Oz, our director, could be very humorous. Contextually, it is a darkish movie, however he is very humorous. So he wrote all these little quips in right here and there like when Maika says, “I do not drink” and I say “No, you will not drink, I will drink, let’s go.” Oz is wise sufficient to know a movie like this wants some levity.
It is humorous, my youngest son, Blake [also pointed that out]—like, “Man, I did not anticipate that.” It is like morbid levity, actually, within the stark world. And I like to do this, as a result of my favourite actors do it and do it properly. Meryl Streep at all times finds irony and generally satire or one thing humorous within the darkest of moments. So I used to be very, more than happy to have the ability to try this and that it was on the web page.
You are doing it up till the bitter finish, with that line that’s like, “I will be again…”
“…You will not be again.” [laughs]
So how did you come aboard on this complete factor?
My agent Darrah Robbins, set me up with Oz on a Zoom, identical to this. And I had learn the script, however the humorous factor is, he had not completed the movie. So the scene you [just referenced], that ultimate scene wasn’t even written. He stated, “I received some concepts, I received some issues I wish to do. I wish to go in several instructions, I am undecided.” Then when he completed it, he despatched it to me and he stated, “What do you consider the ultimate scene?” And I used to be like, “Yeah, I am all in.” It gave me some completely different colours to play.
Are you into horror typically?
I am a giant horror fan. All the time have been. That is a part of the rationale that is so thrilling for me as a result of I’ve by no means actually executed horror. I did do a movie known as Dangerous Hair, but it surely was a satire. Liked doing it, however this—a correct darkish, sinister and horrific movie—I have not executed earlier than, and hope to do extra.
What are a few of your favourite horror motion pictures?
The Exorcist is my all-time favourite. Then there’s The Omen. Poltergeist. It had a whole lot of particular results. However I actually like those, like Rosemary’s Child, that do not depend on particular results. It lets the viewers off the hook—Ah, that is pc graphics, that is not actual. However motion pictures like The Exorcist, motion pictures like Longlegs, man, you are coping with some very, very darkish non secular metaphysical features of life. I imagine in God, I imagine at the hours of darkness facet, that all of them exist. And so to delve into that and stir it up and discover it’s fascinating as a result of all of us battle with good and unhealthy, good and evil.
Most of these movies you named infamously had creepy productions. What had been the vibes like filming Longlegs?
Properly, not a whole lot of creepy vibes that I encountered. However you are proper—Exorcist, there’s a complete lore behind that that folks had been dying whereas they had been filming it and the whole lot else and a whole lot of the solid died mysteriously. I do not know if that was simply hype or if it actually occurred, I do not know. However no—I credit score Oz, as a result of he’s so lighthearted and humorous, to essentially maintain the set simply mild and have that levity the entire time. However come “motion,” then you definately received to go in, play that half and also you play it properly and do what you bought to do. However nothing too loopy jumped off whereas I used to be there.
