I begin the interview as the list of obvious questions disintegrates in my skull. After all, this isn't just some fluff piece-I'm interviewing a centuries-old demonic force. I wonder just how many centuries. Of course, I don't realize I'm wondering this out loud-

"Oh, you just jump right in, don't you-asking a lady her age?"

Still disoriented, I let her know immediately how unprepared I was for this interview. "Oh, it's alright, sweetie. It's always a little shocking when people find out that Evil Dead is one of the last films to feature real demons."

"One of the last?" I ask.

"If I'm not mistaken, The Mirror Has Two Faces was the last movie to feature a demon in the lead role."

I'm still trying to figure this out. I tell her, "Bruce Campbell told me once that he felt sorry for Ted Raimi, because playing Henrietta must've been tough, but here you are…"

"Ted Raimi was my stunt and lighting double on Evil Dead 2. He was such a nice boy."

Stunt double? I've got to get a grip on myself here. "Of course" she says-matter of factly, "You were so keen to mention my age before. I'm no spring chicken. Someone had to take all of those pratfalls, and that Bruce Campbell-he does not pull punches. I think that he takes that macho action star thing too seriously, 'I'm going to prove how tough I am and beat up on a real demon." Lot's of Hollywood stars treat demons that way. My sister has a friend who's son was a Satanic stand-in for Gabriel Byrne on that Arnold muscle-man's movie-'The End of the Line.'"

"End of Days?" I correct her.

"That's the one. My sister's friend-her son came home every day leaking bile from shotgun wounds. At one point, his head was barely attached by what was left of his trachea. It wasn't a pretty sight."

Henrietta tells of a time when it was hard for demons on a set. The S.A.G. regulations that govern " demonic performances" are more stringent than those for even the youngest child actors. "I did some work on the Exorcist set, and let me tell you, it was so very difficult. Because of the demons and the little girl that played Regan, there was constant union presence. The producers were very upset-there were some things they just weren't allowed to do. For instance, I wanted to levitate Max Von Sydow and repeatedly bash his head into a wall until his skull caved in? They wouldn't let me. Our hands were tied creatively on that film."

Henrietta pauses to pet one of the many felines prowling the fruit cellar. She lifts it up by the scruff of fur on its neck, her jaw enlarges, and she devours the cat whole. The cat, still alive, attempts to claw through her throat to escape, but Henrietta picks up a pencil and begins stabbing herself in the neck until the cat stops moving. At this point, my notes are sprayed with seven different colors of blood. As I am writing, I lose control of my hand and draw a book on my notepad for no reason. I decide to steer the conversation into Sam Raimi territory. I was surprised to find Henrietta's recollections so clear.