Part 5 of 10
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CHARLES HALL INTRO:
They
have terrorized the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis and Linda Hamilton, and have
walked down the aisle with Uma Thurman. They did battle with a flesh-eating
creature, demon-hunting brothers, and a possessed doll. And they unleashed upon
the world a sadistic serial killer, a vengeful tooth fairy, the deadly Ocularis
Infernum, and a silver-eyed antihero. For them, it’s all in a day’s work.
Over the past few months, I
had the pleasure of interviewing the ten individuals described above. These
‘blood types’ include actors
Courtney Gains (Malachai, Children of the
Corn), Travis Schiffner (Jeepers Creepers II), Elias
Toufexis (Decoys, TV’s Supernatural),
and
Alex Vincent
(Andy Barclay, Child’s Play, Child’s Play 2).
Also in the mix
are actor/former special FX makeup artist
Christopher Nelson (Kill Bill:
Vol. 1 & 2), and actor/stuntman
Christopher Durand (Michael
Myers, Halloween: H20).
Rounding out the pack are scribes
Kieran
Galvin (Feed), Joe Harris (The Tripper, Darkness Falls),
Neal Marshall Stevens (Thir13en Ghosts, Hellraiser: Deader),
and
Ken Wheat (Pitch Black, The Fly II). Together,
they have helped shape our darkest nightmares.
In addition to thanking the participants, I would like to extend special thanks
to John Fallon
and Christopher
Showerman
for their generosity and encouragement. I hope readers enjoy Blood Types
as much as I enjoyed creating it.
HALL: Which horror films, if
any, left a lasting impression on you? Why?
STEVENS: I grew up watching old fifties horror and science fiction films on
TV. I still have vivid memories of movies like It! The Terror from Beyond
Space, Voodoo Island, Enemy from Space, and Caltiki, the
Immortal Monster.
I
wouldn’t go so far as to say that these were great movies, but they all had
moments that permanently impressed themselves on my subconscious. Later on, I
saw The Haunting and Night of the Living Dead — both of which
still scare the hell out of me, and I also saw The Exorcist and Dawn
of the Dead when they were first released, and certainly the latter movie
completely knocked me out when I first saw it — unrated on the big screen.
HALL: Psycho, Night
of the Living Dead, The Omen, and other landmark horror films have
been remade in recent years, and there are more remakes in store. In general,
how do you feel about remakes?
TOUFEXIS: Honestly (though this may end up costing me an acting job in the
future) most remakes suck. The remake of Psycho seemed like a waste of
time. I haven’t seen The Omen, but I had about six callbacks for a part
in The Fog remake, which, after seeing it, I guess it’s a good thing I
didn’t get it. I liked the Night of the Living Dead remake, just because
I love Tony Todd and Tom Savini. I actually really liked the Dawn of the Dead
remake.
I think
it’s a good homage and update of the classic Romero DotD. Ninety percent
of big studio horror movies just don’t do it for me these days. For me, it is
all about guys like Eli Roth, Leigh Whannell and James Wan, who are trying to
bring original and truly scary horror movies back. Not to say I haven’t been in
my share of crappy horror movies myself…at least the money’s good. I am, of
course, anticipating the time I get to work with a new and visionary horror
director.
HALL: What is your fondest
memory of working on Child’s Play?
VINCENT: Lots of moments, from spending time with the cast to going to my
own premiere at seven years old. Filming Child’s Play 2 at Universal, I
got to meet some of my favorite celebrities…namely Michael J. Fox.
HALL: If you were given a
chance to do it over, is there a moment or a period in your film career that you
would revisit, revise, or perhaps change altogether?
WHEAT:
Therein lies the path to madness!
HALL: What was the last horror
film you saw in a theater? What was the last horror DVD you rented or purchased?
Did the films live up to your expectations?
DURAND
[circa June 2006]: The last horror film that I saw in a theater was The
Grudge. It had some really freaky moments and a few good scares. The last
rental was probably a crossover. Resident Evil and Resident Evil:
Apocalypse. I watched them to get up to speed with the story and style. I am
currently filming Resident Evil 3, as one of the Super Undead.
HALL: Horror fans are famously
loyal. Could you tell us about some of the more interesting fan correspondence
you’ve received? Have there been any memorable festival or convention
encounters?
GAINS:
Lots. The most recent is a girl who took Courtney as her middle name because of
Children of the Corn.
HALL: The range of horror
films–from the psychological suspense of Rosemary’s Baby to the visceral
terror of Hostel–is evidence that different things scare different
filmgoers. What scares you?
GALVIN:
George Bush, racism, homophobia, religious zealotry of all denominations,
the degradation of our environment, the coming Water wars, speed bumps, the
thought of being in an accident and ending up a quadriplegic. But I suppose you
want to know about films. I’m definitely at the visceral psychological horror
end where filmmakers use the viewer’s imagination to fuel the fear. Chopping
people up and doing other nasty things makes me look away from the screen, but
that’s so I don’t vomit over other people…it doesn’t actually scare me and it’s
instantly forgettable.
HALL: Tell us something about
yourself that we don’t already know and may be surprised to learn.
NELSON:
You’ll find out soon enough! Just kidding. I’m not one to reveal things
about myself. But I do have a story I’ll make quick. When I was very young,
George Romero was shooting Dawn of the Dead near my school. After school
one day I went and watched from afar. I knew who it was and what they were
shooting. I told myself that someday I would work with that guy. Sure enough,
many years later, I worked on Land of the Dead, playing two roles and
creating zombies for him. A delightful and talented man. I have a framed picture
of he and I.
HALL: What’s next for Travis
Schiffner?
SCHIFFNER: To get off my ass and get back to Los Angeles. I split from L.A.
after my daughter was born because I wasn’t making enough money to buy a house
at the time and I didn’t want to raise my daughter in East L.A. So I moved to
Arlington, Texas. Why, you may ask? I have no idea. But, L.A. is calling me
back. I can truly say that the one thing that I will do for the rest of my life
is act. I knew it was my calling the first time I did it. So what’s next? I’ll
let you know…when I book my next movie.
STAY TUNED FOR
PART 6 OF THIS FEATURE -COMING SOON TO THE SITE!