"It's so quiet..." says one of the scouts, just before the gangly "bigfoot" creature roars onto the scene...
Great news for genre fans and followers of superior 80s horror pictures...
I was recently contacted by one-time actress Kathy Stimac, who was attached, aged just thirteen, to the outrageous “Bigfoot” movie and grisly "Video Nasty," Night of the Demon.
Kathy played the role of ill-fated ‘Girl Scout Jr.’, a role which was accompanied by her slightly older on-screen friend, the aptly named ‘Girl Scout Sr.’ (Renata Lee, whose only other screen credit was a brief turn in Arizona Heat - a mediocre crime drama with Then Came Bronson star Michael Parks).
Both Scouts are introduced to the story by means of Professor Nugent’s chilling campfire tale, which effectively sets the scene for their inevitable on-screen deaths by means of a mythical furry creature – the ‘outrageous’ growling "Bigfoot" of the story. Here, both actresses trek through the woods (their shirts affirming ‘GIRL SCOUT’ to those in doubt of who are), each wielding a rather large knife.
Lost in wilderness, however, the pair become startled by a fierce howling that roars through the trees, which spells trouble. Fleeing from this hideous noise, the pair manage to run right into the gangly creature; and into its clutches! The noisy sasquatch, literally shaking the pair (one held in each fist) to their gruesome deaths, tears himself a reddened ‘cool-aide,’ a weirdly textured and thickened red mix which was used by production staff as blood and was, according to Kathy, “so sticky and difficult to wash out” of her hair after the shoot, she still remembers the stuff almost thirty-five years on!
Let's not forget that screech-fuelled and nausea-induced soundtrack which attacks viewers’ ears throughout this grisly scene of carnage.
Across the Atlantic, the film had generated a lot of bad press yet was extremely well received by the British viewing public, achieving decent ratings in the UKs rental charts. Despite its popularity with video fans at the time, however, the film was branded as a "Video Nasty," essentially removing the film completely from sight once the 'Video Recordings Act' had become law.
In this exclusive IFS' feature, Kathy recounts her memories - of some 34 years ago - and at the tender age of just thirteen - on the set of one of America's most chilling low-budget gems ever committed to celluloid; a remarkable production from yesteryear, Night of the Demon.
I was recently contacted by one-time actress Kathy Stimac, who was attached, aged just thirteen, to the outrageous “Bigfoot” movie and grisly "Video Nasty," Night of the Demon.
Kathy played the role of ill-fated ‘Girl Scout Jr.’, a role which was accompanied by her slightly older on-screen friend, the aptly named ‘Girl Scout Sr.’ (Renata Lee, whose only other screen credit was a brief turn in Arizona Heat - a mediocre crime drama with Then Came Bronson star Michael Parks).
Both Scouts are introduced to the story by means of Professor Nugent’s chilling campfire tale, which effectively sets the scene for their inevitable on-screen deaths by means of a mythical furry creature – the ‘outrageous’ growling "Bigfoot" of the story. Here, both actresses trek through the woods (their shirts affirming ‘GIRL SCOUT’ to those in doubt of who are), each wielding a rather large knife.
Lost in wilderness, however, the pair become startled by a fierce howling that roars through the trees, which spells trouble. Fleeing from this hideous noise, the pair manage to run right into the gangly creature; and into its clutches! The noisy sasquatch, literally shaking the pair (one held in each fist) to their gruesome deaths, tears himself a reddened ‘cool-aide,’ a weirdly textured and thickened red mix which was used by production staff as blood and was, according to Kathy, “so sticky and difficult to wash out” of her hair after the shoot, she still remembers the stuff almost thirty-five years on!
Let's not forget that screech-fuelled and nausea-induced soundtrack which attacks viewers’ ears throughout this grisly scene of carnage.
Across the Atlantic, the film had generated a lot of bad press yet was extremely well received by the British viewing public, achieving decent ratings in the UKs rental charts. Despite its popularity with video fans at the time, however, the film was branded as a "Video Nasty," essentially removing the film completely from sight once the 'Video Recordings Act' had become law.
In this exclusive IFS' feature, Kathy recounts her memories - of some 34 years ago - and at the tender age of just thirteen - on the set of one of America's most chilling low-budget gems ever committed to celluloid; a remarkable production from yesteryear, Night of the Demon.
"And it was in the same area that two girl scouts disappeared.
Apparently, they'd wandered off the main hiking trail and plotted
a new path from the rest of the group...
Apparently, they'd wandered off the main hiking trail and plotted
a new path from the rest of the group...
...Their bodies were found a few days later - but there was no trace
of the thing that killed them."
Night of the Demon's Professor Nugent and his chilling account of that fateful encounter.
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ON THE SET
Aside from shooting the killing scene, which was done in one take, I recall walking around the hills and hanging out with Shane and Girl Scout Sr. (Sorry, I don't remember her name). I do remember their was chemistry between the two of them. In addition, and to confirm what Michael said in his earlier interview, I remember Shane as being high maintenance. Even as a 13-year-old girl I can remember him complaining and trying to call the shots. I do not mean to be disrespectful and sorry to hear he passed at such a young age. I just found the memory as I read the interview. Girl Scout Sr. seemed to like this about him. |
Forest trek of doom...
Something is wrong, "It's so quiet".
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Fleeing: The hapless pair of teens run, terrified by what they hear...
...right in to the clutches of sasquatch - the film's hairy 'Demon' of the story.
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THAT 'GORY' SCENE
We spent a full day shooting the scene. As I watched it on You Tube again recently I remember the thick cool-aide mixture that was so sticky and hard to wash off. I was surprised that the scene ended up being so long and that my face was shown as much as it was. I always remembered the line "Its so quiet" but was surprised to see I had another line. I was not much of an actress and recall being told to stop smiling while I was being killed! The knives weren't as big as I remember. I seem to recall carrying a machete. Either way I'm not sure girl scouts at that time would have had such formidable weapons. |
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PARTY TIME
Later that day we all ended up back at a house. I assume it was Jim Ball's house. I remember sitting in the living room with Jim and my parents. I sneaked out of the house to the back yard where there was some type of shed or guest quarters. I went in and the crew was back there having a party and drinking beer, etc. Jim [Ball] had come out shortly after I had discovered the party and was upset; he "directed" me back in the main house and yelled at the others. I remember being so mad; I hated the fact that I was looked at as a little girl and couldn't be part of the group. Normal teenage feelings, I suppose. |
Terrified: Renata Lee (Girl Scout Sr.) is the first to be grabbed by the furry beast.
Let's dance: the fur-faced sasquatch grabs his two victims, then the real terror begins...
Smile please: Kathy's "smile," as sasquatch eviscerates the two girl scouts.
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MEMORIES
Getting a part in "Night of the Demon" was a very proud moment for both me and my dad. I'm not sure how [Dad] would have felt about the final result, but he was so proud to have me be a part of it when we were filming. |
END CREDITS
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Kathy Stimac, March 2014
Kathy, as she appears today.
Photograph, courtesy of Kathy Stimac.
Page amended, 01-Nov-2015