I’m a little behind the times on this one. Ms. Kidder passed away on May 13th. Still, it’s never too late to pay tribute, I think. While Ms. Kidder will forever be remembered as the Lois Lane to Christopher Reeve’s Superman (It’s comforting to think that the two of them are flying together again, somewhere, forever young and healthy and strong.), she had a lengthy genre history as well, an important one. She was featured in not one but two Horror movie touchstones, both now regarded as genuine classics.
Some fans and cinephiles consider 1974’s BLACK CHRISTMAS to be the first true slasher movie. While I would favor Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO for that honor, it’s hard to dismiss the position occupied by the former film. It’s even harder to discount the place occupied by THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. Margot Kidder starred in both movies, receiving a Saturn award nomination for Best Actress for the latter. Ms. Kidder was a noted political and environmental activist, and her struggles with, and overcoming of, Bipolar Disorder served as an inspiration for others suffering from mental illness.
Margot Kidder had largely avoided the spotlight in recent years, but she continued to work regularly. Her last role was in the Canadian drama THE NEIGHBORHOOD. She will be missed.