Of all the glorious things Big Gay Horror Fan has achieved in his life – escaping from the convent at 12 (with nothing but a copy of Blatty’s The Exorcist and a hot pink camisole, stolen from the leather sporting mother superior, to my name); having a drink named after him at Manny’s Electric Worm Farm – nothing could have prepared him for the glorious rapture of talking to horror legend, Linnea Quigley, on the phone! Promoting her upcoming appearance at The Massacre in Chicago on October 20th, 2012, (http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/424860900883911/?fref=ts), the Goddess Quigley humbly acknowledges the many creative blessings in her life and expresses her extreme honor over the recent, excellent documentary Screaming in High Heels (which profiles the amazing 80’s output of Quigley and fellow scream queen icons, Michelle Bauer and Brinke Stevens). Here, talk of classics (Night of the Demons, Savage Streets) and exciting new projects (Girls Gone Dead, Disciples) blends together to create a one of a kind conversation. So, dig that lipstick in – and enjoy!
BGHF: Well, Linnea, I’m going to try to ask you about some different stuff.
Linnea: Oh, Cool.
BGHF: I’m sure you must get asked the same things, time and time again.
Linnea: It’s okay. It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. At least, I’m asked questions.
BGHF: True. So, let’s just fling ourselves out there – right into the bizarre world of cult god Jess Franco. You’ve worked with him on a number of things (Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula, Blind Target).
Linnea: Oh, he was amazing. Passionate about filmmaking! Even though the films weren’t very good, he was totally passionate about it.
BGHF: Another frequent collaborator has been David DeCoteau (Nightmare Sisters, Creepozoids, and Sorority Babes). How would you describe him?
Linnea: Just a real professional. He can do a movie in his sleep. Bam, bam, bam. He can do it!
BGHF: I just watched 1313: Cougar Cult.
Linnea: Uh oh! Yeah…
BGHF: You are so good in it. Granted as the leader of the cult, you’re given the most to do. But what you did was a lot of fun.
Linnea: Oh, god. Thank you.
BGHF: You’re sassy – you took it and ran with it. You really are the movie, I think.
Linnea: Oh, my god. Thank you. I got food poisoning, so they had to do it without the guys.
BGHF: Really?
Linnea: If you notice, I’m not with any of the guys in the scene. I had gotten food poisoning and almost died. I was in the hospital for four days. I was out of the hospital, five days, and I came out and filmed my parts in one day.
BGHF: Wow!
Linnea: That was a crazy story. I was cleaning out my refrigerator and I ate this pineapple that was bad. For six days, I lay in bed, just deathly ill, and David kept calling me, everyday, saying you’ve got to get to the hospital. I was like – “I’ll try, I’ll try”, you know, and I finally just drove myself. They started pumping me with potassium and stuff and put in a bed in the hospital and I was like “Oh my God”!
BGHF: You went through that and yet you gave a really fun, committed performance.
Linnea: Oh, thanks! My legs were a little shaky from going through all that. But, thank you so much.
BGHF: Oh, you’re welcome and it’s fascinating to hear the other end of it, because it really isn’t visible.
Linnea Oh, Thank god! I was just trying to remember my lines and go through them and everything!
BGHF: Wow. So, you had no interaction with the young men whatsoever?
Linnea None, not at all. David, he’s brilliant at being able to do that.
BGHF: That’s amazing. A great behind the scenes story! Too bad you had to go through all of that to get it! But, there you!
Linnea: (laughs) Yeah!
BGHF: Let’s talk about Dan Golden (Burial of the Rats, Linnea’s Skin book).
Linnea: He is a perfectionist. To the max! He’s really good to work with, but he takes his time. If your nail polish doesn’t match your lipstick, it will by the time that you’re shooting with him.
BGHF: Awesome. So, he’s very detail oriented.
Linnea VERY detail oriented.
BGHF: You know, I’m gay, but that is the one thing I’m not good at. I just throw stuff on and go. I have no fashion or coordination sense.
Linnea: (Laughs) Oh, good.
BGHF: Yep, it skipped me.
Linnea: Yeah, all that! It’s like you don’t dress, like, in one of those sweater vests or something.
BGHF: No, no, no…Although, I did just do a short bit in a film where I wore a tan sweater vest. There was debate about whether it worked or not.
Linnea: So, you wore a sweater vest?!?
BGHF: I played a host in a fancy restaurant.
Linnea: So funny. You stuck to your guns! I love it when you see an actor with a sweater vest on – you just have to watch them, you know!
BGHF: Well, if this ever comes out, I’ll make sure I’ll send you the clip, so you can see my sweater vest acting!
Linnea: Okay! Yeah!
BGHF: So, Kevin S. Tenney. Can we talk a little about him?
Linnea: He’s a sweetheart. He’s really great to work with. A true director and a friend, too! He’s funny. And – I got to work with him twice! He usually says that he never works with the same actress. So, I was lucky enough to work with him twice. Witchtrap and Night of the Demons!
BGHF: I met him, once, and had him sign my VHS copy of Witchtrap. (laughs) He wasn’t too thrilled. He was kind of like – “Oh man, this one!”
Linnea: I know, I know. It’s kind of a lame one. But, he tried!
BGHF: That’s all you can do! But, you look great in it and your death scene is awesome. Night of the Demons, though, is such a legacy film for you. You’ve gone full circle with that and made a fun appearance in its recent re-imagining.
Linnea: Yes and I haven’t watched it, yet. I am going to, though.
BGHF: Was that nostalgic or fun for you to re-visit?
Linnea: It was weird to come into the full spectrum of being an ingénue to being the mom.
BGHF: It happens! That vicious bastard, time! But, once again, you look great and it’s a great little bit.
LQ: Oh, thank you!
BGHF: What was it like working with Jeff Burr on Pumpkinhead II? He’s one of my favorites from the stuff he did in the 80’s and 90’s.
LQ: Jeff’s a lot like Kevin. He’s funny on set, but very focused. He’s great to work with. I love him.
BGHF: And you had a great freak-out scene in that one. You are so committed. I think it is one of my favorite onscreen moments involving you. Is it hard for you to get to that level of intensity?
Linnea: Not anymore. But, it used to be. Oh god, I used to just really freak out about it. But, now it’s a lot easier. But, just like anything, if you take any time off, then you get rusty. But, if you keep doing it, you don’t. At first, having to react to nothing and having to scream and run was so embarrassing. I felt awkward. But, now, it’s just like walking.
BGHF: Awesome. It’s a part of your breath mechanism, now.
Linnea: Yeah, Yeah.
BGHF: Now, for some of the more recent stuff – say Spring Break Massacre, which is a great title, do you have any memories about that?
Linnea: (laughing) Well, the guy from Spring Break Massacre just did a thing on YouTube, where you could win my hat from the movie that’s out now, which is leaps and bounds better than Spring Break Massacre, which is called Girls Gone Dead.
BGHF: That’s cool.
Linnea: I got to play a crazy Australian girl in Girls Gone Dead. That is really a good film.
BGHF: Oh, great
Linnea: Spring Break Massacre was him starting out, him getting his feet wet. It was fun to work with Reggie Bannister and everything like that. But, I would definitely recommend watching Girls Gone Dead. And try to win the hat and DVD!
BGHF: Duly noted. That has to be saying something about you, though. There is this legion of directors and writers and creators who keep on coming back and using you in their projects. It’s an amazing tribute to you.
Linnea: It’s nice.
BGHF: You’ve just promoted Girls Gone Dead. Are there any other projects that you’ve done that you feel have been neglected or are worthy of a second look?
Linnea: I’m proud of Death Mask and the work I did in that with James Best.
BGHF Yes! I love you in that.
Linnea: I don’t know where that went. I really don’t. Savage Streets is making a comeback, now. In a big way! It’s been playing on a lot of big screens. I was proud of that one. And David is re-releasing Deadly Embrace, Murder Weapon and, oh god, I can’t think of the third one. Maybe it’s The Girl I Want. (Ed note: The third film is Nightmare Sisters.)
BGHF: I just saw the ad for that. The Linnea Quigley Grindhouse Triple Feature! That’s awesome! And you produced Murder Weapon, correct?
Linnea: Yes. I just did another one that’s not out yet. It’ll probably take 8 months: Disciples. I co-produced that. It’s got Angus Scrimm in it and Tony Todd, Bill Moseley and Barbara Magnolfi.
BGHF: Wow!
Linnea: A huge cast.
BGHF: Amazing. I love Barbara Magnolfi! So exotic and mysterious! I’m glad she’s working again.
Linnea: Yes! And – she’s great in this!
BGHF: Do you like producing, having that kind of control?
Linnea: Oh, yes! I really like it. Because you can really have a part in the decision making and you’re not just looked upon as an actor. You’re more involved when you co-produce. A lot of times on the smaller films, I feel like I wanna say something, but I don’t want to step on the director’s toes. But, if I’m co-producing, I can say something.
BGHF: It gives you a little backbone, position-wise. That way they can’t say you are being a diva.
Linnea: Exactly!
BGHF: Animal rights activism has, also, taken up a lot of your time.
Linnea: Yeah! In fact, right after this, I have to call my vet because my one dog has gone lame. And he’s crying all the time, so I have to get him to the vet. He’s about 200 lbs, too.
BGHF: Well, there’s your work-out for the day!
Linnea: (laughs) Yes, oh yes! So, I am still involved with that. I always do the causes. In LA, I rescued a lot more, hands on. And I did do that in Florida, but not as much, right now, because one of the rescue dogs isn’t as friendly to other dogs. As a pack they get a little bit aggressive, so I’ve had to watch it. But, I am still in there, doing whatever I can and talking about it.
BGHF: Great. Back on the performance front, you’ve done some comedy. Do you feel that is a forte of yours?
Linnea: I love comedy! In Girls Gone Dead, my part is comedy. I just love doing it. At first, it was really hard. It was harder than just regular acting. But, then you get a rhythm to it. And the way it’s written, also, has a lot to do with it! I just did The Trouble with Barry which is a comedy. It was Brinke, Michelle and I. I saw some of it, the little bit they sent me, and it really looks good.
BGHF: So, has there been resurgence for you three since the documentary?
Linnea: Yeah. It’s amazing. It’s played on Chiller and everything. Oh, my God. High Heels: the Rise and Fall of the Scream Queen Era. It took me forever to remember that name!
BGHF: It’s a bit of a handle!
Linnea: It’s a hard one. I would get High Heels. Scream Queen. Everything but what the true name was! But, it’s really a good documentary.
BGHF: It awesome! I really think it’s an amazing time.
Linnea: It’s very informative, too. It’s not dry. It’s got happy parts, sad parts.
BGHF: It’s well rounded and you three are so deserving of it!
Linnea: Oh, thanks! We were pretty honored to have that happen.
BGHF: Well, I think that humility is probably what keeps you three going. It’s not like you’re going out there and expecting it. You seem very humbled by it.
Linnea: Oh, god. It’s amazing!
BGHF: That’s what endears you to people. That it’s not a diva trip.
Linnea: No, no, no.
BGHF: Which is so cool.
Linnea: Michelle is so down to earth. On The Trouble with Barry, she brought her own chainsaw to the set. She’d just have it on the car seat next to her. She was so fun!
BGHF: I directed theater for a long time in Chicago. I worked with a woman who came to rehearsals in furs with perfect hair and make-up and nails. Yet, she’d grab a broom and start sweeping the floors, if they needed it. Some of the other actors would moan about the cold in the room and she’d chastise them for not realizing how lucky they were. It was such an interesting dichotomy.
Linnea: That’s really interesting. You think she would be complaining.
BGHF: I know. But she was a very sophisticated trooper. It was probably one of the most interesting experiences I had in professional theater.
Linnea: It’s weird, the different actresses, now. On a movie I just did, the DP was talking to me and he said how he noticed when these girls threw a diva fit that he could just see me looking like “oh, my god, not this!” Because, we knew were really just lucky that we were acting, back then. And now these girls think they are just it! They would call each other the ‘c’ name and walk off set and start crying. It was just dramatic and holds up production. It’s awful.
BGHF: And, as the documentary brilliantly points out, the heyday is over. So, I can’t imagine these girls are really making any or very much $.
Linnea: No. But, if they have a little picture somewhere or somebody mentions them. It’s like “Oh!” all over the place.
BGHF: Wow.
Linnea: You know if their picture is put up. It’s all talked about. “Oh, look at my picture, look at my pictures!” Especially, with the advent of Face book!
BGHF: Everyone’s a star on Facebook!
Linnea: Exactly. It’s funny.
BGHF: You’ve got to know you’re place in the scheme of things.
Linnea: Yeah, definitely.
BGHF: So, speaking of which, any crazy words of advice – Don’t mess with zombies in a graveyard when it’s raining?
Linnea: Yeah, don’t mess with zombies in a graveyard when it’s raining. And be kind to animals or I’ll come and get you with my chainsaw!
BGHF: Awesome. I think that’s a threat we can live by!
Linnea: Yeah. And it won’t be fun! It’ll be painful with that chainsaw.
BGHF: It won’t be cinematic blood.
Linnea: No, no!
BGHF: It‘ll be the real thing. Well, Linnea, I don’t want to keep you much longer. So, thanks so much!
Linnea: No problem. Keep that sweater vest cause it might go for a lot on EBay, soon!
BGHF: (laughs) Yeah, right! I definitely know my place! I know that’s not happening.
Linnea: You never know, you never know!
BGHF: Tell you what, I’ll bring the sweater vest on the 20th, here in Chicago, and have you sign it!
Linnea: Oh, great. Okay! I’d love to!
BGHF: Awesome! Thanks so much, again, Linnea!
Linnea: Okay, great! Talk to you soon! Bye!
Once again, if you’re in the Midwest, be sure to meet Linnea on October 20th, 2012 at The Massacre (see link, above.)
Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, profiles a gorgeously deserving lady of scare, every other Monday, here.
And he is always greeting lovers of the bloody sweater vest at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.
Big Gay Horror Fan 