Unveiling Robert Englund

Originally Published 2003
Static Multimedia - Film

"Yeah, usually I celebrate Halloween in a very big way, but this year I am leaving it to the amateurs."

Who would have thought that these two horror icons would team up in the battle royale of the century? Certainly a horror fans best nightmare. Mr Englund was nice enough to give Me some time without the makeup.

R: What is your latest project?

A: I just filmed Freddy vs Jason. We see a lot of Jason's history and his nightmares and what made him become Jason. It's getting more and more difficult because the stunts keep on getting more and more violent.

(laugh)

R: So, you have a stunt double?

A: Yeah, I think my stunt double gets dropped through a roof of a building, swung around through the air by Jason and dragged through a broken window. I also do a lot of stuff in the lake. There is this bottomless lake out there and they have me shooting out of it and I fire some big construction sized canisters at Jason.

R: Wow, the life of a horror star.

A: Yes, a lot of excitement. I am also supposed to be torturing Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child. She is one of the stars. We had some really enjoyable nights.

R: Does it get easier putting on the makeup?

A: No, it used to be easier. I am older now, and the skin under my eyes is a different consistency. The mask is great when I am wearing it, very light and pourous. I used to be able to just rip it off and make last call with the crew. The glue starts to stick to my skin now. When I take it off, it is a big pain in the ass.

R: Who is doing the makeup this time around?

A: A local group called WUCT Shop is taking care of the makeup. They are really great. The designers name is Bill Terezakis. He has done a lot of great stuff and is currently working on X-Men 2 at the same time. He is doing me and Jason and a lot of the effects on the X-Men - a very talented guy.

R: Horror greats - you have Karloff, Lugosi, Vincent Price - Englund. Do you feel it is an honor to be categorized with them as a classic horror star or is it difficult?

A: Whenever I hear my name mentioned in the same breath as those great actors, it is an honor. I am a huge fan of Karloff - of course Legosi like everyone else, and a big fan of Vincent Price. Aside from just the camp fun of Dr. Phibes, one of my favorites is Laura with Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews.

It's fun because some of the horror genre stuff that I am doing now out of makeup is becoming similar to what Karloff and Vincent Price were doing. My role in Urban Legend is a good example.

R: I had a chance to hang out with Vincent Price in the 80's and one thing he kept saying was that the fun is gone in filmmaking. Do you think it is coming back?

A: Yes, it depends. I did some shooting in Italy and we were using really long lenses, doing some improvisation, lot's of give and take, and that was really exciting for me. The energy exuded was great.

I did this wonderful low budget film in Sicily and the atmosphere and food was magical. Walking with the crew after a days work and walking down cobblestone streets passed palaces to a small square where they start serving dinner at 10 or 11 at night. Sitting down for a seven course meal and a few bottles of wine and dessert with everyone - it was wonderful.

R: Now, 2001 Maniacs…Herschell Gordon Lewis…..are you a big fan?

A: Yeah! The film did a turnaround twice and I really wanted to get this thing going because I think it is a great project. It looks like everything is a go now. I am excited because this movie is so over the top! It's sort of a Scream meets Mad Magazine. I love my role (Mayor Buford) because it's probably the most politically incorrect parts ever conceived. My friends might tar and feather me, but I think that they will appreciate how over the top and camp that it is.

R: How did you meet Director Tim Sullivan?

Tim had Michael Deluca's ear at New Line Cinema. Michael really was the future of Hollywood. At that time, he was one of the few people, along with Joe Dante and others, taking steps to embrace pop culture - comic books, rock n' roll, and horror. You know like Clive Barker meets DC Comics. Michael was responsible for that becoming a new direction and a new genre in film.

I think that Tim was around for a little bit of that and then also went off to create his own magazine ("go figure! magazine"), along with producing and writing scripts. Then, he did a little gem called Detroit Rock City.

I had been around him over the years throughout all of those projects. I met him early on and think I hung out with him on the set of one of the Nightmare's. Although I am a bit older than him, Tim was like one of those guy's that I kinda knew from junior high school. You know, one of those smart guys that had the really cool bedroom, great comics, and cool records. Being younger, maybe he was that guy's younger brother. Between him and Mark Hamill, it sort of made it ok for me to like those things again. I realized that there was another generation that was embracing that stuff as well and extending it. Like Wes Craven defending good horror and not apologizing for the genre.

Even though some of us have been typecast - it is not the genres fault, you still find the good in it. Whether it is a great Rami film, a Spanish film, or a great new director like Guillermo del Toro, who I have been praising for years that directed Devil's Backbone.. Tim is one of those guys with great energy.

When he first brought me the script for 2001 Maniacs, it was a little rougher - a little more "Gonzo" hardcore rock n roll, but it has taken great shape. It has a very good cast of kids in it and is done quite well. I think we are going to have a lot of fun with it. I am very excited and believe this is a real rock n roll gem.

R: I hear John Landis is in the film.

I know John and we were coincidentally on a journey together in France, where we presented an award to Ronny Yu (who is also directing Jason vs Freddy). He was premiering his new film the 51st State with Sam Jackson. I feel in good company. It has that sort of serendipity and good luck you like to find in Hollywood. I had a great time with my wife with John Landis in France. John Landis has that adolescent kid alive in him too like Wes Craven. If any of that trickles down onto 2001 Maniacs and Tim Sullivan, we will have a hit.

R: So you are back at Crystal Lake with 2001 Maniacs then?

I think we are going to be a more like this small southern town that we are creating. We had these terrible fires out by Magic Mountain where they filmed all the old cowboy movies - all the William S Hart movies, on the back lot. I guess a lot of the stuff had been damaged and Tim was trying to figure out a way to use all the charred remains - sort of this hellacious backdrop.

R: So, Robert Englund....how do you celebrate Halloween?

I usually go to a kick ass party that the special effects guys throw, it's the biggest party in town, but not this year because I am under the knife. I only hope I put somebody under the cloth. Yeah, usually I celebrate Halloween in a very big way, but this year I am leaving it to the amateurs.

R: In closing then, what is a dream role for you?

I read this dark reworking of Othello by David Irving, whose father was a famous director and who's sister is the actress Amy Irving. I wanted to play the part of Iago with absolutely no motivation, just bad to the bone.