PopHorror Let's Get Scared
If you’ve ever been to a horror convention, chances are you’ve met PJ Soles. Known mostly for portraying Norma Watson in 1976’s Carrie, Lynda van der Klok in 1978’s Halloween and Riff Randall in 1979’s Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, PJ has become a favorite at conventions all over, where she gleefully interacts with her fans and poses for endless photos. This makes it even more exciting to see that PJ has been appearing in more and more indie films as of late, and her highly anticipated comeback has hit the ground running. For the release of one of her latest project, Candy Corn, I was lucky to speak with PJ, and we discussed her return to acting, what she has coming up soon, and, of course, horror movies.
PopHorror: Hi PJ! Thank you so much for taking the time today. I know you’re super busy.
PJ Soles: Hi Tiffany! Have you seen the movie?
PopHorror: I have! What was it about Candy Corn [read the PopHorror review here] that made you want to be a part of it?
PJ Soles: Well, everything depends on the script, but in this case, as I hadn’t done a movie in a long time. It was actually Ben Scrivens, who owns the Fright-Rags t-shirt company. Have you heard of them? They did that shirt for me that says “Totally” on it. They’re just an awesome company, and we’ve become friends over the years. So he sent me the script and told me that it was written and directed by Josh Hasty. I looked him up, and he had done The Making of 31 with Rob Zombie, for Rob Zombie. Obviously, I did Devil’s Rejects with Rob, so between that connection and reading the script, of which I liked very much, and then having an hour-long conversation with Josh, assured me that my reentry into the acting world, that he would take good care of me and make sure I didn’t embarrass myself so I had confidence.
And the third part or fourth part was, I didn’t get killed in the movie! That’s my new guideline. I don’t get killed. I trust the writer/director. And, the fact that there were other good people in it: Pancho [Moler – read the PopHorror interview with him here], Tony Todd, and Courtney Gaines, of course, whom I had never met. I thought it would be so much fun to play his dispatcher. He was wonderful as the sheriff, very believable.
PopHorror: I agree! The cast was just fantastic.
PJ Soles: Weren’t they? Everybody was awesome.
PopHorror: What was your fondest memory of filming?
PJ Soles: I think again, it’s reminiscent of my time with John Carpenter and Debra Hill and everybody on the set of Halloween. Just a really nice, family atmosphere. Very low key, soft-spoken, very relaxing. A lot of sets are hyper, and people are trying to get things done. They have a quick vibe to them as opposed to relaxing. The director sets the tone. Josh just is a consummate artist. He set the tone to have it be a really nice experience, and I appreciated that.
PopHorror: Let’s talk about your hair in the film.
PJ Soles: My hair! I owe it all to Josh Hasty. The last thing I would want is bigger hair than I already have, but he’s like, “No, this is the ’80s, and Marcy is that girl.” The wardrobe was all his. I came with two or three outfits; that’s my thing. I picked out all of Riff Randall’s outfits for Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. Lynda from Halloween; those are all my clothes. I was pretty stunned when I came to set, and Josh came out with this outfit that, at first, I thought, “Okay, am I the clown in this piece?” I tried it on, and it pales in comparison to what I brought. So I said, “All right! Let’s do it!”
We sat in the hair department, and he kept describing this hairdo that I’m like, “If I’m going to have a hairdresser, then make it flat. I don’t want as much volume because my hair is too big.” And he goes, “No, no, no, no. Let her try it.” She did, and I fell in love with the whole look. I completely owe it to Josh…. Not only that, but composer of the movie had their hand in my wardrobe and my hair. They made it bigger than it’s ever been.
PopHorror: That’s so awesome! You are a legendary horror icon and a fan favorite. We’ve met several times at different conventions, and your line is always the longest. What initially drew you to the horror genre?
PJ Soles: Well, I don’t think it was even that. My first film was Carrie, and that was after I had moved from New York to LA. I had been in town for two weeks, and that was the first audition I went on for a film. That sort of got the ball rolling. Then I did a lot of episodic TV and movies of the week. Then probably because John Carpenter saw Carrie, he had me in mind for Lynda, so it’s not that I was really drawn to it. That was what was offered to me. As a young actress wanting to get my next part, my next role, pay the rent, I did that. Then after that, I did Rock ‘n’ Roll High School so I don’t think I was drawn to it. It’s not my favorite kind of genre. I don’t seek out to watch them.
PopHorror: Really?
PJ Soles: No, and then after that, I was in Private Benjamin, Sweet Dreams, and Stripes, so I don’t consider myself just a horror genre actress, although people in the horror convention scene tend to see me that way. Then they get to my table and see all my other films. Some of them don’t even realize or remember that I was in Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, which is always surprising to me. Or Stripes. Then they buy a picture for their dad.
PopHorror: Well, something about it makes you keep coming back.
PJ Soles: Well, then Rob Zombie said that I was his favorite ingenue in horror when he was coming up, so, of course, he wanted to have me as a cameo in Devil’s Rejects. I love my scene with Sid Haig, and so that was wonderful. It’s nice to have the body of work that I have, and horror is primary probably only because I only go to horror conventions. There aren’t a lot of comedy conventions around.
PopHorror: That is very true.
PJ Soles: My fans are the best. That’s why my lines are long. I take a lot of time with everybody. They can take group pictures with me. I love to hear their stories, and everybody knows that I’m a listener and a hugger.
PopHorror: What are you currently working on?
PJ Soles: Surprisingly, after Josh convinced me that I should reenter the acting world, my concerns were that I would look old on film, and I would forget my lines. He said, “We’re going to take care of you. Don’t worry.” Between his hair, the outfit, the makeup girl, and the DP, I trusted them. And it turned out okay. I wasn’t horrified. Nobody’s looking at my face. They’re just looking at my costume and my hair. And he said, “You’ll be sitting a desk, so you can write your lines down on a piece of paper.” But I never had to look, so I was happy. After that, I got offered two other films that year, and ironically, Candy Corn I filmed last of all.
I have a movie called Killer Therapy, where I play a therapist, and that is going to have a cast screening on October 16. Thereafter, hopefully, it will come out soon. That’s really going to be exciting. Adrienne King plays the superintendent of the school. A very thrilling, interesting movie. Very psychological and a really cool movie by Barry Jay [Never Hike Alone 2017 – read the PopHorror review here]. Then I’m in a movie that Eben from Mad Monster did called Hanukkah, and it’s the first Jewish slasher movie with Sid Haig. I don’t get killed in any of these, so that’s my guiding principle. Maybe I have sequels in mind, I don’t know. No, I’m just kidding.
PopHorror: That’s so awesome! Have to keep an eye out for both of those. One last question: what is your favorite scary movie?
PJ Soles: People ask me that a lot. I really love Funny Games. It’s with Naomi Watts, and it is so scary.
Thank you so much to PJ for taking the time to speak with us. Be sure to check out Candy Corn on all streaming platforms!
