PopHorror Let's Get Scared
So far in my writing career, I’ve had the privilege of reviewing amazing films from all around the world and interviewing iconic legends that I never thought would happen. Recently, I had the the opportunity to talk with someone who has been a true horror inspiration since the ’80s and continues to make a mark in the horror industry. Help me welcome the one and only Barbara Crampton, a horror goddess who truly is one of us.
In this chat, we talked about her glorious career, her interesting character in Dead Night (read our review HERE), the new Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich film, and more. Read on to get the juicy details – you’ll love it!
It’s so great to finally talk with you, Barbara! Let’s get started. You’ve been acting for a long time. At what age did you know this is something you wanted to do?
Barbara Crampton – Thank you! Probably when I was about 11 years-old, I realized I wanted to become an actress. I used to come home after school and watch the Million Dollar Movie, which was on at 4 o’clock every day on Long Island, where I grew up. I used to watch people like Miriam Hopkins and Bette Davis… I just loved them. They were ’40s stars and bigger than life to me and often melodramatic. I grew up watching them and thought, “This is it! This is what I want to do.” I think a lot of people grow up thinking, at one time or another, that being actor would be fun. Pretending is fun. It’s just something I never grew out of.
Both of those actresses are great and inspirational. You’ve done a variety of types of roles throughout your career, but most it has been horror, and you’ve stayed true to it. Are horror films something you’ve always enjoyed, or do you just like to act in them?
Barbara Crampton – I don’t think it was something I gravitated to as a viewer from a very early age. However, I did grow up watching Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Night Gallery, and Dark Shadows. Dark Shadows was a big influence on me growing up. But I just wanted to act and tell stories. I think because I was cast early in a few movies that did really well like Re-Animator and From Beyond, I became known in the genre and people kept asking me to be in those type of movies. I took a break from acting to raise my children, but when I came back to do You’re Next, I realized that genre cinema was really my home, and that people liked me in this genre. So, I re-dedicated myself to my acting career and very purposefully to the horror genre.
Around 6 years or so ago, I really started to become more knowledgeable and watching more movies from the past in the horror genre, as well as focusing on what people were doing currently. I realized the horror genre is the best genre there is. You can tell any kind of story through the lens of a horror movie: a comedy or thriller or a crime heist movie. I really feel like over the last number of years, we’ve seen that the horror genre is not such a dirty word anymore, and people are telling multi-layered stories that have horror elements in them. I think the horror genre is on fire right now. I’m just thrilled to be in the company of people who are telling just wildly imaginative, cool and interesting passionate stories.
Yes, it is! You’ve been a pillar of the horror community since the ’80s – respected, idolized, and crushed on by basically every fan of the genre. What has the embrace of horror fans meant to you throughout your life and career?
Barbara Crampton – Geez, I didn’t even realize that people felt that way about me until I became involved with You’re Next. I was not on any social media before I did this movie; I didn’t have Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. After I did the movie, Simon Barrett said, “No one calls each other anymore. We don’t get together as often as we can, or even as much as we like to. So you’re going to have join these social media sites to keep in touch with us.” So, I joined all these sites and one of the first people who noticed I was on Twitter was Scott Weinberg. He’s so supportive of the horror genre and loves it so much, as well as the individual actors. He was one of the first people to talk to me, and it was a wonderful conversation. Then, I received more and more friends on Facebook and was able to interact with people. I started going to conventions more and the world kind of opened up to me. I realized how many fans we have from Re-Animator and From Beyond and Chopping Mall – they continue to live on. It was quite surprising to me and so wonderful.
I feel like horror fans are more dedicated and loyal than any other group. I mean, we have a group. I don’t know if people who love comedies have a group. We really have a group, and we’re all together in this. I go to a lot of film festivals now that celebrate genre cinema, and I meet a lot of journalists, actors, producers, and fans that go from one film festival to another. It’s overwhelming and extraordinary, the amount of love that the the genre receives. It’s amazing. I’m happy to be apart of a group that celebrates and loves one another.
This is so true! We really are a family. Social media has changed things, even for people like me. Back in the day, I would have never been able to talk to you, and look at me now.
Barbara Crampton – You’re absolutely right. We’re all connected now. Back in the ’80s. I came in as actress, I did my little job and then I left. We had built in distribution, so movies were always coming out for a month or two and then they would release on home video a few months later and that was that. But now, because of all the social media platforms, someone can ask me a question and I can answer them. We’re all connected. and it’s extraordinary.
It is! I recently watched your new film, Dead Night, and really enjoyed it. How did this role come about for you?
Barbara Crampton – I was at the AFM (American Film Market), walking around with Jackson Stewart, looking for a sales agent for Beyond the Gates and talking to distributors. Also just saying, “Hi,” to people. I walked into Don Coscarelli’s room, and we sat down and chatted a bit. He said he was going to be executive producing an upcoming movie and that’d I’d be right for the part. So I said, “Send it to me.” So he sent me the script a few days later. My jaw dropped to the floor after reading it. It was so different, unique, and so refreshing. I had never read a script quite like this before. I loved the part so much that I said, “Don, I love this film. This a great script. Who are you doing this with and how can I be a part of it?” Well, at the time, he said AJ Bowen and Brea Grant are attached to the two of the roles, and those are two people I know quite well. We’re friends. I thought, “Well, I would get to work with them all again and that would be great.”
About a month or so went by, just having phone calls and emails back in forth, but they hadn’t made me a formal offer yet. They flew me down to meet director Brad Baruh and have dinner, and then I got the offer the next day. But during this whole time, I kept thinking to myself that I hope they’re not giving offers to other people, because I really wanted the part, so I was proactive the whole time. So initially, I hounded them until I got the roll (laughs).
I’m glad you did, too – it’s perfect for you! (laughs) Your character is pretty funny and sarcastic. Was she written that way or did you put some of your charm into the mix?
Barbara Crampton – Thank you! We all put our sensibilities into a role. I think she was written pretty outlandishly. But, of course, if someone else played her, it would of come out a little bit differently. I definitely layered some things on there and maybe did some things that weren’t on the page. They sort of come to you as you’re working on it. I talked to the director on set. We were able to work through the scenes a lot, and we came up with improvisational things.
But for the most part, I knew how I was going to play her before we starting filming. I had about a month to work on it. It was around the time that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were candidates and they were campaigning. There was so much theatricality going on at the time, and I really wanted to bring that feeling into the dynamic of Leslie, and how she was feeling with the people in the story. A lot of it was born out of watching the news and the campaign trail.
I can totally see that and it worked out wonderfully! Your character does some pretty horrible things in order to have power. Do you think this is something a lot of people would do, given the opportunity?
Barbara Crampton – I don’t think a lot of people would, if given the opportunity – or at least I hope not, or this world be in sore shape. I mean, she’s not a real person, either. She’s not a complete human being. She’s someone born out of supernatural elements and only partially human. I guess you could say that about the worst people in history, that they seem inhuman at times.
This is very true. What was your favorite scene to do?
Barbara Crampton – The dinner table scene. I think a lot of the actors had a lot of fun with that scene. That’s where the whole movie turns and goes into a different direction. That’s where the critical moment begins where Leslie takes control of the situation and everything turns in her favor.
It’s a disturbingly wonderful scene. Leslie is brilliant and makes you feel totally uncomfortable! Beyond Dead Night, you have other upcoming films coming out way, including the new Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich movie. You played a small role in the first one back in 1989. What was it like to revisit this franchise?
Barbara Crampton – Oh, yes, it was just great! I’m so glad that he was able to secure the rights from Charles Band and recreate his own universe for the Puppet Master franchise. The writer of this re-imaging of Puppet Master, S. Craig Zahler, who wrote both Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99, is a fantastic writer and storyteller. I was like, “If you guys want me to be in the movie, I know it’s going to be good, so send me the script if you want, but go ahead and make me offer either way.”
So, they sent me the script. I had a 6 page monologue, and I was thinking, “Oh no! What have I gotten myself into?” (laughs) But they offered me the part 2 months before we started filming, so I had plenty of the time to work on it. It’s really fun, over the top, and completely different from the first Puppet Master. A lot of gory kills happen, but it’s also done with humor. I also worked with a lot of top comedians and had a great time with them. We got along great, and it was super fun.
Sounds amazing! So one last question: you’ve acted in so many films throughout your career, but have you ever considered directing?
Barbara Crampton – I don’t know. If I was ever to do anything, it would be a short. I don’t think I would ever want to direct a full feature myself. I enjoy producing a bit and working on different projects. I helped produce Beyond the Gates, and I really enjoyed that. But to be a director of a film, you have to really focus and give your life over for a number of years to that one film, and that’s just so much. I feel like I’m more of a dabbler and a good supporter of others and champion for others, so I feel producing is more connected to my inner personality than directing. I am also enjoying my acting career so much. I just want to continue that as well.
*****Dead Night is now available on VOD/Digital and select theaters!
