Barbara Crampton is a bonafide horror icon. She has appeared in so many beloved horror films throughout her career. REANIMATOR, FROM BEYOND, CHOPPING MALL, and YOU'RE NEXT are just some of the films she has elevated with her talent and natural charm.
Her latest role is "Carol Doreski" a former police officer turned security guard who helped bring down the villainous Nazi toy maker, Andre Toulon, in writer S. Craig Zahler's new film, PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTEST REICH. The film is unhinged in the best possible way and one of the many highlights of it is Crampton's take charge performance as Doreski.
I recently had a chance to chat with Barbara about PUPPET MASTER, her lengthy career, and a lot more. She was warm, open, and opinionated and we had a wonderful talk that I hope you will enjoy.
_____________________
Wheels: What led to you wanting to be in PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH?
Barbara Crampton: Well, it was primarily, initially, the people that were involved. I was very aware of [film producer] Dallas Sonnier and everything he did on BONE TOMAHAWK, with S. Craig Zahler. And, I was very much a fan of that movie. And, I knew that Dallas, at the time, was also in the midst of making BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK99, with Vince Vaughn. Although I hadn't seen it, that project sounded really interesting to me.
And, I had also met Dallas [a] number of years before. And, we got along great. Dallas loves the Full Moon movies that Charlie Band made in the 80's. And, they were really good friends and I knew that. I knew that Dallas had gone to Charlie and said, "Look I want to make a re-imagining of PUPPET MASTER but, I'd like you to still retain your right to continue on with your universe. I just want to make a separate universe." So, I thought that was so respectful, and so interesting, and such a clever idea. I just thought Dallas is such an interesting producer, I wanted to work with him.
So, he called me directly and said, "You've told me all this information." Also, I'm really good friends with Charlie so I didn't want to do a movie that Charlie hadn't completely signed off on, since it was his initial creation. And so, everything seemed just above board to me, and I really loved Dallas and Craig Zahler, So, I basically said, yes, send me the script. But, I'm sure whatever part you have in mind for me is going to be great. And, send me the contract along with the script. [laughs]
I read the script that day, and loved my part. And, I thought the movie was interesting and different and completely turned the original PUPPET MASTER on it's head. And, I thought well, if you're going to do a re-imagining of something, this is the way to do it, tell it from a completely different point of view. I'm not a fan of remakes. I don't like remakes at all. But, a re-imagining, I am a fan of. I like ... there's certain movies that have been re-imagined which, I think, for example the original THE FLY, with Jeff Goldblum. THE FLY is an amazing movie. DAWN OF THE DEAD, the relaunch of that is a great film. I love it. So, I said absolutely. I'll completely sign on for the film. And, so that's how it began.
W: You actually had a cameo in the original PUPPET MASTER. What are some of your memories of being a part of that production?
BC: Well, it was really only one day. I mean, my memories of it now, and the place that it holds in my heart has grown over thirty years. I mean, when I did that part I did it as a favor to Charlie Band because I had done REANIMATOR and FROM BEYOND. those movies had done really well for the company, and I was a part of the family at that point.
And they said, "Oh, we don’t have a part for you in the movie but, we just want you to be involved. So, will you do this little cameo? You just have to come in for a day." And I said, "Sure, I'll come in." never realizing that it was going to help spawn Full Moon's most beloved franchise into existence. So, that day was really particularly unmemorable for me. I mean, I came in. I did the part. I kind of, funnily enough, I was married to a different guy at the time and the guy in the scene was my real husband in real life, Dave Boyd, who was the camera operator on REANIMATOR and FROM BEYOND.
So, he didn't really have many lines so, he just came in the room with me. So, I guess that sort of an interesting anecdote, that it's my ex-husband in the movie with me. But, aside from that, it wasn't particularly memorable that whole day. But, because that movie and the franchise had such a following, and it's so iconic in a way, over time it's developed a special place in my heart. And, to be asked to be in the relaunch or re-imagining of a beloved franchise is like coming full circle for me, and really rewarding.
W: So often in acting, women are judged by their age first and talent second. And, that is deeply unfair. But, you've bucked that trend and become more prolific, and had more diverse roles as you've gotten older. Could you tell me a little bit about some of the difficulties you've faced in your acting journey, and how you overcame those sorts of things?
BC: Yeah, well, I think your initial premise is getting a lot of examination recently. So, I do feel like it's changed a little bit over the past number of years. Yes, women have gotten judged by their looks, or by their age first, and then by their acting talents second. But, I think a lot of that is changing. And, I think that the stories that are being told lately, and the parts that are being offered to women are a little bit more multidimensional and interesting today than they were back when I was acting, in the 80's especially, and especially in horror movies. I mean, Jeffery Combs character in REANIMATOR referred to me as a ‘bubble headed co-ed’, right? I didn't play the part like that. It wasn't really written like that but, I could've leaned into those indications and played her a little bit more light and fluffy. I tended to try to imbue all of my characters from a very young age, and even now, with as many smarts as I possibly can, even if it's not written that way.
So, that's just something I've done in a very proactive way to combat any sort of sensibilities that a woman is less than [a man] in a movie. And, even in a movie such as, you know something as silly, and fluffy, and fun as CHOPPING MALL. I tried to play her with a certain sense of smarts about her, and I tend to keep doing that. And, I also feel like I am a character actress, and I was a character actress when I was 19 years old [and] I'm a character actress now. I don't think that I was able to get the kind of roles, being a young ingenue, that I'm getting now as an older person. And, I've been lucky enough to get some really, really nice roles in the last few years. And, I think people are tending to look at me a little bit differently, obviously because I am older, and I can play parts that are the caretaker or a neurotic, crazy politician in DEAD NIGHT or who's from another world. They're not going to give that part to a 20 or a 25 year old, you know?
W: Sure.
BC: So, the roles have gotten more interesting to me, and for me, as I've gotten older. So, I guess I probably have collectively some of the most interesting roles of my career in the last five years. And, I think that's just because I've gotten older.
W: So, that leads me to one of my next questions. Do you have a favorite role?
BC: Oh jeez. Well, you know, it's hard to say what my favorite role is. I mean, I love every role for different reasons. And, I don't accept parts lightly. So, I have to say every role I take has some meaning for me, and there's something about it that's challenging, or I really love, or I want to lean into.
You know, in my early career, FROM BEYOND was A highlight for me because it was a little groundbreaking back then to have a part like that at ... you know, she was a psychiatrist, a doctor. And, she turned into this sexual being. And then, she turned into this person that had to save everyone and herself, and she also went mad at the end. And, you know you're not often offered a role that has that much complexity in it. So, that was a highlight for me.
And then, in coming back the last five years or so, one of the highlights for me was getting to play a huge role in a movie playing an older person in WE ARE STILL HERE, my good friend Ted Geoghegan wrote and directed that. I met him when I was doing YOU’RE NEXT. He moonlights as a publicist. He is a filmmaker but, also that's his day job. I'm sure you know him as well.
W: I do.
BC: That was a great role for me because it had meaning. It had depth. It had a story to tell about the loss of these two people who had so much grief in their life. And you know, how do you navigate through your world in your life after something so tragic happens to you? Also, to be a leading character in a movie, and be my age is nothing short of a miracle in today's movie world. So, I would have to say that's a very big highlight of my career.
And also, I came back to movie making with YOU’RE NEXT a number of years ago, and that was a really wonderful role for me, and a great movie. And, I'm so indebted to those filmmakers for asking me to come back in such a great film. But, it was a smaller role. It was a smaller part, and to be offered a role that I really had to sustain off of other older characters the whole movie, I mean, it was like a gift from Ted Geoghegan to give us an opportunity, being older players. And, having such a big canvas to work on, that doesn't happen all the time. So, that a definite highlight for me as well.
W: Okay, one last question. What do you love most about acting?
BC: Oh, well. What do I love most about acting? I guess ... I love psychology and if I wasn't an actor I might be a psychologist. I think the highlight for me as a performer is to look at a character and try to understand why they do the things they do. And, all of us have issues and problems. You know, we try to do our best but we fall short. We're disappointed in ourselves most of the time. We have high points. We have goals, and dreams, and things that we reach for that sometimes we get, and other times we don't. And, to just try to understand the human condition, and who we are, and why we're here, and what we're doing is of the upmost interest to me. You know? Just to understand people, and what makes us who we are. What makes us the complicated beings that we are, and how to give that some meaning. And, what's behind all that; it's fascinating to me. I just love the human psyche so much.
W: Well, I think that’s a wonderful note to end on. Thank you so much for your time today!
BC: Oh, thank you [Wheels]. Great pleasure talking to you. Thanks for the awesome questions.
W: My pleasure. I'm a big fan and I wish you nothing but success.
BC: Thank you dear. To you too.
____________
PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH is out now in select theaters and VOD.
-Wheels
