The titular character of "Julie" is quite a gal. But before getting into that, let me warn readers having never seen the Karen Black segment, or read the Matheson story that there will be spoilers along the way, so those wanting to be surprised had best steer clear of this post from here.
The main difference between the two Julies is that one is a 30-ish English teacher, while the other is a college student. In Matheson's short story, Eddy Baker, typical straight jerk who thinks he is God's gift to women--we've all known one, dears--sits behind Julie, in English class. She is an altogether plain, spinsterish looking girl, the kind who wears glasses, her hair in a bun, dressing in oversized clothes to hide her body from everyone, maybe ever herself. She is the kind of girl no one notices.
But suddenly, Eddy Baker does notice Julie. He becomes fascinated with her, and like in the film, he goes to her home--where she does have a roommate who is never seen--and watches her as she undresses before the window., exposing her nudity, which entices Eddy. Again, following the movie, he asks her out, they go to a drive-in, where he drugs Julie's drink, taking her to a sleazy motel, where he exercises all his sexual fantasies on her, photographing her in the nude. He bribes her with the photos, saying if she does not comply with his wishes, he will send these to her parents! In the film, the student, Chad, threatens to send them to the school administrators, and she will be fired.
It is here Matheson's story becomes more ambiguous, making it more fascinating. The more Eddy wants to see Julie, the more impossible it seems to. He confronts her, accusing her of corrupting him, but Julie does not understand. Or does she?
Later, as Julie burns the photographs, the reader learns there have been others like Eddy, but it is anyone's guess as to how they are gotten rid of. Mental illness, suicide, some kinds of accidents are hinted at, but never explained,
In the 1975 film, Chad's interest in photography is more fleshed out. Julie turns the tables on him, drugging him with a drink that kills. She drags the body into the dark room, where she burns all his photo equipment, making it look like he died in a fire.
Richard Matheson does not clarify Eddy's departure. Instead, he introduces us to a guy named Philip, whom Julie sits in front of in Physics class, and has no idea what he is in for.
The story lacks the wit of Karen Black, when, upon meeting her next student/ victim, Arthur Moore (played by a young Gregory Harrison), says "I have a feeling that we're going to be friends, Arthur. Very. Good. Friends," as she closes the door, entrapping him.
Both mediums work well, though the film fleshes out some things. But neither answers some questions I have had.
How long has either Julie been doing this? What made each the way they are? Karen Black gives the viewer a clue to Julie's calculatedness when she exposes her right leg unobtrusively, in the opening scene of class.
Matheson's story gives no clues to what is ahead. Within the horror anthology that the story is in, 1962's "Alone By Night," each story, under its title, describes what kind of horror is being dealt with. Under "The Likeness Of Julie," it says "succubus." This is a female demon who sexually preys upon men while asleep.
I don't agree. I think Julie is all human and not a supernatural being. I think she is a lethal misandrist, but what made her this way is what I would like to know. Was she born this way?
There is a case to be made here. When introducing the character of Cathy Ames in his great American novel, "East Of Eden," he maintains she was born into this world a monster. Think Rhoda Penmark in "The Bad Seed."
Or could something have happened to Julie in childhood, causing her to hate men, wanting to get back at them in the worst way?
I am at a loss for words. But I am not through with Julie just yet. I may write my own version of her story, explaining how she got to this point. If successful, I may post it on here.
Be wary of the unnoticed who walk among us.
They just may be like Julie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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