Halloween Set Visit Exclusive – Interview 3 of 9 - Malcolm McDowell
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On the set of the insane asylum. [Pictured: Staci Layne Wilson & Malcolm McDowell]
Staci Layne Wilson: What is this scene you're shooting today with Tyler [Mane]?
Malcolm McDowell: It's a transitional thing because we didn't have anything with Loomis and Michael after the 17 year period [from when he's admitted to when he escapes]. So it was just me with young Michael and then suddenly he escapes as older Michael. I didn't have a scene with him, and it was like I was never connected to him. So Rob came up with this idea that we should have a scene, maybe tell him that I'm moving on or something. It tells you a lot about Loomis really.
Staci: The young actor that you work with, his name is Daeg Faerch —
Malcolm: Oh yeah Daeg, Daeg. Yeah he's terrific. He's the 12 year old Michael, 10 year old, whatever. [chuckles] It's Tyler who's brilliant playing this great physical being, present day Michael. We wanted to get the fact that he's moving on and also within that short little bit tells the whole story about Loomis. You know, he's a lonely man dedicated to this thing and he realizes that he's getting as bad as the patient.
Staci: In this particular scene, do we see Michael Myers' face?
Malcolm: No. I think it's a mask. You'll see it when he comes around.
Staci: He's already taken to always wearing a mask?
Malcolm: Yes, but not the mask he breaks out in.
Staci: So working with the younger actor, you actually have lots of scenes...
Malcolm: Oh yeah, lots of scenes with him.
Staci: I had never seen him before looking at his photo, but he has quite an interesting look.
Malcolm: He's lovely. He's a very good little actor. I mean, he's terrific. He had to scream and go berserk the other day and he did it for hours and hours and hours. He was fantastic. He's a very good little actor. Children are usually brilliant anyway, get a good one and they're fantastic. He really is good, so I'm sure he's going to be around for a while.
Staci: Working with Rob has to be, I would think, phenomenal for any actor regardless of experience…
Malcolm: It is.
Staci: …because he understands so much about film.
Malcolm: He does. He's an amazing director. What can I say, I mean I've worked with great ones in my time, been very lucky to work with some masters and Rob's up there with the very best, no doubt about it. He's extraordinary and lovely for an actor to work with, he gives you lots of freedom but he knows when it's too much. You really trust in him.
Staci: What did you think when you first heard his name, though? [laughter]
Malcolm: I didn't really know… I actually kinda knew of White Zombie. I mentioned it to my son Charlie, who's a filmmaker, he's 23, and he knew about Rob. He knew his work and thought he was absolutely an amazing director and a man of vision, and he told me so. I live out in the country, so I'm kind of out of touch. Anyway, as soon as I met him I knew it was going to be great.
Staci: So even if you're not a horror fan, you can still appreciate his previous work?
Malcolm: Yeah. He brings amazing visuals, that's one thing. He's got an amazing sense of camera because I think he knows every film. He does his homework, he knows every film and he has a vision. Rob has a vision and he's got a very strong sense of self. He's a strong character and it makes... I think all the great directors I've worked with including Kubrick and people like that, all had a great sense of self. I think it's very important. He sure does, and he had a vision of what he wants for the film. He doesn't want to make just a slasher movie, it's not going to be that. So if you're looking for a rip-off remake, it's not going to be that. It's going to be something different. Otherwise why bother getting somebody like Rob Zombie to do it? That's why I wanted to do it anyway, because of him.
Staci: Well, you have done some really disturbing films… like when you talk about Kubrick. I saw Clockwork Orange when I was 8... I had a very liberal upbringing [laughs]. Yeah, my parents are in the entertainment industry. But kids see movies like this. What do you think about that?
Malcolm: We know going in it's a movie that's going to scare you. I mean, that's a given. I mean, it's Halloween, you know? So we know that. It's the way we do it that's very, very important. I think it's going to be a classic horror film, I tell you right now. Because I don't know too many 20 million dollar horror films [not confirmed]. It's a huge budget. It looks like, which it is, a big film, a big Hollywood movie that's going to scare the living daylights out of you. It's going to do all that. But it's also going to have character development.
Staci: I think that's one thing that's a hallmark of Rob Zombie's movies. Textured characters.
Malcolm: Good.
Staci: Does Dr Loomis ever leave the asylum? Do we ever see him out and about?
Malcolm: Oh yes. He goes charging off looking for Michael. And it makes now a great sense of the end, that's why we do this because at the end Loomis is very sad when [SPOILER ALERT FOR ONE POSSIBLE ENDING] Michael gets killed and shot… you know, even though he shoots him himself. Really it's true, he is sort of his best friend. That's how pathetic it is. He's been a patient for 17 years. [END SPOILER ALERT]
Staci: Did you know Donald Pleasance?
Malcolm: I met Donald and didn't know him well. Admired him, of course, he was a great actor and a wonderful, funny man. A wonderful actor. There's no way I could ever replace him. I'm not trying to. so I didn't see the film. I've never seen any Halloweens.
Staci: Oh, yeah? Really?
Malcolm: No. And I said to Rob, "Should I see it?" and he went, "Probably not". So I'm coming with a completely different take on that character. I mean, you can play it any way you want: you can be sinister, this, that or the other, but I want to him more of a fallible hero. Sort of a hero who's really screwed up, actually. If hero is even the right word… it's not, but he's the sort of good in the film, if you like. But he's really as screwed up as everybody else. Aren't we all?
Staci: I've been listening to your dialogue this morning, and it seems to be kind of fluid. How rigid is Rob that you stick to what he's written?
Malcolm: Not at all. You see I added a few bits of my own, I just go off on tangents. But I've learned not to do too much because I know it will be cut if I do too much of it. But a lot of the stuff here is mostly improvised. I mean, he'll write me a roadmap of the scene, this is what he wants and ok. I love to work like that because I can just take it and go with it and see which direction it goes in. I suddenly start thinking about ex-wives [for the character of Loomis], you know. So then give him that element. Of course he's divorced, if you're this dedicated to a patient, you don't have much time for anybody else in your life.
Staci: So he's actually confiding in Michael, then.
Malcolm: Yes. Of course he uses Michael as his confidante and that's why he says, "It's strange but you've become my best friend". How fucked up is that? That's exactly it. So that was all ad-libbed. But I know what Rob likes and I know how far to take it; you don't want to take it too far. It's great. I've had so much fun on this movie and I have to say again that I think he's absolutely one of the best directors I've ever worked with.
Staci: I'm glad to hear you say that, because with The Devil's Rejects he became one of my all-time favorites.
Malcolm: Yeah, I'm not surprised. And I'll tell you this, he has gotten so many more great movies in him — and they won't be horror movies. I think it's time for him to broaden his horizons.
Staci: Much as I love horror, I would like to see that. I was talking to him a couple of years ago about some of the scripts he was working on, and they just sounded so unique. I can't wait to see what he does next.
Malcolm: Yeah, he will come up with something great. Because he's brilliant. I mean he is and I can't wait to see what he's going to do next, either. He could do anything, he really could. He's a very special man, he's a very intelligent man. I mean at first you see him and you're, "Oh my God he's a real biker, a rocker, whatever," but he's a gentle soul. Also, I adore Sheri [Moon Zombie, Rob's wife, and Malcolm's costar]. I've had so much fun working with her, I love her. She's great.
Staci: Oh, do you have scenes with her as well?
Malcolm: I have quite a few scenes with her. I've enjoyed every one of them, I must say. She's actually a very good actress and I think she's been very underused. I understand though, that she doesn't want to get on that whole treadmill of doing the rounds of Hollywood and all that bullshit. I don't blame her. But I tell you if I was a director and I needed somebody that she could play I wouldn't even hesitate, she's so good.
Staci: I think that she has a genuinely magnetic screen presence. When she's onscreen your eye just goes right to her.
Malcolm: Well, she's beautiful. Yeah, I agree.
[end]
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