Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
Continuing on with the folks responsible for viscously disturbing THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT remake, I had a lovely conversation with the woman who is put through absolute hell during the course of the film, Sara Paxton, who plays Mari. For those of you who know who Paxton is and the kind of work she's done up until now, you might be more than a little shocked to hear her name connected to this film. But the fact is, Paxton has chosen to move beyond the tween world of AQUAMARINE, SYDNEY WHITE, and SUPERHERO MOVIE to her first outright R-rated outing. Talk about a baptism of fire. Paxton's character is put through every imaginable indignity, both at the hands of the film's villains and alone struggling to survive by crawling though acres of mud to find the safety of her parents' home while her lifeblood is oozing out of her. It's a rough performance by a tough woman, who has yet to turn 21. The good news for Paxton is that by taking this part, she's throws open to door to the possibilities of her career, an opportunity I hope she takes advantage of. Enjoy my talk with Sara Paxton, and consider the entire interview a SPOILER WARNING concerning THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT.
Capone: Hey, how are you?
Sara Paxton: Hi, excellent. How are you?
Capone: Good. I literally just got off the phone with Garret, and he wanted me to ask you, What was it like working with someone as awesome as Garret? and Is it true that he went to bat for you to get this part, and do you think you owe him anything for getting you the part? I think that covers it.
SP: Oh, Garret. He's such a stalker and he won't stop bugging me. It's like, get away Garret. God!
Capone: Is he in the room now?
SP: [laughs] No, but if he was, I'd tell you the truth about him.
Capone: I've seen him play a lot of different characters in recent years, but it was truly unnerving to watch him in a film like this.
SP: Yeah, he's amazing. What's really great about Garret is that he really brought something different to the aspect of Krug. He's a real guy. There's no rhyme or reason for what he does, which is creepier to me. In other scary movies, they try to make you feel bad for the bad guy because his mom abandoned him or he was teased in school. But in LAST HOUSE, he's just a messed-up dude.
Capone: We talked about that a bit, although it seems Garret informed himself on spree killers just for his own motivation, but you're right, it is worse when we don't know why someone is evil.
SP: Yeah, I remember when we were shooting in Africa, he was researching a lot, reading a lot of books and watching documentaries on serial killers. He's super talented, and we were all really passionate about making a really good movie, and I think that's why we all bonded so well.
Capone: What elements had to be in place--professionally or personally--for you to accept a role like this that is so different than anything you've done before.
SP: At first, of course, I was nervous. I read the script, I met with Dennis [Iliadis, director] and Jonathan [Craven, producer] and Cody [Zwieg, co-producer] and everybody else. And I was definitely really nervous about going into it, going to a new country that I'd never been to before with people I'd never really met, except for Garret [the two both starred in a failed pilot that attempted to relaunch the "Mr. Ed" television series]. It helped a lot knowing him, because when I got cast, they said that they were still looking for Krug, and I was really nervous, because you never really know with some actors. Some of them feel that if they have to hate you in the movie, they don't want to get to know you in real life because it will affect their performance. So I was wondering, what if I didn't trust the person. And Garret, he's so the opposite of Krug; he's so sweet and gentle and nice and thoughtful, and I think that really helped a lot. I honestly don't think I could have been able to get through this without the support of my peers--Garret, Riki [Lindhome, who plays Sadie], Martha [MacIsaac, who plays Page], and Aaron [Paul, who plays Francis]. If I didn't trust them and know that they had my back and that I had theirs, I don't think I would have been able to let go and really get into the scene as much.
Capone: Can you walk me through the process of working out the staging of the rape scene? That's the one everyone is going to focus on, so take me through what you and Garret talked about.
SP: Luckily, Dennis, the director, wanted us to go through these rehearsals when we first got there, which was great. Because at first I was like, what is this rehearsal process; I've never really done this before. But then I was really happy we did, because we were able to, every day for two weeks, we would talk about a character and that characters' connection to each other, every day for seven hours a day. We were really building depth to each character, and we would rehearse the physicality of each scene without the real acting, so that way on the day on set, I knew already what I was going to doing physically so I could focus on the emotional part and my head space. So that helped a lot, that Garret and me knew what was happening on that day.
Capone: Who was more nervous going into that day?
SP: I don't know. At first, I thought that Garret was more nervous because when we had our first talk about it, he was like, "I don't want to hurt you." And I said, "Garret, I'm a big girl. Do not worry about me." I realized that both of us needed to go full force, otherwise it wasn't going to look realistic. You can't hold back anything. I think we talked it over, and once we came to the decision that we were both going to go full force, I think that was the best decision for us.
Capone: I don't get the sense that anyone was holding back in that scene. At what point in the whole process did you watch the original film?
SP: When I first got the part, I made a conscious decision not to watch the origin until I was done filming my scenes because I didn't want to have this preconceived notion or this idea in my head of how I was supposed to be doing everything. I think all of the actors agreed on that, we all agreed not to watch the original until we were done. And then once we were pretty much finished, we all got together and watched the original in Garret's room, actually.
Capone: You actually watched it together?
SP: Oh, we did everything together, you don't understand. Everything! I was never alone; we were always hanging out and traveling in a group. So, we all watched it together, and I'm glad I didn't watch it before, because I think we were able to bring new life to the story. I know there's a real stigma with remakes, but I think that if people go not expecting a remake, but go to see a really good movie that they will be pleasantly surprised.
Capone: I've been telling people about this film and how it's a much more solid group of actors compared to both the original and most of the other horror films that have been coming out in the last couple of years.
SP: Definitely.
Capone: You mentioned that some actors have to hate the people that they're hating in the movie. Are you aware of the stories about the actress who played your character in the original and how she essentially lost her mind making this movie?
SP: Really? Actually, we talked about the original a bit on set, and I do remember hearing some stuff about this. You know what? I honestly think I would have lost my mind if I'd been enemies with these people. When you walk on a set, you really never know who you're going to meet and what's going to go down. During these interviews, most of the time, people are trying to stay positive and not really believing what they're saying, but I honestly and truly respect all of these actors and the producers. We had a serious connection and a serious bond. And I think that's what kept us all sane. Maybe they didn't have that in the original.
Capone: Were you aware that your character dies in the original?
SP: Oh yeah.
Capone: That's probably the biggest adjustment in the story. How do you feel about that? If anyone has a problem with the plot changes, it will be over that alteration.
SP: Yeah, the die hards. Trust me, I've met some of these die-hard fans. Since I did this movie, I've been doing a lot of research online, and I definitely think I'm going to receive some hate mail from the die-hard fans. "Why weren't you dead?" But I think that what happens in the end bring a whole new plot element. Now, I didn't watch the original before filming, but I did watch THE VIRGIN SPRING [Ingmar Bergman's 1960 classic that inspired the original story of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT], the original original. I think that the whole aspect of the parents needing to exact revenge while on a timeline, I think, adds a lot more suspense to the movie. It's just different.
Capone: Does being a part of a film like this with a role like this open up the possibilities of where your career can go now, and hopefully people will look at you for roles they might not have before?
SP: I hope so. That's why I took…I mean, if I wanted to do what I was doing before and stay stagnant, I would have kept doing what I was doing. I took on a challenge in a different role because I want people to say, "Hey, that girl can do these other roles." Then you have options, and it's always great to have options, do comedy one year and a drama the next year. I just never want to be put in a single box. I want to be changing all the time.
Capone: Is there a particular direction you've hoping to tackle next?
SP: I don't want to put all my eggs into one basket, but I'm really just hoping people see the movie and think I did a good job. And hopefully, it'll open more doors for different opportunities.
Capone: How much of an influence was Wes Craven one the day-to-day happenings on the set?
SP: I think Wes saw what Dennis was doing and immediately was like, "They're on a good track." He was never physically present while filming, but he was one of those "Don't look behind the curtain." You know what I mean? He was the man in the control room back in L.A. I didn't actually meet Wes until a couple of months ago. Of course, I worked really closely with Jonathan, his son, who was a producer on the movie and was really involved in everything, everyday with the actors. But Wes is a really cool guy. I only talked to him for a little bit, but every time I talk to him, I get a little bit tongue-tied and nervous, starstruck, I guess. "What's happening? Why can't I speak properly?"
Capone: How aware of his stuff were you going into this?
SP: Oh, I was definitely aware of Wes Craven before this. When I heard the name Wes Craven, I was struck, even though a lot of him movies came out before I was alive. You do not grow up not knowing Wes Craven, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, SCREAM. He's an icon. You have to be living in a cave if you don't know who he is.
Capone: Were you much of a horror fan coming into this?
SP: Growing up as a kid, I wasn't really a horror movie fan because the movies scared me. But since this movie, I've gotten a lot more into it. I don't think that this is considered a horror movie; I think it's more of a suspense thriller. But I've definitely gotten a lot more into the genre. I'm really proud of what we did; I don't think it belongs in any genre.
Capone: The original film drew so much from the state of the times, with the Vietnam War and the rise of feminism. Was their any discussion before making this film where your version fit into society?
SP: I do know that when the original came out, the idea was let's show you what kind of terror is going on at home instead of out there. I heard Wes talking about this, but this film coming out after 9/11, and the idea of this being the ultimate home invasion. And it really made sense to me. And people are unhappy right now with what's going on in the world. People are angry. It is pretty relevant, and hopefully people will come see the movie and take out their frustrations by watching this movie and not in real life.
Capone: What do your friends and family think of you being in this movie?
SP: I don't think my family has any idea what they're in for. They haven't seen the original. I try to explain to them, "No no no, it's really disturbing." And they're like, "Okay, whatever. It's like AQUAMARINE 2, right?" My grandma is like, "Can I take my church group to go to the premiere?" "God, no!" My dad doesn't get it either, but I have a deal with him--we shook on it the other day--I said, "How much do you want to met you cry when you see this?" And he was like, "I won't cry; I never cry." And I said, "How about $1,000?" We shook on it, and I have a feeling a lot of money is going to coming my way soon [laughs]. I'm an only child, too, so they're going to be extra freaked out.
Capone: Were there any elements of the original or plot points that you're glad they left out?
SP: Definitely the…how do I say this…biting off of the…
Capone: Ah yes.
SP: That, and the peeing her pants moment. Definitely happy those two things were cut out.
Capone: In all fairness, neither of those moments involved your character, though.
SP: Was "pee pants" Phyllis? You're right. Either way, I'm glad it wasn't me, and I'm glad it didn't make it in. I don't think the film needs it. At that point, it would be overkill. I think that people who think it's not going to be brutal enough, I'd say, "Really, people? Are you that desensitized?"
Capone: Did the severity of the whole experience ever get to you? I'm thinking more about scenes of you crawling through the muck and rain.
SP: You know, definitely the physical aspects made us all come home exhausted. By the end of the of the shoot, there wasn't one person who didn't catch the crazy African flu that was going around. We were all on our deathbeds. But by the end of the movie, when we're filming the scenes where Monica [Potter] and Tony [Goldwyn] find me on the porch, we were all soaking wet in the rain, just sleeping between takes, and sick. But you know what? I never stopped having fun. I was sick and had the flu and coughing and dying in the mud, and we would still be laughing and trying to ease the tension. If I had the chance to go back and do it all again with everything--injuries and mud and everything--I totally would.
Capone: Do you have anything coming up after this?
SP: I possibly have a movie called GRAVY, which is kind of like a horror movie but funny. So maybe I'm doing that. I really just hope that this movie comes out and there are a lot more opportunities for me to do some meatier roles.
Capone: Sara, thank you so much for talking to us, and good luck with this.
SP: Thanks a lot and thanks for talking with me. Bye bye.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
