Q&A With Wes Craven, Garret Dillahunt And Monica Potter
The 19th of October see’s the Region 2 DVD release of The Last House On The Left, the 2009 remake of Wes Craven’s notorious 1972 original of the same name and I’ve just been passed three Q&A sessions with Wes Craven (who took the Producer role for the remake), Garrett Dillahunt (who played the role of Krug) and Monica Potter (who played the role of Emma Collingwood) and I thought I’d share them with you.
Let’s start with Wes Craven:
Q: The Last House on the Left was your first movie, shot in Super 6 and with a very low budget in 1972. How have you changed since then?
A: I would like to think that I have acquired some wisdom along the way…
Q: How did the idea of making a remake come about?
A: The original contract stated that I would recover the rights to the movie after 30 years; and when that happened I began to entertain the idea of shooting a remake. I think I had done enough films that had made their mark to take this old movie of mine and do it again.
Q: The story is still very relevant today.
A: It’s an old story and yet a perennial one too, as it is about a good family defending their house and their lives.
Q: And it is also about revenge.
A: Which is a very dangerous cookie to start eating…
Q: In The Last House on the Left and other movies you analyze how peaceful and good people can become violent when pushed to the extreme; which is a concept that also appears in films like Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs. Is that a subject that interests you?
A: I believe that anybody with resources could go there. Most of us can come up with a lot more than we think; but it’s something none of us know until we are thrown into the situation.
Q: So, do we all have a dark side then?
A: Yes we do, because after all we come from primates and they are violent. Some people may not want to face it, but the fact is that we have a violent side. Much of Nature is governed by violence and is about who survives and who doesn’t.
Q: Why didn’t you direct this film yourself?
A: Because I had already done it and, once we had determined that Dennis was the right man for the job, I had the confidence as producer to have him direct it. So, we gave him the space he needed to make his own film within the parameters of the budget.
Q: What made Dennis Iliadis the right man for the job?
A: I chose him because of Hardcore, the previous and first film he had directed, because I thought it was a remarkable movie.
Q: You are always looking for new talent and supporting young filmmakers.
A: I am constantly looking anywhere for new talented directors I can afford.
Q: The horror genre has been very successful throughout the History of Cinema. Why do you believe we like to be scared in a theatre?
A: We are all in a way kind of living a horror film and moving towards death. The audience brings their real fear with them, and there is something about sharing it with other people in the safety of a theatre.
Q: The Last House on the Left is perfectly cast. How involved were you in that process?
A: All those names came across my desk and I agreed to them because they were right for their roles.
Q: Garret Dillahunt is very convincing as Krug, the villain of the story.
A: And when you meet him it’s hard to believe, because he is so nice; but he brought the nuance we wanted for the role.
Q: How would you describe that key character?
A: In The Last House on the Left I was not only interested in exploring the darker side of good people, but also the lighter side of bad people. And Krug is a broken man that will eventually loose the respect of everyone that’s on his side, including himself. He is kind of a dying soul by the time he goes into that house, while desperately trying to act like he’s normal; but he knows he isn’t.
Q: Then you have Sara Paxton playing Mari, the opposite pole to Krug and probably the most pure and innocent character in the film. And the truth is that she also delivers an extraordinary and mature performance -especially for someone that young!
A: There is a moment where this massive change that had to take place for her was just on her face in the most miraculous way without a word being spoken. It is the most stunning shot I have seen in a movie for a long time.
Q: Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter are great as Mari’s parents.
A: They work very well as a couple, and the look on their faces when he tells her that they have to do anything to save their daughter is really extraordinary!
Q: But The Last House on the Left also has some beautiful and delicate moments.
A: Yes, and you may think they have nothing to do with the film, though the truth is that they do; which is something I give the director credit for.
Q: Would you have directed this movie differently?
A: I think Dennis has done a great job; and even though there are things I probably would have done differently, I look at the film and recognize he has something special. He has elevated the movie to a remarkable level.
Q: In other films you have successfully blended terror with humor, but here you have chosen not to go down that road.
A: I think you have a moral fortitude in a film like The Last House on the Left to keep it serious, because it is so intense. And you need to be able to go inside yourself to find those dark places and be willing to put them out there.
Q: What was the energy like on set?
A: On set we didn’t take ourselves that seriously…
Q: Being such a sensitive and soft-spoken man, how do you come up with these horrific stories?
A: I have been badly frightened in my life. My father was very scary and I grew up during World War II, in a very violent world. And I went to tough schools, where people carried guns and knives, even though I was a sensitive kid. I think that precisely horror directors are not the ones that are monsters, but just little kids that are scared and get to exorcise their demons in this way. A cinema is the perfect place to let them out, as it is safe and nobody gets hurt; which is something that in a way has been going on in the Arts since the Greek theatre. But you need to let them out, because if you don’t they could come out the wrong way. It’s always the boy scout who climbs a tower and starts shooting people with a rifle.
Q: What should we expect from the DVD release of the The Last House on the Left?
A: A lot! There are things that Dennis had to cut out in the theatrical movie that will be included. It should be very interesting.
Q: How do DVD’s help us view films we hadn’t been able to see yet, or rediscover and learn more about the ones we like?
A: DVD’s help us enormously. And in a way they take anybody who has the time and willingness to see them to film school on your movie. The commentaries are very helpful, because people can learn what you went through and were thinking of when you made the film. And you also get a sense of how hard it really is to shoot a movie; even for the filmmakers you believed had mastered the art. Some DVD’s can be really enlightening!
Interesting, don’t you think? I love his thoughts on why horror directors do what they do and his reasons for making the remake.
So, moving on, here’s Garret Dillahunt:
Q: Are you a fan of Wes Craven?
A: I have always been a huge fan of Wes Craven! He was on my mental checklist of people I wanted to work with.
Q: When did you meet him?
A: I met him just before we started shooting because he had the last word with casting approvals.
Q: Apart from the opportunity to work with Wes, what else attracted you about this project?
A: For me, it’s always about the story, regardless of the genre.
Q: And what did you know about Dennis Iliadis?
A: Not much, but he had seen me in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD. I was skeptical about him until I watched HARDCORE, which I thought was pretty incredible. He dealt very well with some scenes in that movie that were uncomfortable and disturbing, so I knew he could do this movie. I don’t know what he saw in me to decide I could play Krug, but I’m glad he did!
Q: What is he like as a director?
A: I think it took us a while to figure each other out, but I really enjoyed working with him. Dennis likes to rehearse, so we did that for a week before shooting – which was a real luxury. He elevated the script and, ultimately, the film.
Q: Did you research serial killers to prepare for the villain you play in THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT?
A: I did. Although in my opinion, Krug is not really a serial killer but what is known as a spree killer.
Q: What is the difference between them?
A: Well, the spree killer leaves evidence behind because he knows he’s going to get caught and, in a way, even wants it to happen. He is someone who burns bright and fast.
Q: Did you also see the original THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT to help you?
A: I did. I liked it, but I mainly trusted our script to prepare for my role.
Q: How is Krug different in this movie to the villain in the 1972 version?
A: Times have changed, and I wanted my guy to be more of a rageaholic, without the drug influence. And the father angle is explored further in this movie as well.
Q: Krug must be one of the most horrific characters you have ever played.
A: Yes, but I also felt sorry for him. I know people who are angry at what life has handed them – albeit not to that extreme – and take it out on everyone around them.
Q: And it’s even more tragic here due to the fact that he also has a kid…
A: And a good kid who, despite Krug, is kind of normal and ultimately does what is right, so it’s tragic that he doesn’t have a proper father.
Q: So, your character is multi-layered then?
A: That’s what I liked about him. His complexity made my job interesting.
Q: It seems that as an actor you like to challenge yourself with very different roles, going from one extreme to another…
A: I know, but I thought that’s what we were supposed to do as actors: one day you are the king and the next you are the beggar. I feel a sense of accomplishment if I can pull off a character that is very far from me or from the last character I played. It’s important to me.
Q: When you think of a villain that has impressed you on screen, which film comes to mind?
A: I really like Terrence Malick’s BADLANDS because that villain – a serial killer – is very interesting.
Q: What was the shoot in South Africa like?
A: We shot the film for two months there, and it was fun. For me, the most challenging part was staying focused during that time and exercising the right amount of mental stamina.
Q: Which was the toughest scene for you?
A: It would probably be the assault scene with Sara Paxton, but more from a logistical aspect than an acting one. My main concern was to make sure she was as comfortable as possible, even though what’s going on is terrifying.
Q: And what was the energy on set like, especially since you were working on a horror film with some very intense moments?
A: We were lucky with this group of people because they were very good-humored, and some fun practical jokes were played!
Q: What makes THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT different from other horror movies that are out there?
A: Some of those films are like video games where you almost root for the killers because they don’t feel real, but this movie is different because you really want the good guys to survive.
Q: Which are your favorite films of the genre?
A: I enjoy movies like THE EXORCIST, ROSEMARY’S BABY, or THE CHANGELING.
Q: What kinds of people scare you in real life?
A: The loud mouth guys don’t scare me, but the ones that are quiet do, because they are like snakes.
And finally we get Monica Potter:
Q: How did you get involved in this film?
A: My agent sent me the script, and I thought it would be something great to do.
Q: What was it about THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT that made you want to be in it?
A: I go by the script, and I hadn’t read anything this good for a long time.
Q: What did you like about it?
A: I liked that it could really happen and was believable, unlike one of those slasher movies. I loved the relationship between the parents and their daughter and the back-story about their son that had passed away.
Q: Emma Collingwood, your character, goes as far as one could imagine to protect her family. Can you relate to that?
A: Yes, because I would also go as far as I had to if necessary, without landing in jail. If something like this happened to one of my kids, there would be no trial for that person. One of the things I like about the story is that my character gets her revenge.
Q: Were you a fan of Wes Craven before working on this film?
A: I was a huge fan of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and SCREAM. I loved that opening scene with Drew Barrymore in the kitchen because it’s scary, but it also has some humor in it.
Q: But THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT is pure horror, with no space for comedic relief, correct?
A: It is about how much this family can sustain and how much grief they are able to go through.
Q: The story is horrific and full of very intense moments, but was there any time for some humor on the set?
A: Yes, because the subject matter was so dark and heavy that Dennis made sure there were lighter moments on set.
Q: What is Dennis Iliadis like as a director?
A: He is very smart and funny.
Q: How did you prepare for your role?
A: I didn’t really know how to research a role like this, so I just trusted Dennis.
Q: The chemistry between you and Tony Goldwyn, who plays your husband, is very important…
A: We were together all the time. Tony is a very witty person, and he would tell me all these stories about his dad and old Hollywood.
Q: Garret Dillahunt is very convincing as the evil Krug…
A: And it’s amazing because in real life he is such a sweet person.
Q: What was he like on set?
A: It was funny because after shooting a horrible scene, and being covered in blood, Garret would come and sit next to me and bring me a cup of tea. He is awesome!
Q: What do you think Sara Paxton brought to the role of Mari Collingwood, your daughter in the movie?
A: Sara was incredible and never complained about anything. And she was cold and wet most of the time, which just made me want to take care of her even more.
Q: Being a mother in real life must have helped you understand better what Emma Collingwood was going through…
A: Yes, that definitely helped me understand everything better.
Q: What do you like the most about acting?
A: I enjoy finding my character, and everyone on set helps you become that person, from the wardrobe and make-up people to the director.
Q: Shooting in South Africa must have been a very special experience…
A: Yes, but getting over there was hell. We were held up in New York for five hours and missed the connection to London and, consequently, the one to Johannesburg. And of course, my luggage was lost, too. But once I arrived, I loved it because everything about South Africa is amazing – apart from the spiders. They are huge!
Q: Are you as brave as your character in the film?
A: I don’t think so.
Q: So, would you think twice now about going to a lonely house in the middle of the woods?
A: I am attracted to those places, and I would also like to go to a haunted house as long as I knew I would be safe.
Q: THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT explores how a normal person can become very violent if pushed to the limit, correct?
A: Yes, and I believe we are all capable of it.
Q: Why do you think horror films are so successful?
A: I don’t know. It may be because we like to be scared and we like to see that the lives of others on screen are more difficult than ours.
Last House On The Left, if you have ever seen the original, is one of those horror movies that once you’ve seen it stay with you. It really was quite disturbing, but I have the remake sat on my shelf waiting to review, so I’ll be interested to see if it has the same impact as the original. Look for my review coming soon!
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