By Geno McGahee
One of the most fascinating horror icons is Brinke Stevens. Starting in the popular slasher “THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE,” the journey of the scream queen has been amazing and has established her as one of the most popular actresses in the game.
Just released, BITTEN: VICTORIA’S SHADOW has been released by Cinema Epoch, a film that was filmed in 2001 but has never been unleashed until now. It is one of those films that the horror hounds have been seeking for some time and now it’s here and Brinke owns it as a vicious vampire, killing all in sight.
Brinke sat down with Scared Stiff and talks about her career in film, her inspirations, her journey and much more….
GM: What got you into the horror genre? Was there a natural attraction to that genre or was it more opportunities?
In the 1960s, I grew up watching Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and all those great old TV series. In the ‘70s, I loved Hammer horror films with those beautiful vampire girls, awesome sets and period costumes. My favorite horror movie was “The Legend of Hell House” (1973), which I must’ve watched a half-dozen times at the local theater. To me, it was the perfect haunted house story.
When I became an actress, my first movie role was in Roger Corman’s “Slumber Party Massacre” (1982), which has been called a feminist slasher film. Soon after, I starred in many other horror and sci-fi movies throughout the 1980s. I was very quickly typecast as a “horror actress” and it became difficult for me to land any other types of roles. However, I totally embraced my destiny and I’m thrilled to be one of the original Scream Queens.
GM: You’ve done so many films. What has been your favorite film to be involved in and why? Also, what do you consider to be your best or favorite performance?
I have a great fondness for my early films like “Slumber Party Massacre”, “Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-a-Rama”, “Nightmare Sisters”, and “Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity”. They had such a memorable impact on young viewers in the 1980s, and I think they still hold up well to this day. I also loved working with filmmaker Fred Olen Ray on so many projects, like “Spirits”, “Haunting Fear”, and “Mob Boss”. He always gave me outstanding roles and he was such fun to collaborate with in the 1990s. More recently, I really enjoyed playing a hit woman in “Killer Rose” (2018). Of course, my favorite film so far is “Personal Demons” (2018), which I wrote, directed and starred in, along with my pals Linnea Quigley and Debbie Rochon.
GM: In 1990, you were in SPIRITS. That had to be a good time to play the role of Amy. What are your recollections of that film?
Having already noted my obsession with “The Legend of Hell House”, it was wonderful to channel Pamela Franklin’s role (as a psychic investigator) when I shot “Spirits”. I think psychics have long been a mainstay of horror films, and I’ve gravitated towards those roles in other films, such as “Sideshow”, “The Invisible Mother”, and “I Don’t Believe in Ghosts”. When I shot “Spirits” in 1990, it was great to work with Erik Estrada and the late Robert Quarry. Also, my favorite scene was when Amy is pounding a nail through her hand and quips “I’m doing my nails, do you mind?
GM: You’ve done a lot of micro budget films. Do you find yourself drawn to the enthusiasm of the micro-budget filmmaker and do you decide to participate in some of these for the love of this game?
In the mid-1980s, the video revolution happened and things were never the same. Prior, all films were shot on 35 mm film stock and they were very expensive. Suddenly, anyone could afford the new video technology. And it totally democratized filmmaking — people could now afford to make movies in their own backyard. And they did. I went where the jobs were, which was now all over the country, not just in Hollywood CA. It was such a delight to encourage and support new low-budget filmmakers everywhere… and some amazing
people have risen from those ranks, like Rickey Bird (“Killer Rose”), Dustin Ferguson (“RoboWoman”), Troy Escamilla (“Mrs. Claus”), Jake Zelch (“The Possession of Mia Moss”), Anthony Spadaccini (“Head Cases”) and Andrew Eltham-Byers (“Seven Boxes”).
GM: In 2001, you were in the film BITTEN: VICTORIA’S SHADOW, which is being released for the very first time. What are your memories of that production?
I’m so excited that “Victoria’s Shadow” is finally getting a well-deserved DVD release! It has such high production values, like elaborate period costumes and even an old-fashioned carriage in the flashback scenes. We also shot at a year- round ‘haunted house’ attraction that had awesome interior sets, not to mention a live boa constrictor in one scene. It was a very ambitious little film in its attention to detail, and I think all of that heartfelt dedication shows up on screen.
GM: You played a rather dangerous vampire in the film. Do you prefer being a role that is really out there like this one over something more conventional?
Set in the late-1800s, I play a young woman who’s bitten by a vampire (he’s also the town’s trusted doctor) while attending her friend’s funeral. Victoria lays entombed in a mausoleum for over a century, until her slumber is disturbed by hoodlums who steal her jewels to pay off their gambling debts. She then awakens and goes on a murderous rampage through the town.
Of course, I absolutely love to go on murderous rampages, ripping off heads and so forth! It’s really fun to play this kind of over-the-top character, as opposed to more sedate roles like a school teacher or mom.
GM: You’ve done so many films and have had so many roles. Is there any role that you look back on and sort of wished that there had been a sequel?
Yes, that would be “Haunting Fear” (1990). Wow, speaking of over-the-top roles! Weirdly, my character is also named “Victoria” here, and her husband has gambling debts. He buries her alive and she goes totally insane, stabbing and decapitating several people (who desperately deserve it). At the end, despite her gunshot wounds, she manages to evade capture and disappears into the night.
I actually wrote a sequel screenplay myself called “Buried Nightmares”. It follows Victoria, who now has amnesia and is hospitalized as a Jane Doe, while her nightmarish memories slowly return. There was some interest from various companies to produce it, but nothing ever panned out. Eventually, the original producer Fred Olen Ray felt that too much time had passed for a sequel to be viable. It’s too bad… I had such fun playing ‘crazy’!
GM: You have a lot of work in different stages of production. What should people be looking for in the near future?
My directorial debut “Personal Demons” will be available on “Terror Toons 4” anthology DVD next year. I will also direct a webizode series called “Dawn and the Dead” in Tampa FL for producer Rick Danford. As an actress, I’ve worked on lots of films in 2018 that will be coming out soon, such as “Super Special”, “Mrs. Claus”,“Killer Rose”, “Meathook Massacre 4”, “Xenophobia”, “Night Mistress”, “The Possession of Mia Moss”, “Teacher Shortage”, and “I Don’t Believe in Ghosts”.
GM: What is the best part of the business and what do you consider the worst?
I’m very fortunate to be able to do what I love, which is working in the film industry. I just wish it paid better.
GM: What are your thoughts on modern horror? Any favorite recent films? Where do you think they need to improve, if at all?
I’ve never been a fan of ‘torture porn’ movies and don’t really enjoy a high gore content. I prefer the more subtle, psychological, slow-burn stories. It’s been nice to see some bigger budget horror films like that recently, such as ”Get Out”, “A Quiet Place” and “Hereditary”.
GM: Do you have any closing comments or anything that you’d like to say to your fans?
Horror fans are absolutely the BEST! We’re all like a tribe of misfits who share a common bond in our love of certain films. I’ve been at conventions where a young person comes up to me and says, “You are my father’s favorite Scream Queen, and now you’re mine too!” It transcends generations, which is totally amazing. I’ve had a career longevity of over 35 years, and I’m still working just as much as I ever did, because I’ve become an icon of the genre. Thank you all so much for your continued love and support! I couldn’t have done it without you.
