a young Jason pulling her into the lake.[12] The second issue of the comic miniseries Friday the 13th: Pamela's Tale depicts Alice's first encounter with Mrs. Voorhees.[13]

Development

Conception

Writer Victor Miller was told to watch John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) and base a screenplay upon it.[14] Miller was supposed to build Alice upon the characteristics set forth by virginal heroine Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) in Carpenter's film, particularly a sense of "resourcefulness and intelligence."[14] Miller, however, did not find it necessary for Alice to be virginal and wanted to depict her as a less sympathetic character.[15]

Miller's early drafts provide Alice with a backstory, with her having an affair with a married man on the West Coast, which is why her relationship with Steve Christy is deteriorating, and she wants to leave the camp.[16] Miller's most conscious efforts with the character were to write her as an outsider, someone who did not fit in with the rest of the counselors.[15] Once filming began, however, director Sean S. Cunningham did not explore Alice's story arc in-depth due to budget and time constraints.[15]

"Alice was a very special character. She was the hero of the first film and indestructible in a way. So it was important that, dramatically, she be killed off because Part 2 was Jason's film—avenging the death of his mother is what motivates him."

— Miner discussing Alice's development in Part 2[17]

Miller turned down writing the second film, and Ron Kurtz took on writing duties.[18] Kurtz's script kills Alice off in the opening of the film.[19] Director Steve Miner found Alice to be pivotal to the plot as she is the heroine of the first film and that she needed to have a dramatic death as "Part 2 was Jason's film."[17] Due to budgetary constraints again, the film only has Alice stalked and killed by an unseen assailant all in her apartment.[20] King interprets Alice's death scene as a "nightmare within a nightmare" and that the viewer never really saw Alice's body afterward.[20]

Casting

"...the incredible fanbase of loyal and devoted fans that Alice had and how much they cared about why I had disappeared from the series helped me fill in the missing piece and realize that it had all been for a reason."

— King discussing Alice's fanbase[21]

In 1979, there was an open casting call for the role of Alice as a publicity stunt to get people interested in the production.[22] The audition process for Alice took an entire summer.[22] Cunningham and casting director Barry Moss were initially looking for a big-name actress. At some point, they were pushing for Sally Field to play the part.[22] They began to look for new actresses upon realizing that they could not afford someone established.[23]

King was a friend of a woman who worked in an office alongside Moss.[22] After several other actresses in New York auditioned, they brought King in to audition.[22] When she arrived, there were hundreds of people in the hallway waiting to audition for Alice.[24] King recollects not having to even read for a scene but rather introduce herself and scream.[22] After meeting her, Cunningham remarked, "You sneaky guys! You saved the best one for last!"[22] Cunningham described her as embodying the "vulnerable, girl-next-door type" and having a natural appeal that he wanted for the Alice character.[22] In late August of that year, King received a letter making her casting official.[22]

"Literally it was a night from hell. There was no love on the set because I was walking into this hornets' nest; unbeknownst to me, Steve Miner thought I was holding out for more bucks, which was farthest from the truth. But, for me, it had to do with the fact that I had something bigger going on in my life at the moment, which was survival—mentally as well as physically, because I could not wrap my brain around it."

— King addressing her experience with Part 2 and her stalker situation[20]

Ron Kurtz brought Alice back for Steve Miner's sequel Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), purposefully in a smaller capacity.[17] Both Kurtz and Miner believed King and her agent were trying to bribe the production for more money.[17][20] However, in reality, King suffered an aggressive stalker after the first film and wanted to return as long as her character was handled properly.[25][26] King did not receive a script but recalls having lunch with Miner and his assistant Denise Pinkley, and they asked if she would be willing to return.[17] She unanimously agreed as she felt it was something she owed the filmmakers due to the first film's success.[17]

Alice's scenes for Part 2 were shot over a weekend in Connecticut at the end of November 1980.[27] Miner recalls having fun shooting Alice's sequences, being particular about King's movement as the character.[17] Conversely, King described returning as Alice for this film to be unenjoyable due to a mundane set, "It was just me, a head in the refrigerator and someone outside, ready to throw a black cat at me through the window."[27] Filming Alice's death with the ice pick, King was injured when the prop failed to retract.[27]

Characterization

Film critic Terry Lawson describes the character's depiction in Friday the 13th (1980) as an "all-American" girl, attributing to her being "destined to be the last one alive."[28] Ted Serrill (Home News Tribune) describes Alice's placement as the heroine feeling arbitrary.[29] Mike Hughes (The Journal News) wrote that Adrienne King "projects a combination of intelligence and fragility," in Alice.[30] Both Hughes and Ron Cowan (Statesman Journal) criticize the character's trait of knocking the villain unconscious and running away without killing her, the latter describing Alice as "a rather panicky young woman."[30][31] Alice's creator, writer Victor Miller, acknowledges this characteristic of the character in an op-ed, writing "Without spoiling the ending for you, I'll say that our heroine becomes locked in a terminal struggle with the villain. Time and time again the heroine cannot bring herself to kill the villain."[32]

King states that she based her portrayal on traditional horror movie characters and described Alice as a "great scream queen heroine."[16] She also expresses regret that, due to the nature of horror movies, audiences never got to see Alice's relationship with Steve fleshed out, or what could have happened between her and fellow counselor, Bill.[16] King describes the role as an "empowering position" due to her survival in the film.[33] Because the character displayed an artistic side in the first film, production designer Virginia Field included various sketches in the character's home in the second film to humanize the character.[1] She says, "It didn't seem like a big deal at the time we were filming, but I knew that Alice liked to draw and I wanted to show evidence of that."[1] Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) director Joseph Zito praised the natural performance of King, "...the way Adrienne King played the lead—you really felt for her and cared for her."[34]

Alice has garnered her comparisons to other genre heroines such as Laurie Strode, Ellen Ripley, Nancy Thompson, and Sidney Prescott.[35][36] Writer Jessica Robinson attributes Alice's survival to her innocence and resourcefulness.[37] Writer Adam Rockoff describes Alice as a "headstrong artist".[38] Bruce F. Kawin writes that unlike other heroines of the time, Alice isn't saved by a man in the ending, thus having a more profound impact.[39] While one of the original examples of the "final girl" theory by Carol J. Clover in her 1992 non-fiction book Men, Women, and Chainsaws, Clover's inclusion of Alice has been challenged. Philip C. DiMare writes that Alice is a counterpart to the "final girl", in that she is both "tomboyish" and non-virginal.[40]

A behind the scenes picture of the fan film Jason Rising (2021) with an actor in costume as Jason, on the left, and actress Adrienne King, right, in costume as Alice
King on the set of a fan film

"It just always struck me how cruel that was and I always wanted to rewrite that [and] I wanted to give that woman I read about in the magazine a happier ending."

— Hendrix discussing the impact of reading about Alice's death in a Fangoria article had on him.[41]

Alice is featured in American popular culture. Merchandise based upon the character has been released periodically years after her debut. McFarlane Toys released a figure depicting Alice being pulled into the lake by a young Jason.[42] NECA released a figure that included Alice's decayed corpse from Part 2 as a part of the model of Jason's shrine to his mother.[43] Illustrator Erin Ellis released a paper doll of Alice.[44]

Alice is a featured character on the alternate cover of the first issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland.[45] Artist Matthew Therrien released a digital piece of Alice alongside Pamela Voorhees for his "Final Girls & Cinema Survivors" series.[46] The character served as inspiration for writer Grady Hendrix's idea for his novel The Final Girl Support Group (2021) as her death in Part 2 bothered him since he was a child, and he wanted to give her a happy ending.[41] His character of Adrienne, named after Adrienne King, reflects Alice's story.[47]

Alice is brought back in fan labor of the franchise. While non-canonical, Alice is a supporting character in James Sweet's fan film Jason Rising (2021) as an artist suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and wanting vengeance against the Voorhees family.[48] King reprises her role.[49] In the Indonesian rip-off of Friday the 13th (1980), Srigala (1981), Alice's analogue is Nina (Lydia Kandou).[50]

Notes

  1. ^ The character's full name is not given in the films. However, the Crystal Lake Memories documentary refers to Adrienne King playing "Alice Hardy".[1] The same name is found within the franchise's novels. The name "Alice L. Hardy" is used in the mockumentary Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited, an extra feature included with DVD releases of Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986).[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Crystal Lake Memories (Blu-Ray). Image Entertainment. September 13, 2013. ASIN B00YT9IS1G.
  2. ^ Tom McLoughlin (Director) (August 1, 1986). "The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited (extra)". Friday the 13th - Part VI: Jason Lives (Deluxe Edition) (DVD). United States: Paramount Pictures (published June 16, 2009). Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Sean S. Cunningham (Director) (1980). Friday the 13th (DVD). United States: Paramount Pictures.
  4. ^ Steve Miner (Director) (1981). Friday the 13th Part 2 (DVD). United States: Paramount Pictures.
  5. ^ Jowett 2018, p. 20.
  6. ^ Nispel, Marcus (Director) (February 13, 2009). Friday the 13th (2009) (Motion picture). United States: Platinum Dunes.
  7. ^ a b Hawke, Simon (1987). Friday the 13th. New York: Signet. ISBN 978-0-451-15089-9.
  8. ^ Hawke, Simon (1988). Friday the 13th Part 2. New York: Signet. ISBN 978-0-451-15337-1.
  9. ^ Hand, Stephen (2003). Freddy vs. Jason. Black Flame. ISBN 1-84416-059-9.
  10. ^ Faust, Christa (January 31, 2006). Friday the 13th: The Jason Strain. Black Flame. p. 284. ISBN 1-84416-320-2.
  11. ^ a b Hand, Stephen (June 6, 2006). Friday the 13th: Carnival of Maniacs. Nottingham: Black Flame. ISBN 978-1-84416-380-9.
  12. ^ Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti (w), Adam Archer (p), Peter Guzman (i). Friday the 13th, no. 1-6 (2006-2007). WildStorm.
  13. ^ Marc Andreyko (w), Shawn Moll (p). Friday the 13th: Pamela's Tale, no. 1-2 (2007). WildStorm.
  14. ^ a b Bracken 2006, p. 39.
  15. ^ a b c Bracken 2006, p. 57.
  16. ^ a b c Grove, Dhybridavid (February 2005). Making Friday the 13th: The Legend of Camp Blood. United Kingdom: FAB Press. p. 36. ISBN 1-903254-31-0.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Bracken 2006, p. 149.
  18. ^ Bracken 2006, p. 109.
  19. ^ Bracken 2006, p. 148.
  20. ^ a b c d Castro, Adam-Troy (December 14, 2012). "The original Friday the 13th "final girl" wants back in the game". Syfy. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  21. ^ Norman 2014, p. 88.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bracken 2006, p. 45.
  23. ^ Shapiro, Marc (June 1989). "The Women of Crystal Lake Part One". Fangoria. No. 83. pp. 18–21.
  24. ^ Bracken 2006, p. 40.
  25. ^ Bracken 2006, p. 693.
  26. ^ Burns, Ashley (June 1, 2015). "How 'Friday The 13th' Star Adrienne King Uses Her Terrifying Stalker Tale To Help Her Fans". uproxx.com. Adrienne King (interviewed). Uproxx. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  27. ^ a b c Bracken 2006, p. 150.
  28. ^ Lawson, Terry (May 15, 1980). "In 'Friday', familiarity still breeds contempt". The Journal Herald. p. 26. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Serrill, Ted (May 17, 1980). "Horror technique lifted from better flicks". Home News Tribune. p. 23. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b Hughes, Mike (May 16, 1980). "'Friday the 13th' poor ripoff of 'Halloween'". The Journal News. p. 56. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Cowan, Ron (May 30, 1980). "'Friday the 13th' bodes bad luck". Statesman Journal. p. 27. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Miller, Victor (June 29, 1980). "True confessions from the man who plotted 'Friday the 13th' murders". The Kansas City Star. p. 251. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Sean Cunningham, Victor Miller, Adrienne King and Betsy Palmer (1980). "Return to Crystal Lake: Making of Friday the 13th" Friday the 13th DVD (Special Features) (DVD (Region 2)). United States: WB.
  34. ^ Bracken 2006, p. 261.
  35. ^ Knight, Gladys (2010). Female Action Heroes: A Guide to Women in Comics, Video Games, Film, and Television. ABC-CLIO. p. 99. ISBN 978-0313376122.
  36. ^ Vuckovic, Jovanka (2013). Vuckovic's Horror Miscellany: Stories, Facts, Tales & Trivia. Octopus Books. ISBN 978-1781571347.
  37. ^ Robinson, Jessica (2012). Life Lessons from Slasher Films. Scarecrow Press. pp. 26. ISBN 978-0810885028.
  38. ^ Rockoff, Adam (2011). Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786491926.
  39. ^ Kawin, Bruce (2012). Horror and the Horror Film. Anthem Press. ISBN 978-0857284495.
  40. ^ DiMare, Philip (June 17, 2011). Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1598842975.
  41. ^ a b Hooper, Ryan Patrick; Cross, LaToya (July 14, 2021). "Grady Hendrix's New Novel Flips the Script for the Final Girl". WDET-FM. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  42. ^ "Cinema of Fear Screen Grabs". Mezco Toyz. Archived from the original on February 16, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  43. ^ "Part 2 Jason and Mrs. Voorhees Figures from NECA". Friday the 13th: The Website. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  44. ^ Ellis, Erin (2013). Great Horror Movie Villains Paper Dolls: Psychos, Slashers and Their Unlucky Victims!. Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0486498867.
  45. ^ Parker, Jason. "Famous Monsters Unleashes Jason And Alice Hardy On Cover". Friday the 13th The Franchise. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  46. ^ Sprague, Mike (May 4, 2017). "Exclusive: Artist Matthew Therrien talks Final Girls & Cinema Survivors". JoBlo.com. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  47. ^ Hendrix, Grady (August 13, 2021). "How Friday the 13th Icon Adrienne King Came to Narrate The Final Girl Support Group Audiobook". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  48. ^ Squires, John (August 27, 2021). "Adrienne King is Back as Alice Hardy in 'Friday the 13th' Fan Film 'Jason Rising'; Watch Now!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  49. ^ Dick, Jeremy (September 10, 2021). "Original Friday the 13th Final Girl Adrienne King Returns in Jason Rising Fan Film". Movieweb. Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  50. ^ Guerra, Felipe M. (September 1, 2021). "The Indonesian Film that Remade the End of 'Friday the 13th' Scene by Scene". Medium. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.

Works cited

  • Bracken, Peter (2006). Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th. Titan Books. ISBN 978-1-845-76343-5.
  • Jowett, Lorna (2018). Joss Whedon Vs. the Horror Tradition, The Production of Genre in Buffy and Beyond. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78-673541-6.
  • Norman, Jason (2014). Welcome to Our Nightmares. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-47986-3.
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