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Jenifer (Masters of Horror episode)
Encyclopedia
Jenifer is the fourth episode of the first season of Masters of Horror
. It originally aired in North America
on November 18, 2005. It was directed by Dario Argento
, and written by and starring Steven Weber
. "Jenifer" is adapted from a 10-page black-and-white comic book story, written by Bruce Jones
and illustrated by Berni Wrightson, that originally appeared in issue #63 (July 1974) of the horror anthology title Creepy
.
) is eating lunch in his squad car when he happens upon a crazed man with a meat cleaver forcing a young woman (Carrie Fleming) onto the ground. When Spivey intervenes, the man tells Spivey that he "doesn't know what she is," forcing Spivey to shoot the man before he kills her. As he begins to console her, he first notices that although she has an amazingly attractive body, her face is horrifically disfigured. Despite his initial revulsion, she cuddles into his arms and he finds himself affectionately drawn to her.
At the police station his partner continues to kid on about the whole situation, trying to get him to forget about the shooting and the female. Still oddly drawn to her, Spivey excuses himself from his partner. That night he goes home and his wife Ruby (Brenda James), attempts to console him after learning of the shooting. As they begin to make love, he keeps picturing the woman and begins to anally rape his wife. She eventually forces him off her as he has lost himself in his fantasy of the woman.
The next day, after a female detective interrogates the mystery woman, the detective relates to Spivey that the girl's name is probably Jenifer, since it was on a note in the man's pocket, and that she is mute and most likely retarded. Spivey visits Jenifer at the mental hospital to check on her. A male orderly comments that she has been freaking out the male staff. When he enters her room she is still in the shower and runs to embrace him despite being completely nude. Frank takes her to his home because he can find nowhere else that will take her. That night he dreams of a non-disfigured Jenifer seducing him, when he awakes she's standing in the room, and his wife and his son Pete (Harris Allen) first experience her with varying degrees of disgust.
His wife issues an ultimatum that it will be her or Jenifer staying there, so he again goes out to search for a place to take her. This time instead of looking, he is seduced by Jenifer in his car. When he brings her home she frightens away Frank's wife and son, devours his cat, and murders and eats his young neighbor Amy (Jasmine Chan). Frank finally attempts to get a circus worker to kidnap her and put her in his freak show. When he arrives home, he finds Jenifer covered in blood and the circus worker dead in his refrigerator. Frank takes Jenifer and flees to an abandoned cabin in the woods where she hopefully can't hurt anyone. Frank gets a job at a small market and begins to slip out of Jenifer's spell.
One day however, Jenifer spies him with the attractive owner of the store and follows the shop owner's son to a party. There she lures him into the woods and seduces him. Much like Frank he is repulsed by her face, but makes no effort to turn her away. In looking for Jenifer in the cabin cellar, Frank discovers her devouring the boy and snaps. Grabbing her by the hair he forces her through the woods to kill her. Just as he's about to strike her down a deer hunter shoots and kills Frank. Frank's last words are Jenifer as the deer hunter moves to comfort her... just as Frank had done.
, British Columbia
, Canada
. The gore and make-up effects were done by KNB Effects and were received mostly positively by critics and fans. The DVD featurette, Howard Berger and The Make-Up of Jenifer, detailed the process Carrie Anne Flemming went through to transform her into the beast.
This was the only season one episode to require cuts, although Takashi Miike
's Imprint
was entirely rejected for TV. Two shots were removed from the final film, both involving graphic depictions of oral sex. The first one occurred during the sex scene in the car between Frank and Jenifer, and the second occurred at the end of the film and actually showed Jenifer castrating and then eating Young Jack's penis. The deleted scenes are featured in the 'So Hideous My Love' documentary on the DVD.
, as well as the thematic reversal on the Beauty and the Beast
. Favorable reviews focused in on Argento's ability to mix eroticism and repulsion with the sensual treatment of the sex scenes, often comparing it to his other films such as his version of the Phantom of the Opera
and Sleepless
. Negative reviews tended to complain that it was too simple and not up to his earlier masterful works such as Suspiria
, and lackluster like recent films such as The Card Player
and Do You Like Hitchcock?
.
released all the Master of Horror DVDs massive extra features for each episode. Their treatment of the DVDs were extremely well received winning a Saturn Award
for 'Best Television Series Release on DVD' in 2006. The extra features for Jenifer's DVD release include:
It was originally packaged separately, but later releases packaged it with Haeckel's Tale
and then the entire first season. Each DVD release has contained all the features the initial release did.
Masters of Horror
Masters of Horror is an informal social group of international film writers and directors specializing in horror movies and an American television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.- Origin :...
. It originally aired in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on November 18, 2005. It was directed by Dario Argento
Dario Argento
Dario Argento is an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the horror film genre, particularly in the subgenre known as giallo, and for his influence on modern horror and slasher movies....
, and written by and starring Steven Weber
Steven Weber (actor)
Steven Robert Weber is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the television show Wings which aired throughout the 1990s on NBC.-Early life:...
. "Jenifer" is adapted from a 10-page black-and-white comic book story, written by Bruce Jones
Bruce Jones (comics)
Bruce Jones, whose pen names include Philip Roland and Bruce Elliot, is an American comic book writer, novelist, illustrator, and screenwriter whose work included writing Marvel Comics' The Incredible Hulk from 2001-2005.-Early career:...
and illustrated by Berni Wrightson, that originally appeared in issue #63 (July 1974) of the horror anthology title Creepy
Creepy
Creepy was an American horror-comics magazine launched by Warren Publishing in 1964. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. The anthology magazine was initially published quarterly but...
.
Plot
Police officer Frank Spivey (Steven WeberSteven Weber (actor)
Steven Robert Weber is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the television show Wings which aired throughout the 1990s on NBC.-Early life:...
) is eating lunch in his squad car when he happens upon a crazed man with a meat cleaver forcing a young woman (Carrie Fleming) onto the ground. When Spivey intervenes, the man tells Spivey that he "doesn't know what she is," forcing Spivey to shoot the man before he kills her. As he begins to console her, he first notices that although she has an amazingly attractive body, her face is horrifically disfigured. Despite his initial revulsion, she cuddles into his arms and he finds himself affectionately drawn to her.
At the police station his partner continues to kid on about the whole situation, trying to get him to forget about the shooting and the female. Still oddly drawn to her, Spivey excuses himself from his partner. That night he goes home and his wife Ruby (Brenda James), attempts to console him after learning of the shooting. As they begin to make love, he keeps picturing the woman and begins to anally rape his wife. She eventually forces him off her as he has lost himself in his fantasy of the woman.
The next day, after a female detective interrogates the mystery woman, the detective relates to Spivey that the girl's name is probably Jenifer, since it was on a note in the man's pocket, and that she is mute and most likely retarded. Spivey visits Jenifer at the mental hospital to check on her. A male orderly comments that she has been freaking out the male staff. When he enters her room she is still in the shower and runs to embrace him despite being completely nude. Frank takes her to his home because he can find nowhere else that will take her. That night he dreams of a non-disfigured Jenifer seducing him, when he awakes she's standing in the room, and his wife and his son Pete (Harris Allen) first experience her with varying degrees of disgust.
His wife issues an ultimatum that it will be her or Jenifer staying there, so he again goes out to search for a place to take her. This time instead of looking, he is seduced by Jenifer in his car. When he brings her home she frightens away Frank's wife and son, devours his cat, and murders and eats his young neighbor Amy (Jasmine Chan). Frank finally attempts to get a circus worker to kidnap her and put her in his freak show. When he arrives home, he finds Jenifer covered in blood and the circus worker dead in his refrigerator. Frank takes Jenifer and flees to an abandoned cabin in the woods where she hopefully can't hurt anyone. Frank gets a job at a small market and begins to slip out of Jenifer's spell.
One day however, Jenifer spies him with the attractive owner of the store and follows the shop owner's son to a party. There she lures him into the woods and seduces him. Much like Frank he is repulsed by her face, but makes no effort to turn her away. In looking for Jenifer in the cabin cellar, Frank discovers her devouring the boy and snaps. Grabbing her by the hair he forces her through the woods to kill her. Just as he's about to strike her down a deer hunter shoots and kills Frank. Frank's last words are Jenifer as the deer hunter moves to comfort her... just as Frank had done.
Cast
- Steven WeberSteven Weber (actor)Steven Robert Weber is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the television show Wings which aired throughout the 1990s on NBC.-Early life:...
as Frank Spivey - Carrie Anne Fleming as Jenifer
- Brenda James as Ruby
- Harris AllanHarris AllanHarris Allan is an actor and recording artist under the moniker Fallan Soldier. He attended Lord Roberts Elementary and King George Secondary High School in Vancouver, B.C....
as Pete - Beau StarrBeau StarrBeau Starr is an American actor who has starred in movies and on television. He is known for his film role as Sheriff Ben Meeker in the 1988 hit horror movie Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers; he reprised his role in the 1989 sequel Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.Starr was born...
as Chief Charlie - Laurie Brunetti as Spacey
Production
This episode was shot in and around VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The gore and make-up effects were done by KNB Effects and were received mostly positively by critics and fans. The DVD featurette, Howard Berger and The Make-Up of Jenifer, detailed the process Carrie Anne Flemming went through to transform her into the beast.
This was the only season one episode to require cuts, although Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike
is a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over seventy theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. In the years 2001 and 2002 alone, Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions...
's Imprint
Imprint (Masters of Horror episode)
Imprint is the thirteenth episode of the first season of Masters of Horror. Directed by Takashi Miike, the episode was scheduled to premiere on January 27, 2006 but was shelved by Showtime over concerns about its extremely graphic and disturbing content...
was entirely rejected for TV. Two shots were removed from the final film, both involving graphic depictions of oral sex. The first one occurred during the sex scene in the car between Frank and Jenifer, and the second occurred at the end of the film and actually showed Jenifer castrating and then eating Young Jack's penis. The deleted scenes are featured in the 'So Hideous My Love' documentary on the DVD.
Reception
Jenifer was released to mixed reviews on its value as a film. The most common problems critics had were with the script and predictability. Most praised one's scene allusion to FrankensteinFrankenstein
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about a failed experiment that produced a monster, written by Mary Shelley, with inserts of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. The first...
, as well as the thematic reversal on the Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. The first published version of the fairy tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in La jeune américaine, et les contes marins in 1740...
. Favorable reviews focused in on Argento's ability to mix eroticism and repulsion with the sensual treatment of the sex scenes, often comparing it to his other films such as his version of the Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1998 film)
The Phantom of the Opera is a 1998 Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento, adapted from the novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. However, there are many differences between the book and the movie.- Plot :In Paris 1877, rats save an abandoned baby in a basket and raise him in the...
and Sleepless
Sleepless (2001 film)
Sleepless is a 2001 horror film by Dario Argento. The film stars Max von Sydow and Stefano Dionisi and marks Argento's return to the giallo subgenre...
. Negative reviews tended to complain that it was too simple and not up to his earlier masterful works such as Suspiria
Suspiria
Suspiria is a 1977 Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento and co-written by Argento and Daria Nicolodi. The film follows an American ballet student who transfers to a prestigious dance academy in Germany, only to discover that it is controlled by a coven of witches. The film's score was...
, and lackluster like recent films such as The Card Player
The Card Player
The Card Player is a 2004 horror-thriller directed by Dario Argento. The film stars Stefania Rocca and Liam Cunningham and marks Argento's second giallo feature of the decade . In its Italian Theatrical release it took in 2.926.000 Euro The film features a brief role for Fiore Argento, the...
and Do You Like Hitchcock?
Do You Like Hitchcock?
Do You Like Hitchcock? is a 2005 television movie directed by Dario Argento. The film is a homage to the acclaimed thriller film director Alfred Hitchcock.-Plot:...
.
DVD Information
Anchor Bay EntertainmentAnchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a U.S. based home entertainment and production company and is a division of Starz Media, which is a unit of Starz, LLC. It was previously owned by IDT Entertainment until 2006 when IDT was purchased by Starz Media. Anchor Bay markets and sells feature films, series,...
released all the Master of Horror DVDs massive extra features for each episode. Their treatment of the DVDs were extremely well received winning a Saturn Award
Saturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
for 'Best Television Series Release on DVD' in 2006. The extra features for Jenifer's DVD release include:
- Commentary by writer/actor Steven Weber and DVD producer Perry Martin
- So Hideous My Love – An Interview with Dario Argento featurette
- Working With a Master: Dario Argento featurette
- Behind The Scenes: The Making of Jenifer featurette
- Howard Berger and The Make-Up of Jenifer featurette
- On Set: An Interview with Steven Weber
- On Set: An Interview with Carrie Anne Fleming
- Script To Screen: Jenifer
- Trailers
- Still gallery
- Dario Argento text bio
- Screenplay (DVD-ROM)
- Screen saver (DVD-ROM)
- Collectible trading card
It was originally packaged separately, but later releases packaged it with Haeckel's Tale
Haeckel's Tale
Haeckel's Tale is the twelfth episode of the first season of the television series Masters of Horror. It originally aired in North America on January 27, 2006. George A...
and then the entire first season. Each DVD release has contained all the features the initial release did.
External links
- Jenifer excerpt from CreepyCreepyCreepy was an American horror-comics magazine launched by Warren Publishing in 1964. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. The anthology magazine was initially published quarterly but...
issue #63.