five with frights:-
Gunnar Hansen -
Mr. Frights is extremely honored to present to you our Five With Frights interview
with the legendary
GUNNAR
HANSEN.
http://gunnarhansen.com
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MR. FRIGHTS: What is the driving force behind your longevity in the horror genre? Have you done anything outside of horror?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: Well, the longevity of the
Chainsaw Massacre is due, I think, to the movie’s ability to scare and unnerve the audience. Even after all these years, it still does that. As for my longevity in horror, I think that’s because horror fans are loyal -- they remember me for Chainsaw, and so want to see me in other movies.
I have done some movies outside of horror -- a couple of comedies -- which I’ve enjoyed very much.
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MR. FRIGHTS: If you had to pick one role that was the most fun to play, what would you say that would be for you?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: The most fun to play was Krenshaw in
BRUTAL MASSACRE: A COMEDY, which was released in 2008. It was great to try something new, and this was a chance to really play a really interesting character. Plus I really liked Krenshaw. After all, he was in “The Nam!”
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MR. FRIGHTS:
Can you tell us about a horror movie or show that you've seen recently that you liked alot?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: I just recently watched
SAW and enjoyed it quite a bit. (Yes, I am behind the times.) It really engages the audience and gives them a sense of how horrible what they are seeing is. By the time he saws his foot off at the end, we are feeling every stroke of the saw, even though we don’t see anything.
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MR. FRIGHTS: You've worked with a lot of people in horror, but is there someone out there you'd really like to do a movie with?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: In the horror genre, I’d like to do one with
Doug Bradley (Pinhead,
HELLRAISER) I know him and think he would be enjoyable to work with. More than that, he’s a very good actor, and he would help my acting look good.
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MR. FRIGHTS: I saw on IMDB that you're working with
John Russo on
Escape of the Living Dead, is this a project you can tell us a little about?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: There isn’t a lot to tell. I will play a biker who gets zombified early in the story and then becomes the lead zombie for the rest of the movie. At least, that’s the plan for now.
For more of our interview with Gunnar, click on GRAB BAG QUESTIONS.
GRAB BAG QUESTIONS
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MR. FRIGHTS: What is the best thing, in your opinion, about horror in general?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: Horror is a chance to get your blood pounding, to feel alive. You get scared, but that scare is safe -- no one is REALLY trying to kill you.
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MR. FRIGHTS: If you were to remake any famous horror film, which film, and how would it be different from the original?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: I’m not particularly a fan of remakes.
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MR. FRIGHTS: I've heard you do work in movies besides acting, can you tell us about any project you did as producer, director, perhaps something else?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: I’ve written some screenplays -- non produced. Most of my non-on-camera film work has been with documentaries. I’ve written a number of them for producers, and in recent years have directed or produced several, as well as writing them. The most recent was N’TOLONAPEMK: OUR RELATIVES’ PLACE,” which I did with the Passamaquoddy Tribe, in Maine. That was funded by EPA.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Fast or slow zombies?
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GUNNAR HANSEN:
Slow.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Chainsaw or Butcher Knife?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: Chainsaw.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Have you ever played a scary practical joke on anyone, or had one played on you? Tell us about it.
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GUNNAR HANSEN: When I was four I jumped out to scare my mother. She screamed so loud that it scared me so much that I ran out of the room, screaming.
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MR. FRIGHTS: If you were the one being chased down by Leatherface, how would you stop him?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: Well, a pipe wrench seemed pretty effective in the original movie. After all, he’s mortal. I imagine any 357-mag pistol would do the job.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Who is the scariest person alive today?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: Dick Cheney.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Death by chocolate, or death by psychotic medical transcriptionist?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: Chocolate. In fact, I’m working on that right now.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Honestly, if a girl scout were to come to your door to bug you to buy some cookies... would you don THE mask to chase them away?
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GUNNAR HANSEN: Actually, they do come to my door to sell me cookies. Sadly, I do buy a few boxes. I always tell them not to deliver the cookies, but just pass them around at their troop meetings.