Six Scream Queens Who Were Once Music Video Vixens
Travis Mullins
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When it comes to genre actresses, many have come to embrace the popularity of their work. But let’s be honest, given that horror has suffered from a “black sheep” reputation, it is easy to surmise that, at the time, the opportunity to star in a horror pic was just that, an opportunity; one that might’ve afforded further opportunities after having starred in a potentially well-known property.
Some of these actresses would go on to create a niche for themselves while others would steer clear of the genre in the hopes of crafting a “respectable” career. Whatever path chosen, a handful of these women would, at some point, star in a music video or two!
Before being cast in Scream, Courteney Cox could memorably be seen as “the fan” in Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” — and around the time of Rob Zombie’s Halloween, Danielle Harris was featured in a Five Finger Death Punch video.
But let’s avoid the more obvious choices. Let’s take it back to the ’80s and ’90s — the height of the MTV music video — and check out some of our favorite scream queens acting up in what is undeniably the most inconsistent playlist.
Jere Fields (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning)
Jere Fields is probably best known for her role as Demon’s girlfriend Anita in the ultra sleazy Friday the 13th: A New Beginning. But before she crooned “Ooh, baby” next to an outhouse, the former actress appeared in a handful of videos from the rather controversial Rick James, with my personal favorite being 1982’s “Give It To Me Baby.”
She later made an appearance “Ebony Eyes” and “Glow,” the latter of which was supposedly James’ response to Prince’s “Purple Rain”? Just wonderful.
Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
I swear, in a past life, I was a ZZ Top girl — apparently so was Heather Langenkamp! A year after battling Freddy Krueger, Langenkamp was cast in the band’s video for (what else) “Sleeping Bag”! It’s no “Legs” or “Gimme All Your Lovin’“, but it’ll do!
The video seems to homage Elm Street, as Langenkamp plays a woman who encounters a fedora-wearing intruder while she sleeps. “It was so silly. But meeting them was one of the high points of my young life,” she would inform Entertainment Weekly in 2011.
JoAnn Willette (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge)
Her role in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 might’ve been brief (she was credited as Girl on Bus #2), but JoAnn Willette was noticed all around the world when she appeared in the video for The Outfield’s “Your Love,” which received heavy airplay upon its broadcast in 1986.
Willette was interviewed for Noble Mania’s “The Girl in the Video” series, stating, “I look back on this experience very fondly. I’m glad I was a small part of something that was a big deal in my generation. The MTV rock video was all the rage then and this song holds a lot of meaning for people who grew up with it.”
Devon Jenkin (Slumber Party Massacre III)
Unlike some of the other gals featured on this list, Devon Jenkin is probably more remembered for her role in Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'” than she is for her brief appearance as the opening victim in Slumber Party Massacre III.
In 2013, Jenkin also gave a great interview with Noble Mania explaining, “I was asked back to meet the director Julian Temple. He asked if I could skateboard and made his hands go up and down. I had been skateboarding nearly every day after school since I was 3-4 years old. I responded, ‘You mean a half-pipe?’ He said, ‘Yes, that thing.’
My enthusiastic passion came prior to the audition. I was living on the north shore of Oahu, listening to “Free Fallin’” over and over on top of the mountain while gazing into the most stunning sunset wondering what I was going to do with my life. The lyrics captured the essence of my attention inspiring me in a direction that took hold of my dreams.”
I love Tom Petty — I may have grown a bit weary of this song, but it was probably the first of his I heard and my memories of it are just as bright as the video. Bliss.
Judie Aronson (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter)
Well, well, well.. A few years after her skinny dip in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Judie Aronson was featured in the video for Nelson’s “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” which somehow reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100… Who am I kidding? It’s infectious as hell.
Her appearance is brief, but the video is a treat by itself — two twin dudes (sons of Ricky Nelson) rocking out while trying to keep their platinum blonde locks out of their face — definitely karaoke material.
Mariah O’Brien (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers)
Fans of the Halloween series will remember actress Mariah O’Brien as Beth in 1995’s Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. But a few years prior to that, she was something of a poster princess for the early ’90s music scene, having appeared in videos for Afghan Wing’s “Gentleman” and Red Kross’ “Lady in the Front Row.”
Her least-known, but most prominent, appearance would be the video for Ozzy Osbourne’s “No More Tears.” In that, O’Brien cries her eyes out before becoming submerged in a pool of tears a la Alice in Wonderland.
To boot, O’Brien was featured as the model on the cover of the Spinal Tap single “Bitch School,” as well as the cover of Alice in Chains’ 1992 album, Dirt (!!!). Coupled with the social justice warrior attitude and retro attire she sported in Halloween 6, her work is so Generation-X, it makes me giddy.
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