Villainess Review: Marie Simmons (Friday the 13th: The Series)

I was about six or seven years old when I learned about Friday the 13th: The Series, which was alternately titled, Friday's Curse. I actually saw a small snippet as a kid, as the only Friday the 13th I knew was the series of films that centered on Jason Voorhees, but I saw no hockey masked maniac on the show. It wasn't until my teenage years that I learned the whole plot of this series, which aired for three seasons from 1987 until 1990. The show, which was filmed in Canada, centered on distant cousins Michelle "Micki" Foster and Ryan Dallion, who inherited Vendredi Antiques, which was owned by their uncle, Lewis Vendredi.

What they would learn from Jack Marshak, who provided the antiques, was that Lewis made a deal with the Devil, who cursed the antiques, with Lewis selling them to unsuspecting customers for profit. As shown in the pilot, Lewis (after many years) decided to back out on the arrangement, and it cost him...big time. The trio changed the store's name to Curious Goods, and they went on a mission to re-acquire the cursed objects that were sold by Lewis.

Which brings us to the episode, "The Baron's Bride," which centered on Frank Edwards, who appeared at a home that was owned by Marie Simmons. Frank's appearance was regarding a room for rent inside the house, with Marie inviting Frank inside; meanwhile, Jack, Micki, and Ryan were set to seek out the latest cursed object: a cape, which was purchased by Marie's late husband. Regarding the cape, Frank actually finds it--a lavish black cape with a brooch--and actually puts it on, while Marie stands outside the room and watches...with quite a sinister gleam.

Marie begins to act flirtatious towards Frank, while the trio make their trip to the house. During her apparent seduction of Frank, Marie utters the following:

"Now you and I, through eternity will be bound. For with this cape, immortality is found. And with this clasp, we can travel through time. Just a drop of your precious blood, mixed together with mine."

Yeah, I know. If it were any cheesier, it could be made into a hat and worn by fans of the Green Bay Packers (which I happen to be). Luckily for our trio of protagonists, they didn't hear it, as they were outside the door of the house. What they did hear was Frank screaming, as after reciting her very creepy rhyme, Marie suddenly turned heel by flashing a set of jagged (and beautifully epic) vampire fangs and sinking her teeth into Frank's throat. The screaming led to the triumvirate forcing their way in, and having to fight against vampiress Marie, blood-covered lips and all. Marie used her supernatural abilities to fight off Ryan and Micki, but she would end up killed with a wooden stake by Jack. Fittingly, attached to the stake was a "For Rent" sign.

"The Baron's Bride" was the 13th episode of Friday the 13th: The Series' first season, and aired on February 20, 1988. The opening of the episode featured Diana Barrington as vampire villainess Marie Simmons, and though her appearance in the episode was brief, she does remain as one of my all-time favorite villainesses on the series. Marie was quite charming in her introduction to Frank, playing the part of the welcoming landlady very well. Without question, Marie's heel turn was very masterful, as she went from charming to creepy and viciously bloodthirsty at the snap of a finger. I did mention Marie's vampire fangs earlier; as a fan of female vampires, I truly loved how those fangs looked, very jagged and monstrous.

Barrington's performance was amazing; she acted out Marie's genial demeanor in stellar fashion, and she truly shined when it came to Marie's reveal as a vicious villainess. The episode would see Frank become the episode's overall baddie, but Marie made that happen; making her brief appearance vital to the episode's storyline.

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Click here for Marie Simmons' profile on Villainous Beauties Wiki!