Update: due to unforeseen circumstances, the remaining eight entries missed the BHM deadline and will spill into the next day or two. Sorry for the inconvenience.
This February, Midnight Social Distortion will be celebrating Black History Month by honoring Black horror characters, in particular Black horror survivors, throughout the twenty-eight day period. Each day will feature one black male and one black female survivor in horror and sci-fi to bring light to the positive, albeit still problematic, black champions of representation in horror. Some disclaimers first: obvious spoilers ahead, and not all horror survivors will be featured this go round, but will appear in later posts down the line.
Rochelle (Rachel True)
Character Arc
Even though Rochelle’s life wasn’t in harms way of a slasher, ghoul, or supernatural killer, she still needs to be included for her #BlackGirlMagic alone. Being one of the outsiders at school because she was black and thick, Rochelle was a breath of fresh air among a “white” setting. She turned to witchcraft with her friends and snatched her racist bitch ass bully Laura Lizzie completely bald. Figuratively, yet literally. But Rochelle abused the powers of Manon and was subjected to being stripped of her gifts. That doesn’t matter, because we got to see a black woman in power shitting on a racist Becky (with the snatched hair) for a change. Live on in slay, Rochelle. Live on in slay.
Fun Trivia
In some areas, Rochelle is given the last name Zimmerman even though it’s never mentioned in the film.
While Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Sarah (Robin Tunney), and Bonnie (Neve Campbell) all have a parent in their lives, we never see any of Rochelle’s home life, probably since her issues dealt with mostly the racist Laura Lizzy, who she only confronted at school. It still would’ve been nice to see her have some semblance of a family. It looks like she was rich given the house she stayed in.
There’s a deleted scene when Nancy is berating the girls for trying to turn against her, using their insecurities as her weapons. This it only nails Rochelle and Bonnie’s issues right in the head, but it also explains why the girls so readily joined her side despite their concerns after they invoked Manon on the beach.
Final Thoughts
Listen… where do I even begin.
First there was Rodger from Night of the Demons, Jeryline in Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight, then Fool from The People Under the Stairs, and of course Yvonne from A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, who really made my love for horror even more giddy. Then The Craft gave us Rochelle and life really became better afterwards. Rochelle was me. While I wasn’t the only black kid in a private school, I was not a “normal” black kid and was teased mercilessly from both white and black kids, so there was no end of torture in sight for me. Rochelle represented my angst and anger and I swear I teared up when I saw her in the trailer. I was like “black people can be witches?!” Stunned, gooped, and gagged. All in one setting. Her presence in the movie was everything and it marked a period of me seeking out others like her.
I include Rochelle in this roster, because despite there not being a slasher offing the girls one by one in the movie, Nancy could’ve snapped and killed Rochelle and Bonnie, or the spirits could’ve done something to her in retaliation (what you send you comes back threefold). The movie could’ve went that route, but instead let Rochelle live to see the end of the credits. It was just another surprise in a movie that still surprises audiences to this day. This is why I saved the best for last.
Rachel True, “aka Rochelle,” I truly love you and your ‘craft.’ Please continue enchanting people with not only this role, but your wisdom and wit that you give out daily on Twitter, Instagram, and beyond. You are truly the epitome of Black Girl Magic. Blessed Be, sis!!!!