In late April, some extremely sad news was announced in the horror community: actress Lar Park Lincoln passed away at the age of sixty-three.
Perhaps you don’t immediately recognize her name.
In wider pop culture, she was perhaps best known for her role on Knots Landing. She also costarred in House 2 as well as an episode of Freddy’s Nightmares.
But without a doubt, her most celebrated horror film was Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, in which she portrayed telekinetic teen Tina Shepard.
Lar Park Lincoln in "House II"
Photo Credit: New World PicturesSometimes, this particular sequel is billed by fans as nothing more than Carrie vs. Jason. And listen, if you call it that with a loving tone, then that’s totally fine.
But I’ve long felt that Part VII was something far more special than just a horror knockoff/mashup. And what makes it so special is undeniably Lar Park Lincoln’s portrayal of Tina Shepard.
She brings such a nuanced presence to every scene, and her backstory as an abuse survivor imbues her character with a depth that tends to be lacking in many 80s slasher films, even among Final Girls.
While most of the Friday the 13th films simply follow a group of teenage campers as they get picked off one by one, Part VII is devoted to tracking Tina and her raw emotional arc.
In a painful opening scene, we see her in childhood dealing with an alcoholic abusive father, and from there, we watch her remorse over inadvertently causing his death.
We also witness a doctor exploit her for her powers in her teen years and the way all these traumas continue to affect her, up to and including her accidental resurrection of Jason Voorhees at Camp Crystal Lake.
Lar Park Lincoln in "Friday the 13th Part VII"
Photo Credit: Paramount PicturesAnd of course in the fantastic finale, Tina finally faces her fears and misplaced guilt, using her powers to destroy Jason in what remains one of the very best climaxes in the entire series.
Through it all, Lar Park Lincoln shows us Tina’s vulnerability as well as her ever-growing strength and autonomy. She’s truly a Final Girl for the ages, and it remains surprising to me that she hasn’t been reclaimed by modern audiences.
Because Tina absolutely deserves to be up there with the Sidney Prescotts and Nancy Thompsons of the genre.
Lar Park Lincoln in "Friday the 13th Part VII"
Photo Credit: Paramount PicturesOnce upon a time, I used to daydream about an imaginary Friday the 13th movie. It would feature all of the Final Girls from the previous films, starting with Adrienne King from the first film and right up through Monica Keena in Freddy vs. Jason.
The plot would be simple enough. After receiving word that the killings had started again, the Final Girls would all convene at Camp Crystal Lake, middle-aged women with lives they’ve done their best to rebuild after surviving a massacre.
Together, they’d face off against Jason Voorhees, and naturally, they would win. And Tina would of course be a centerpiece of this story, her powers leading the group to their bloody, brutal victory.
There was no reason to think this movie would ever really be made. But it was a strange little daydream that would sometimes give me comfort, the notion that all these magnificent, underrated actresses would unite for a final hurrah.
It would have been a chance to visit old cinematic friends one more time. Now that silly daydream is over. Without Lar Park Lincoln, the Friday the 13th final girls are forever missing a vital member.
My horror heart hurts for this loss, not only for our genre but for all the amazing work Lincoln could have done in the years to come.
Lar Park Lincoln in "Knots Landing"
Photo Credit: Lorimar TelevisionDespite departing this realm when she was far too young, Lincoln left behind a wonderful legacy. In addition to her many roles over the years, she was also an acting coach, having founded Actors Audition Studios.
In a very sweet full-circle moment for the genre, one of Lincoln’s past Student Spotlights in her 2012 newsletter included congratulations to Mckenna Grace for booking a Disney film.
Since then, Grace has gone on to costar as the young Theodora in Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House as well as in other horror films including The Bad Seed remake and Annabelle Comes Home.
So not only was Lar Park Lincoln a horror icon in her own right, she also helped guide the future horror stars for the current generation.
A fitting and fantastic horror legacy if ever there was one.
Lar Park Lincoln in "Friday the 13th Part VII"
Photo Credit: Paramount PicturesSo from the bottom of my slasher-loving heart, I wish Lar Park Lincoln a peaceful and comforting transition into the next realm, and I also send her family and fans all my horror love
We were lucky to have her in this world and in our genre. Tina Shepard, you will always be remembered.
Featured stills from “Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood” via Paramount Pictures ; Additional feature photo: Wikipedia
