(opens in a new tab) THE REAL STARS OF HOLLYWOOD: DEE WALLACE
4/21/20…Before i start, I just want to say that I hope everyone is staying safe, and doing as they’re requested no matter how depressing it might be.
Textbook Hollywood lives to fixate on the usual stars. No names mentioned…as talented as they are, they are nothing without they’re supporting cast. These actors/actresses are labeled as character actors/actresses. Personally I find them to be way more talented, and obviously have a greater body of work than the average star that does maybe one movie a year. It’s these talented people that have made a huge impact on my love for movies. My childhood, my movie education, my addiction. Every week I will do an entry on the ones that I’m a fan of. The ones that dominate my movie library, and star in movies that are a photo album of my life. Hollywood can have Jennifer Anniston, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Will Smith, etc. (ok I mentioned some names) Not that they’re not talented. But just like radio, there’s more than just five songs to enjoy.
I’m gonna start with the lovely Dee Wallace. I do have the knowledge to give a breakdown of her filmography, and TV creds. But really this is about the movies she did that mean a lot to me, and why I think she’s so talented. Finally, why I think she still hasn’t played the roles she deserves to play. Growing up in the 80’s, I would love to say that E.T. was my introduction to her. After all she was the mother all us kids wanted. Loving, attentive, strict but fair, picking up her drunk kid from school. Working mom. To give you a taste of how naturalistic she is watch her reaction when she first sees E.T for the first time. She goes from udder terror, to sadness when she watches ET slowly die.
However, it was the role that got her the role in E.T. that was my introduction to her. Poor traumatic Karen in the brilliant 1980 Howling. 6 years old and completely taken a back. I would love to say it was all the werewolf stuff that grabbed me, but really it was the first 10 minutes. Her, all alone having to meet a serial killer in a porno booth. Back against him watching an insanely disturbing film. You’re right there with her. You just want to leap into the TV and get her out of there. A lesser actress would have carried the sub plot as a soap opera, but Dee really takes the opportunity to make you feel major sympathy for the character. Bouncing from trauma, to being cheated on, to being abused, to seeing her best friend slaughtered. Everything escalates so quickly for her. Dee takes these outrageous situations, emotes so well, that you actually believe she’s going through it. And of course the ending. One of the best endings in horror history. Jamie Lee can scream as much as she wants, but doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to Dee’s final scream while transforming.
I know what you’re thinking. You totally left out “Hills Have Eyes.” No I haven’t. This is in the order I saw them in. Didn’t catch this classic until I was probably in Junior High.
So…as an 8 year old in 1983, I was typical but a devoted Horror fan. After being blown away by E.T. I saw Stephen King’s Cujo. I agree with Stephen King. Dee should’ve won an Oscar for this. Spending the majority of the movie in a car, fighting to protect her son. She went from sheer frozen fear, to almost animalistic when mentally ready to kill Cujo. For the record, I’m an animal lover, and felt real bad for the dog. Had a shitty owner, started off loveable. Wasn’t poor Cujo’s fault he got rabies. Dee is incredibly real when it comes to being emotional on screen. She can get completely hysterical, and you can tell it’s totally sincere. Almost as if the director slapped her really hard and yelled “Action!”
Now let’s get off Horror for a sec. In 1985, she plays C.Thomas Howell and Corey Haims mother in the teen comedy “Secret Admirer.” Around this time John Hughes movies dominated the comedy box office. This movie was a little different. It wasn’t just about the teenagers. This secret love letter managed to circulate enough to ruin the teenagers and the parents lives. Dee showed that she had comedy chops. That she can bring it when it came to comedic timing. I never heard anyone better than her say “Fuck Em!”
In 1986, she plays a low key farm wife/mother in the porcupine alien hit “Critters.”Sounds cheesy, but it’s actually a really good sci fi B-movie. Dee combined Horror with comedy, and just looked like she was having a good time.
Ok…Now let’s talk about “Hills Have Eyes.” Around this time, I was so knee deep Horror, I was renting anything that had a crazy cover. Come on…Michael Berryman on the cover. I have to see this. As much as I love this movie, Dee brought a lot more to this movie than was required. Just a simple Hillbilly, cannibal mountain movie, Dee starts off being the voice of reason. Taking a bad situation, and making the best of it. The moment her brother tells her one of the dogs is dead, she goes from sexually frustrated to confused and scared shitless. Of course, the moment the shit hits the fan and the cannibals attack the RV, she fights her ass off to save her baby. Takes two bullets, and still manages to wound Mars. Now that’s a scream queen.
To no fault of hers, I completely dropped out in the 90’s. I was a wild teenager playing in metal bands and partying. Not a whole lot of time to stay home and watch movies. It’s when I saw her in Rob Zombie’s Halloween as Laurie Strode’s mother is when I knew she still has it. Watching her in Halloween took me back to my childhood and all the great cinematic experiences I had. I have to say. I love the roles she’s playing now more than what she did in the 80’s. Rob really knows how to use her talent by giving her against type roles. A bad witch in “Lords of Salem.” Damn, I never thought I’d see her kill someone with a frying pan. Awesome.
I personally think her role as Greta in “3 From Hell” is my favorite. I almost didn’t recognize her. Such an unlikeable character, that it takes someone like Dee to bring a human side to her. Case in point, the back and forth her and Baby have when Baby basically calls her out for being secretly attracted to Baby. I never seen any character look so uncomfortable and emotionally paralyzed.
Anyhow, this is my intro entry, to who I think the real stars of Hollywood are. Dee…I can’t thank you enough. You helped an abused sad little boy escape for a couple of hours and bring light to a dark life. Hopefully someday you will get the Oscar you’ve deserved time and time again.
Next week: Lance Henriksen
MORBID MOVIE MEMOIRS: VHS GENERATION 