L.A. Gore here on behalf of Horror Central and we are here with the one and only Betsy Rue! Quickly becoming a scream queen in her own right, starring in such movies as Groupie, My Bloody Valentine and Rob Zombies Halloween 2, appearing in True Blood, Femme Fatale and currently promoting her brand new movie, Lucky Bastard. Betsy, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with Horror Central.
Thanks for having me!
Of course! I just finshed Lucky Bastard last night and have to say, wow! The concept of the film is so simple yet universally applicable. I almost wonder why it hasn’t been done before! Can you tell us a little about what was going through your mind as you were reading this script?
Well, that’s exactly what was going through my mind, I was like Wow, this is kind of interesting, I’ve never heard of a movie like this before! I thought that this could be quite a ride if it’s done right, and the found footage genre was compelling to me because I had never done one before. The challenge of getting used to a camera in your face and actually addressing the camera was tough, because you are always trained to ignore the camera. So, yeah, that’s pretty much what was going through my mind as I was reading the script.
Very cool! One of the things that really struck me about your performance was during the scenes where you were reacting to the genuine creepiness of Ernest, you came across as believable and 100 percent authentic, which is rare in the found footage genre, I was so impressed! Was there any real life inspiration that you kept in mind while delivering this performance?
Not so much, I mean, I’ve come across some creepers. When you do horror movies, you usually get some kind of creeper fan. I mean, they are very passionate about the genre. So, you get some of that. But really what is was was I didn’t develop much of a relationship with Dave and we did that on purpose because I wanted it to be authentic and uncomfortable. So it was easy for me to see it from Ashley’s perspective of “Okay, why is this guy so weird and creepy?
Thanks for having me!
Of course! I just finshed Lucky Bastard last night and have to say, wow! The concept of the film is so simple yet universally applicable. I almost wonder why it hasn’t been done before! Can you tell us a little about what was going through your mind as you were reading this script?
Well, that’s exactly what was going through my mind, I was like Wow, this is kind of interesting, I’ve never heard of a movie like this before! I thought that this could be quite a ride if it’s done right, and the found footage genre was compelling to me because I had never done one before. The challenge of getting used to a camera in your face and actually addressing the camera was tough, because you are always trained to ignore the camera. So, yeah, that’s pretty much what was going through my mind as I was reading the script.
Very cool! One of the things that really struck me about your performance was during the scenes where you were reacting to the genuine creepiness of Ernest, you came across as believable and 100 percent authentic, which is rare in the found footage genre, I was so impressed! Was there any real life inspiration that you kept in mind while delivering this performance?
Not so much, I mean, I’ve come across some creepers. When you do horror movies, you usually get some kind of creeper fan. I mean, they are very passionate about the genre. So, you get some of that. But really what is was was I didn’t develop much of a relationship with Dave and we did that on purpose because I wanted it to be authentic and uncomfortable. So it was easy for me to see it from Ashley’s perspective of “Okay, why is this guy so weird and creepy?
He definitely did a good job of being creepy!
Yea! He does a great job. And not knowing him very well, I mean, all I knew about him was who he was playing in the film. We didn’t do any chit-chatting or getting to know each other until the last couple days of shooting.
So in that sense, a lot of your reactions to him were so believable because they were in fact 100 percent authentic?
Yes! Definitely! We didn’t do much rehearsing of the scenes. Some of the other actors and I would rehearse, but Dave and I wouldn’t rehearse a lot, so I never knew what he was going to throw at me and I really wanted it to be that way. I didn’t want to know how he was going to portray being creepy. So that is how it remained authentic
Well, you were fantastic, and there were so many jaw dropping scenes in the movie. My personal favorite part of the entire film was when mike said to your character “Just don’t find Jesus in the next half hour” to which you replied, “Me and jesus are just fine.” I literally laughed out loud. Speaking of Mike, the standout scene in this movie is with him and Ernest in the Kitchen… We at horror central just have to know, since your character doesn’t actually witness this, what went through your mind as you were reading this particular scene in the script?
What was going through my mind was holy shit, thank the good lord that I don’t have to do this scene.
That’s exactly along the lines of what I thought you were going to say!
(laughs) Yea, it was pretty brutal.
Absolutely! So, this isn’t really a question but I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Another thing about this movie that has stuck with me was the production. Most of the time when I am contacted by the promoters of independent found footage horror films, they are just that. Totally independent and screaming for more production. Yet Lucky Bastard has a crystal clear vision that could even rival the popular Paranormal Activity films. Something about it just stands out among the often over saturated found footage genre.
It really was. That’s all Rob and Lucas. We were trying to come up with a story and we kept saying “What hasn’t been done before? Let’s go there!” The porn industry is so stigmatized and looked down upon in our society, and I think that kind of made all of us want to do it even more! If we could do it well, why not? I mean, it’s not that porn doesn’t exist and the adult industry isn’t flourishing because it absolutely is. It’s just that everyone is so quiet about it. It’s still like a taboo. That’s why I felt drawn to it. I thought it would be a lot of fun to throw it back in everybody’s face, like, come on people!
Great point! To me, this is reminiscent of the early days of The Blair Witch. I mean, when that movie came out everybody really started doing found footage films. Maybe once people get a chance to view Lucky Bastard we will start seeing more of the porn aspect thrown into it! It could be the start of something that maybe people could cite your film as the inspiration for!
Yea, it could be. I mean, I don’t know, just because of the way that our society looks at porn, we don’t know. And there are certain people that are going to want to keep that part of their life private, people don’t usually go around broadcasting that they are addicted to porn. But most people do bring it into their home or into their relationship. I think that people are so against it, I mean, there’s something out there for everyone. So I don’t know at this point what’s meant to be. I honestly think it’s a really fun genre.
We are totally inclined to agree with you on that one!
It’s a crazy world and I could never personally be a porn star, especially after I did this movie!
You know, it’s funny that you say that, because it brings me straight to my next question. Is there any part of Betsy Rue that feels like you can identify with Ashley Saint?
The only part that I could really identify with her, because I don’t have children, and I don’t do porn, that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy porn, but the only part that I can identify with is her not taking any shit. That’s kind of what my philosophy is. I live that way. I just kind of tell it like it is. So that was pretty much the only part that I brought to Ashley Saint.
Well she was definitely that kind of character, I mean it’s safe to say that in the very end she got the last word against Dave.
Yes she did, she played him like a game.
Yea! He does a great job. And not knowing him very well, I mean, all I knew about him was who he was playing in the film. We didn’t do any chit-chatting or getting to know each other until the last couple days of shooting.
So in that sense, a lot of your reactions to him were so believable because they were in fact 100 percent authentic?
Yes! Definitely! We didn’t do much rehearsing of the scenes. Some of the other actors and I would rehearse, but Dave and I wouldn’t rehearse a lot, so I never knew what he was going to throw at me and I really wanted it to be that way. I didn’t want to know how he was going to portray being creepy. So that is how it remained authentic
Well, you were fantastic, and there were so many jaw dropping scenes in the movie. My personal favorite part of the entire film was when mike said to your character “Just don’t find Jesus in the next half hour” to which you replied, “Me and jesus are just fine.” I literally laughed out loud. Speaking of Mike, the standout scene in this movie is with him and Ernest in the Kitchen… We at horror central just have to know, since your character doesn’t actually witness this, what went through your mind as you were reading this particular scene in the script?
What was going through my mind was holy shit, thank the good lord that I don’t have to do this scene.
That’s exactly along the lines of what I thought you were going to say!
(laughs) Yea, it was pretty brutal.
Absolutely! So, this isn’t really a question but I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Another thing about this movie that has stuck with me was the production. Most of the time when I am contacted by the promoters of independent found footage horror films, they are just that. Totally independent and screaming for more production. Yet Lucky Bastard has a crystal clear vision that could even rival the popular Paranormal Activity films. Something about it just stands out among the often over saturated found footage genre.
It really was. That’s all Rob and Lucas. We were trying to come up with a story and we kept saying “What hasn’t been done before? Let’s go there!” The porn industry is so stigmatized and looked down upon in our society, and I think that kind of made all of us want to do it even more! If we could do it well, why not? I mean, it’s not that porn doesn’t exist and the adult industry isn’t flourishing because it absolutely is. It’s just that everyone is so quiet about it. It’s still like a taboo. That’s why I felt drawn to it. I thought it would be a lot of fun to throw it back in everybody’s face, like, come on people!
Great point! To me, this is reminiscent of the early days of The Blair Witch. I mean, when that movie came out everybody really started doing found footage films. Maybe once people get a chance to view Lucky Bastard we will start seeing more of the porn aspect thrown into it! It could be the start of something that maybe people could cite your film as the inspiration for!
Yea, it could be. I mean, I don’t know, just because of the way that our society looks at porn, we don’t know. And there are certain people that are going to want to keep that part of their life private, people don’t usually go around broadcasting that they are addicted to porn. But most people do bring it into their home or into their relationship. I think that people are so against it, I mean, there’s something out there for everyone. So I don’t know at this point what’s meant to be. I honestly think it’s a really fun genre.
We are totally inclined to agree with you on that one!
It’s a crazy world and I could never personally be a porn star, especially after I did this movie!
You know, it’s funny that you say that, because it brings me straight to my next question. Is there any part of Betsy Rue that feels like you can identify with Ashley Saint?
The only part that I could really identify with her, because I don’t have children, and I don’t do porn, that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy porn, but the only part that I can identify with is her not taking any shit. That’s kind of what my philosophy is. I live that way. I just kind of tell it like it is. So that was pretty much the only part that I brought to Ashley Saint.
Well she was definitely that kind of character, I mean it’s safe to say that in the very end she got the last word against Dave.
Yes she did, she played him like a game.
Change of pace just a bit, how was it working with Rob Zombie?
It was great! He is such a nice, gentle man. His persona is so different from what he is like in real life. I was kind of expecting him to be like this rough biker dude, but he is just not like that. He is so well mannered, soft spoken and intelligent. He is very normal, contrary to what he looks like is his movies and videos he is a very normal guy.
And Michael Myers? Did working with the character of Michael Myers take any of the “magic” or “fear” out of the earlier Halloween franchise?
I would say it made it less scary because now my reality of it is all skewed. Now I know what goes into really shooting it and there is nothing scary about it. Watching it on screen and not being a part of it, then you have no idea of what actually goes into it. People are portraying people that are supposed to be petrifying, but in real life, the second he calls cut, it’s over and we are best of friends and joking. When you know it, there is nothing scary about it anymore. Like when I was a child my favorite movies were scary movies and now I know, there is nothing scary about them.
Right! I was watching a previous interview with you and you said that you are obsessed with horror. Can you tell us some of your favorite horror movies?
Well, when I was very young, my favorites were Chucky, Pet Semetary, Rosemarys Baby, and Sleepaway Camp!
Sleepaway Camp! That’s a great one!
Right! Who can not be scared by Sleepaway Camp?
One of the most shocking endings to any movie in history I think.
Right! I know! I think I watched it when I was like ten or twelve years old, and I had to go back and rewatch it.
I remember watching Sleepaway Camp that young and really not understanding what that ending was. I didn’t really get that until years later!
Yea, me either! I know, I was the same way.
Want to hear something funny? You will always hold a unique place in my memory. I am a huge fan of true blood, and the episode Nothing but the Blood was going to be the deciding factor for me on whether I kept watching the show. If Lafayette was dead in the car, I would have never watched another episode! Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to work on True Blood? Were you a fan of the books?
I was not a fan of the books. I was not a fan of the show. I had never really watched it before, I actually auditioned for a couple of other parts, but that premise to me was super fun. And once I shot it and met everybody then I got really into it and I had to go back and watch it. And then it got weird in the last couple seasons. They were introducing every kind of creature under the sun. It got a little off for me.
I couldn’t agree more with you on that one! Anything new in the works for Betsy Rue, anything we can be looking forward to?
Well I just finished a movie called Bunker. It’s a thriller, more of an action, it’s not horror. I play a private in the military, and we are on what we think is a training camp and we get trapped in this bunker. It turns out that there is a terrorist attack being plotted on our military base camp. So the whole movie is us trying to figure out how we are going to get out of this bunker and save the world.
Sounds exciting! We are really looking forward to hearing more about that!
Well there you have it folks, straight from the source. Betsy, thank you so much for taking the time for Horror Central. Good luck on the rest of your promotion, and we, as always, are looking forward to seeing more of you!
Of course, thank you!
It was great! He is such a nice, gentle man. His persona is so different from what he is like in real life. I was kind of expecting him to be like this rough biker dude, but he is just not like that. He is so well mannered, soft spoken and intelligent. He is very normal, contrary to what he looks like is his movies and videos he is a very normal guy.
And Michael Myers? Did working with the character of Michael Myers take any of the “magic” or “fear” out of the earlier Halloween franchise?
I would say it made it less scary because now my reality of it is all skewed. Now I know what goes into really shooting it and there is nothing scary about it. Watching it on screen and not being a part of it, then you have no idea of what actually goes into it. People are portraying people that are supposed to be petrifying, but in real life, the second he calls cut, it’s over and we are best of friends and joking. When you know it, there is nothing scary about it anymore. Like when I was a child my favorite movies were scary movies and now I know, there is nothing scary about them.
Right! I was watching a previous interview with you and you said that you are obsessed with horror. Can you tell us some of your favorite horror movies?
Well, when I was very young, my favorites were Chucky, Pet Semetary, Rosemarys Baby, and Sleepaway Camp!
Sleepaway Camp! That’s a great one!
Right! Who can not be scared by Sleepaway Camp?
One of the most shocking endings to any movie in history I think.
Right! I know! I think I watched it when I was like ten or twelve years old, and I had to go back and rewatch it.
I remember watching Sleepaway Camp that young and really not understanding what that ending was. I didn’t really get that until years later!
Yea, me either! I know, I was the same way.
Want to hear something funny? You will always hold a unique place in my memory. I am a huge fan of true blood, and the episode Nothing but the Blood was going to be the deciding factor for me on whether I kept watching the show. If Lafayette was dead in the car, I would have never watched another episode! Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to work on True Blood? Were you a fan of the books?
I was not a fan of the books. I was not a fan of the show. I had never really watched it before, I actually auditioned for a couple of other parts, but that premise to me was super fun. And once I shot it and met everybody then I got really into it and I had to go back and watch it. And then it got weird in the last couple seasons. They were introducing every kind of creature under the sun. It got a little off for me.
I couldn’t agree more with you on that one! Anything new in the works for Betsy Rue, anything we can be looking forward to?
Well I just finished a movie called Bunker. It’s a thriller, more of an action, it’s not horror. I play a private in the military, and we are on what we think is a training camp and we get trapped in this bunker. It turns out that there is a terrorist attack being plotted on our military base camp. So the whole movie is us trying to figure out how we are going to get out of this bunker and save the world.
Sounds exciting! We are really looking forward to hearing more about that!
Well there you have it folks, straight from the source. Betsy, thank you so much for taking the time for Horror Central. Good luck on the rest of your promotion, and we, as always, are looking forward to seeing more of you!
Of course, thank you!
L.A. Gore has been writing professionally for many years, with his articles appearing in numerous publications including Bibliotheca Alexandria, Waters of Life, Pangaia, Witches and Pagans, Playgrounds and The Circle. He has spent most of his life studying ancient and modern religion, and most of his work thus far represents his findings. He is a self-proclaimed horror movie fanatic, with over four hundred in his personal collection. A few of his personal favorites are Hellraiser, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Phantasm, Suspiria, Return of the Living Dead and Dead Alive. |