At HorrorFind 8 for Halloween by Rob Zombie in Hunt Valley, MD. This was done before either of us had seen the film.
Q: What was it like working with Malcolm McDowell?
A: I first saw Malcolm in a scene with Tyler Mane that we watched in the trailer. At first seeing his acting I was very nervous to meet him. (Laughs) I remember going into the makeup trailer when he was getting done and having such great conversations with him about all his work and what he's been through. He would give me advice and he's so laid back and he's such a flirt! He's such a girl flirt and he loves it. I would get hugs from him and he would always kiss me, I mean he's gorgeous...he's gorgeous.
Q: Did he torture you while you were filming?
A: No, he didn't. He actually helped me and gave me advice on how to better my
career and make it in this business. I bonded with him the best and he's like my
father figure now calling me and giving me advice, 'Love, how you doing today?'
kind of thing. He's such a sweetheart, so nice.
Q: How many scenes did you have together?
A: In the original, the first thing we did it was only supposed to be one or two scenes, but they did the reshoot and added more of me and Malcolm.
Q: The ones they did recently?
A: Yeah, so I have more scenes with Malcolm now which is great because I love
working off him. I would catch myself just studying him as we were in a scene
and seeing how excellent and great he is.
Q: What was reshot?
A: I can't really say, but the original one was a more sappy and lovey dovey ending rather that gory and suspense and here, here, here, here and that's the ending. It keeps you in the shock factor rather than the loving ending which I really hated.
Q: What was Rob's directing like for you?
A: I remember going into the audition process and watching the original and wanting to make sure I got down what Jamie Lee Curtis did, but meeting Rob he totally just said, 'Fuck what you just did, throw it out.' He's so laid back and he's such a chilled person. You would go up to him before a scene and ask what you want out of the scene and he would tell if you weren't comfortable with something. I felt so comfortable with him and I can wait to do the next film with him. He's the kind of director that understands actors which is really good.
Q: Did you get to do a lot of ad libs?
A: Yeah, we would start off with a scene with our script and our sides before we did something, but then at the end it was like we changed so much of the dialog, so much of the movement, so much of everything. It was really nice to have a director that is so open minded.
Q: What's your opinion about the remake controversy?
A: For me, myself I hear they are remaking The Goonies and I'm absolutely pissed over it.
Q: Why would they do that?
A: I know! I'm a fan of The Goonies, I don't understand why the hell they'd want to remake it, so I can understand why people are overreacting. I've seen the original Halloween...I wasn't very frightened of it. I understand back then it was more of a story instead of gore and all that crap, which I love, but this is a Rob Zombie film. It's a totally different cast, a totally different director. I just think people needed to be open minded when you go into the theater. You can't compare this to the original, they are two completely different things.
Q: This is more for the younger generation.
A: Yeah, yeah! I'm 18, I'm actually Laurie's age. These two girls (Kristina & Danielle) are amazing to work with and the whole experience has been amazing. I think it's going to turn out great, I really do.
Q: Had you seen the original before you got the part?
A: I have. Honestly, I'm a horror buff and if you go in my room I have Chucky, Freddy, Michael, I have so many fucking shit and skulls and everything. I've been a fan of Michael, especially when I heard that I was going to audition for this. I watched it over and over and over until I realized that Rob didn't want any of that, it's good. Malcolm hasn't even seen the original! (Laughs)
Q: He told me he's never going to watch it so that way he never has to compare it.
A: No crap? Exactly! Honestly, Malcolm and his work from what I've seen in the film is fucking great. I think he's better than the original Dr. Loomis. I think he's great. I've been a fan of the original Dr. Loomis and I think that's what is important in the original is Dr. Loomis. Laurie Strode? I don't even care, Dr. Loomis is the character that I care about.
Q: Have you seen the whole film?
A: No...Rob is waiting for the premiere until we all get to see it.
Q: Did you hear about the test screening?
A: Yeah, people have seen it. I've heard good reviews and bad reviews. So I'm hoping it's going to be better.
Q: It's going to be a different film from the test with the new scenes they filmed.
A: Dimension finally said, 'All right this is going to be a good film, we'll give you money to do it the right way.' (Laughs) Which is good.
Q: So what is your favorite role of Malcolm's besides Loomis?
A: Clockwork Orange! You can't beat that at all, god it's so awesome. I remember asking him on set as soon as I watched that about the eye scenes (she makes lidlocks with her fingers) with the eyedrops and he said somebody was actually doing that - a real doctor.
Q: He said the doctor was more concerned about his lines and he was saying take care of my eyes you idiot.
A: Exactly, yeah! Malcolm was telling me the whole experience and it's crazy. I don't think I would let anybody put shit in my eyes.
Q: His cornea was scratched and he didn't know it until the medicine wore off.
A: Yeah...it's pretty cool.
Q: What other films of his do you like?
A: You know it's hard...(Laughs) What's the one that's kinda like a porno?
Q: Caligula.
A: Yeah! (Laughs) I saw Malcolm in a different way than I've ever seen before in my life. I had to turn it off pretty quick. That was interesting.
Q: You'll picture him marching around naked in the rain?
A: (Laughs) The one he showed me when he came on set...he showed me a scene with a director he had worked with that passed on. He showed it in the makeup trailer and he was doing this scene and I don't know what it's from, but I want to figure it out. In the scene he's acting like and animal towards the girl and they are acting like animals towards each other...
Q: That's if.... his first film.
A: Yeah! I want to see that. He's so young.
Q: It just came out on DVD.
A: It did?! I remember seeing that scene when he was showing it and I just looked at him and went, 'Oh my god, you are hot!'
Q: He's naked in that scene too.
A: (Laughs) He's naked in everything! (Laughs) Watching Clockwork Orange and seeing him in the fast paced sex scene was pretty interesting. That was interesting...
Q: In if.... he goes to the cafe, meets the girl and she says do you like tigers, then they are rolling on the ground.
A: He was telling me he really liked her and had a crush on her, but she wasn't having it. She was like you are too immature, no I don't want you. But god he was gorgeous, who wouldn't want him? (Laughs)
Q: He asked the director if they could do it nude and he told him to ask her.
A: Yeah and she OK'd it. I know his expression in the trailer was like really? OK? (She makes wide eyes and puts her hands up) Let's do this, that was good.
Q: So he was like you want to watch some of my films and then he shows naked clips?
A: Yeah, it was a tribute to one of his directors and there was a scene in there where he's nude.
Q: From Never Apologize.
A: Yeah, I've seen every bit of Malcolm! (Laughs) When he was younger, not now. He has a family, he has everything so...
Q: What else did you two talk about?
A: Malcolm is very interesting because he loves to talk, loves to give advice. He gives me advice a lot. Last night he was talking about what I have planned next and how to go about it, how to improve my career and whatnot. We are going to have dinner and my boyfriend is coming in and Malcolm took my phone one night while I was talking to my boyfriend and started talking to him and interrogating him! My boyfriend is emo/punkish so he looks femalish. Malcolm was like (does a bit of an English accent) 'I fancy you, you are so gorgeous, you are so hot. When I am going to meet you?' That's my boyfriend, what are you doing? We are going to have dinner up at his place, he's kind of like adopted me, he's so nice...I guess he shouldn't be a dad because I kinda have a crush on him.
Q: You shouldn't see your dad naked.
A: Yeah, wait a minute! (Laughs) Not really. He's someone I can relate to and trust which is really good.
Q: Malcolm says he has an option for two sequels, do you have the same contract?
A: They asked me to sign on for my contract, but I didn't sign on. They've approached me if this does well, to do another one and this is like my family now so I would love to do another one. I had so much fun making the first one that I can't imagine how the second one would be.
Q: Rob isn't going to direct another though.
A: No, that's what...I knew that, that's why I didn't sign on. Tyler didn't know that, so he was kind of a little upset that he didn't know Rob was going to do the second one. But if they get a good director behind it and a good storyline behind it...honestly I don't know what more you can do with Michael. You can't kill off...
Q: A road trip.
A: Yeah, road trip Michael Myers kills cheerleaders. If you make another one you have to have an original idea for it. You can't just go freely make...
Q: Remake the second one?
A: Yeah, because there are already so many of them now. This is remaking the
first one which I understand. Thank you so much, nice meeting you.
© 2007-08 Alex D. Thrawn for www.MalcolmMcDowell.net