Magnetic Female Characters of Full Moon Features

Full Moon has given us killer dolls, evil cookies, and iconic women—meet four of Charles Band’s fiercest, most magnetic female characters.

From our favorite ensembles to hellish unlikely duos, we conclude our celebration of Full Moon Features by exploring four of our favorite magnetic female characters directed by Mr. Full Moon himself, Charles Band.

For decades, Full Moon Features has pushed the envelope in creating multi-faceted female characters, and here are just a few that deserve more of the spotlight.

Sarah (The Gingerdead Man, 2005)

Sarah Leigh’s (Robin Sydney) life was innocent until a deranged killer, Millard Findlemeyer (Gary Busey), came along and murdered her family in cold blood. Her purity and fear challenge Millard’s intensity in the moment at the restaurant, leaving her shot and surviving as a witness. Two years later, she holds the weight of the family’s bakery and her grieving alcoholic mother, Betty (Margaret Blye). Sarah is still suffering from the PTSD of the event, even with Millard’s recent execution.

When a box of mysterious ingredients containing an unholy curse is delivered and used to mix and bake gingerbread cookies, Millard’s incarnated wrath of ashes and revenge rises in the oven as the ultimate killer cookie.

Living through the horrors again, Sydney and her coworkers, along with the baking competitor’s bratty daughter, Lorna (Alexia Aleman), and boyfriend, Amos (Ryan Locke), who is rather keen on Sydney, battle together against Gingerdead Man.

There’s something sweet, fun, and authentic in Sydney’s performances that I continue to admire.

I love her vulnerability and the purity that comes through Sarah’s eyes and gestures. Her internal conflict of being tormented by the past and emotionally closed within, to the progression of going from victim to victor, is a wide-ranging role to appreciate.

Sydney’s portrayal of Sarah represented a breakout role in the Full Moon franchise, continuing with The Gingerdead Man (2005-2021) and Evil Bong (2006-2022) series, playing a dual role of Luann.

Catherine (Meridian: Kiss of the Beast, 1990)

Inheriting the family castle after her father’s death, Catherine Bomarzini (Sherilyn Fenn) reunites with her loving childhood nanny, Martha (Hilary Mason), and best friend, Gina (Charlie Spradling), a restoration painter. Gina pressures her to watch a traveling side show event in which they meet the mysterious magician, Lawrence (Malcolm Jamieson), who shares a mutual attraction with Catherine.

They invite the troupe to the castle for dinner. Catherine also has a déjà vu moment with the masked performer, Oliver (Jamieson), Lawrence’s cursed twin brother.

Both girls are drugged at dinner, and Gina is raped by Lawrence and his Circus Dwarf (Phil Fondacaro), while Lawrence brings Catherine to the bedroom. Lawrence seduces but brings Oliver over to have sex with her, who is in and out of consciousness, yet she succumbs while he transforms into a Beast (Alex Daniels).

Waking up the next morning, upset and unable to recollect the evening, Catherine starts to discover long-hidden family secrets around the castle.

She also can’t shake the passionate telekinetic connection to Oliver that can save him from the curse and Lawrence’s control.

Though MERIDIAN falters fast in its storyline, Fenn’s performance of Catherine is pure beauty and innocence, an unwavering knowing, yet tormented.

There is a silent strength. Those distinguished, alluring eyes convey much emotion that can’t always be verbalized. The moment Catherine cries, it’s reminiscent of Audrey (Twin Peaks), that heartfelt natural expression of sadness.

Fenn needs hearty new roles these days, something unique, perhaps the midlife villain that everyone trusts yet has a dark secret and plays on others’ good nature. Give her a character with great depth to explore, as she deserves a rewarding comeback to the screen.

The Wives of Jack Deth: Lena and Alice (Trancers 1, 1984, & Trancers 2, 1991)

What makes futuristic detective Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) so magnetic is his instincts, handsome and rugged appeal, and the women in his life.

In the first film, set in 1985 Los Angeles, CA, Jack falls in love with Lena (Helen Hunt), now his wife six years later, after choosing not to return to the twenty-third century.  His initial mission was to travel back in time and eliminate his long-time foe, Martin Whistler (Michael Stefani), who dominated humanity by turning others into trancers – zombielike, inhabited humans.

In the adventure of battling Whistler together, Jack experiences the fun of life again, letting loose as Lena softens his hard shell. Jack’s eternal experiences also help mature Lena’s fierce instincts and confidence. It’s a great transition that Hunt reveals, and there’s an organic chemistry between her and Thomerson.

Then comes along, Special Agent, Alice Stillwell (Megan Ward), Jack’s future wife, thought to have been killed, now transmuted to 1991 to help stop Whistler’s revengeful brother, Dr. Wardo (Richard Lynch), who exploits the homeless into becoming trancers.

Ward is soft and radiant. Her portrayal of Alice can see right through him, challenging his inner turmoil of timelines, yet feeling comfort from both wives. What he knows with Alice becomes second nature, but what he’s built with Lena is freedom.

Alice surrenders her desire to reunite after seeing his love for Lena. Remembering painfully how Alice died in his arms, Jack sends her off in the time capsule, helping her escape her future impending doom.

Jack is nothing without his ladies.

IN CONCLUSION:

Obviously, this list is nowhere near comprehensive, and there are so many wildly talented women worthy of recognition. However, I chose to focus on a few of the more unsung heroes of the Full Moon filmography. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out more of the sultry and slaying legends of Full Moon.

The Sorority Babes in Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama sex pot sisters of Michelle Bauer, Linnea Quigley, and Brinke Stevens.

Melissa Behr (Bad Channels), Tracy Scoggins (Demonic Toys), Robin Frates (Puppet Master), Cody Renee Cameron and Robin Sydney (Barbie and Kendra), Maria Olsen (Ravenwolf Towers), Kelly Connor (The Seduction of Rose Parrish), Shannon Barnes (Quadrant), Kelly Curran and Lorin Doctor (Don’t Let Her In), and the incomparable Libbie Higgins (Baby Oopsie).

The Castle Freak queens, Barbara Crampton, Jessica Dollarhide, and Carolyn Purdy-Gordon. Subspecies beauties Denice Duff and Melanie Shatner. And, of course, Diana Prince (aka, Darcy the Mail Girl of The Last Drive-In fame), who celebrated the taboo of Famous T&A 2.

What I’ve learned from exploring the mind-blowing universe of Full Moon Features and its prolific mastermind, Charles Band, is that Band never stops taking creative chances. I think that’s why Full Moon can bring the versatility to the horror genre in the absurdity of unique creatures, futuristic and alien concepts, the dramatic backdrops of Italian castles, and the B-rated fun of babes… resting more on the side of sensuality than misogyny.

It’s that tenacious mindset that has opened many doors for actresses starting in their careers or building cult iconic legacies.