Horror Crush: JJ North

It's time for another inductee into the hallowed walls of this site's Horror Crush section. And, this time around we have 90s scream queen bombshell: JJ North!

Also known as Janey Jaye North, JJ North was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was raised in New Jersey and got her Bachelor's degree in Motel Management/ Tourism in Montclair State College (nowadays known as Montclair State University). Post winning a beauty contest she made her acting debut in Beauty School (1993), which starred softcore legend Sylvia Kristel. 

She very soon began to appear in exploitation and low budget horror movies. Wherein, North soon made a name for herself amongst genre fans who liked cheap-o horror filled with hot and usually nude babes. I, myself, really knew her best from her appearances in magazines like the legendary Femme Fatales (genuinely one of my favorite magazines of the 90s) and meeting her at Chiller Theatre con (more on that later). So, despite the fact it would take me a good twenty years or so to watch a film of hers, I already had a huge crush on her and considered myself a fan. At the very least, any time she was featured on the cover of the aforementioned rag, I would totally buy a copy.

The first notable project that she worked on, had a major role in, and the first one that really got her major exposure would be Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold. This sci-fi comedy is a parody of the 1950s sci-fi/ horror comedy Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. In that movie the giantess was played by the gorgeous Allison Hayes. 

JJ plays the title in this one. In it she is a model for skin mags, as the title suggests. Beauty enhancement drugs mutate her and makes her grow, to well, giant sized. Directed by Fred (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers) Olen Ray it also starred B-movie and adult flick goddess Tammy Parks. And, unlike the original, this flick is said to have nudity a plenty! 

That same year, she appeared in another parody with a quirky title: Vampire Vixens from Venus. This sci-fi/ horror/ comedy has three aliens disguise themselves as hot, human, women to drain the lifeforce off of guys. Like the aforementioned movie, I never saw this one, but I do remember it getting a lot of publicity at conventions and the B-horror movie world in general. 

  

1997 saw her appear in the sci-fi/ horror movie Hybrid. This one takes place after an alien attack in a post apocalyptic world. A group of commandos, both male and female, find shelter in some abdonanded research facility. It is here that they are hunted by some alien/ human hybrid.

Unlike the two aforementioned movies, I never heard about this one. But, I don't think I'm making much of a stretch to guess that this one is heavy, err, influenced by Alien/ Aliens... But, still it has JJ! 

The following year, in 98, saw her appear in one of her most popular movies: Psycho Sisters. A remake of his own movie of the same title, Pete Jacelone's flick once again tells the tale of two gorgeous but psycho sisters (well, I mean it is in the fucking title!), played by JJ North and Theresa Lynn (a scream queen in her own right, at the time), are released from a mental institution. You see before this they were raped and beaten and their sister raped and killed by a group of scumbag guys. Now, free, they kill men who cross their paths always chopping their dicks off. 

While, I enjoyed both movies I think this is the better movie. It improves on the original's pacing. It also tells the story in a more satisfactory manner. It does eliminate the dirtier and more kinky feel of that flick, but I don't thank that is necessarily a bad thing. The black and sometimes campy humor adds to the fun, as does the metal music soundtrack. And, the wild climax kicks a lot of ass. In all, it's a good hybrid of the slasher, rape-revenge, and horror/ comedy sub-genres.

Needless to say, the women are gorgeous! I mean it does have North and Lynn in it, after all. We also get cameos by two other top favorite B-movie babes of mine in Sasha Graham (who nowadays is an author) and Tina Krause (who also starred in the original). There is some topless nudity, of course (the boobs below belong to Ms. North).

I met both North and Lynn at Chiller promoting this movie back in the day. But, I wouldn't actually see it till I bought the Blu-Ray this year. Anyway, this is the only movie of hers that I've seen. But, thanks to con and magazine appearances I was a long time fan, and, as I said earlier, had a crush on her back in the day, Watching this movie reminded me of that and is why this induction happened. 

Her final movie came out in 1999, where she teamed up with one of the greatest scream queens ever, and friend to this website, Debbie Rochon. I've heard about this one but never seen it. Seems like North's role is small in it. Though, having not seen it, I can't really confirm. If you saw it, let me know in the comments section below how she is in it, and how the movie itself is.

And, that's it, as far as her acting career goes really. I have no clue, what she is up to these days. And, since she isn't on the extra features of Psycho Sisters, I'm guessing she wants to stay out of the limelight. Whatever, she is doing, I hope she is happy and well.

JJ North was a popular scream queen for B-horror film buffs in the 90s. Thanks to her roles, scream queen magazine spreads and interviews, and her con appearances, this breathtaking stunner will forever be loved by her fans. It is with great honor that she is an official inductee to Horror Crushes!

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Violation (Review)

Writers/ Directors: Dusty Mancinelli, Madeline Sims- Fewer
Cast: Madeline Sims-Fewer, Anna Maguire, Jesse LeVercombe, Obi Abili, Jasmin Geljo
Year: 2020
Min: 107

Miriam (co-writer/ co-director Madeline Sims-Fewer) and her hubby, Caleb (Obi Abili), are on the verge of a divorce. But, they go together to her sister, Greta's (Anna Maguire), house, after years of being apart. Greta's husband, Dylan (Jesse LeVercombe), is actually a long time friend of Miriam. That night, after Miriam falls asleep, Dylan rapes her. She tries to tell her Greta, but she doesn't believe her accusation of rape. Rather, she takes it as Miriam has willfully slept with her husband. Completely on her own and broken, Miriam takes revenge on Dylan for the vile act he committed on her.

Violation is a Canadian, rape/ revenge movie that mixes horror with drama. It marks the directorial debut of Madeline Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, who also wrote script together. In the past, they had already collaborated on several short films. This flick played at several film festivals last year. It will be making its wide release debut this Thursday, March 25, 2021, when it begins to stream exclusively on Shudder. 

This film is told in a non-linear manner, which helps to highlight the excellent editing by Rhiannon Cluff and Alex Lyon. And, from very start the movie has clearly a very somber feel to it. It also has beautiful cinematography by Adam Crosby. These include gorgeous shots of the woods and its wildlife. Among them are the allegorical images of a wolf eating a bunny. It is seriously one of the most gorgeous looking movies I have seen in recent memory. Mingling well with the aforementioned non-linear manner of the movie, as it adds to an overall artful beauty and soulful depth.

The rape, itself, is thankfully, never clearly shown, shot, instead, in an unfocused manner. And, yet it remains a scene that is utterly disturbing and uncomfortable. When something explicit does happen, it is absolutely shocking. The first and most jaw-dropping of these is Dylan's erect penis, as Miriam lures him to his comeuppance. I have never seen a real, honest-to-God hardon in a movie that isn't pornographic in nature. It adds a level of realism that has is honestly unequaled, to anything before it. Another potent example is the suffocation via plastic bag scene which feels very real. As a matter of fact once the revenge part starts the film becomes very intense and fervently uncompromising. 

As such, the film is emotionally crushing. It shows the way that Dylan, and men like him, will defend their disgusting actions against a woman to her very face! He is an all to real visualization of the worst of male toxicity. The script also shows the way even family can turn against against a victim such her and defend the assailant. And, it also serves as a psychological study showcasing the mental implications and moral weight of taking revenge has on one.

All of this is done in ways that aren't present in most, if any of its subgenre predecessors, including other feminist takes. It makes it feel removed from the more cheer on revenge of movies like I Spit on Your Grave or this movie's more comparable contemporary, the excellent Revenge, which was also directed by a woman. This isn't to say that it condemns her for taking out her fully deserved vengeance. Far from it, as it is clear that this rapist piece of shit, gets what is coming to him. What the film does is make you understand in a very real world sort of way, the long term implications doing this will take on Miriam. That it is that very realistic feeling that makes this film all the more disturbing on top of being deeply heart-wrenching.

It is all bought to life by Sims-Fewer, who does an absolutely flawless job as our protagonist, and remember she is also co-directing this flick! Her performance is heartbreaking. And, I felt it not only when she is onscreen, but long after the movie was over it still haunted me. The rest of the cast is top notch, as well, with Jesse LeVercombe making for a particularly repulsive and vile, villain. One that never like an over the top caricature but instead one that is completely believable and all the more uncomfortable for it. 

This all couples beautifully with the emotional score by Andrea Boccadoro. Right off the bat, I fell in love with the classical sounding music. I have to say that it is one of my favorite scores, I have heard in a genre film in quite some time. There is a haunting feel to it that is especially powerful, when taken in the context of everything that happens in this film. 

Violation is a searing and heart-wrenching take on the rape-revenge movie. Its grounded reality adds to its haunting and depressing feel. The directing duo of Sims-Fewer and Mancinelli present us with a truly beautifully shot, artistic flick. Their non-linear script is presented through some excellent editing and arthouse like visuals of nature. The cast is phenomenal, but it is co-writer/ co-director Sim-Fewer who truly shines giving us a powerful and emotional performance. It's a breakthrough role that ranks among the finest in the genre in recent times. By overthrowing the tropes and expectations of this subgenre, while staying very true to its feminist heart, we are given one of the best examples of this type of film. Uncompromising and shocking, when it needs to be, this movie is simply unforgettable staying you well past its final second. 

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