Actor Sid Haig is a highly recognizable face in the horror genre. Haig’s career dates back to 1960 with over 60 films and over 350 television appearances. He’s been in the business for over 50 years and has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Lon Chaney Jr., Omar Sharif, Sean Connery, George Lucas, and Quentin Tarantino.
Today’s generation of horror fans know Haig best for his career resurgence role in Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses, where he plays the disturbed Captain Spaulding. He had pretty much retired from acting in 1992 because he was tiring of being typecast as the villain in almost every role. Thanks to Quentin Tarantino for casting Haig in Jackie Brown and then Rob Zombie for casting him in House of 1000 Corpses, Haig enjoyed career resurgence and has since appeared in over 20 films. Sid Haig continues to work in film, most being horror films which has continued to endear him with the horror crowd. Haig is a man of many talents, he is extremely intelligent, he is a musician, and he is a crowd pleaser at the horror conventions he attends.
In his latest film, Mimesis, Haig plays against type as a filmmaker tired of his films being blamed for real life violence. He has a monologue in the film that seems as if it’s taken right out of today’s headlines concerning who’s to blame for the violence in today’s society. I had the opportunity to talk with Sid about his role in Mimesis as well as The Lords of Salem, so read on for all the details.
Michael Juvinall: We’re talking about your role in Mimesis which streets today on Blu-ray and DVD. In Mimesis, you play a role where for once, you’re not a villain. Is it refreshing for you to not be a heavy this time out?
Sid Haig: Yeah, whenever I get an opportunity to do that, I kind of leap at it. I have had the opportunity to do something
other than the villainous, whacky guy and I always look forward to that. I was happy with the fact that I could do that, pull away for a little bit, relax and stretch myself in a different direction.
MJ: It’s nice to see you in something other than a villainous role as a fan.
SH: I did a film called the Dead Calling where I play a straight up Norman Rockwell dad and people were like, “Geeze, you didn’t kill anybody in this”. I don’t have to kill somebody every time I turn around. People don’t expect that of me in a film, they expect me to run around terrorizing everybody, so it’s refreshing when I don’t have to.
MJ: Your character in Mimesis is on the receiving end of some of the extreme horror fans aggression. Do you feel the theme of Mimesis is timely in today’s climate of the gun violence outrage?
SH: I have my own take on that whole situation and as a matter of fact, my character addresses that at one point in the film. People look past the real reason for why these kinds of things happen. That’s a real shame, because you’re missing out on a lot when you take for granted that somebody saw a movie, watched a music video, or whatever and decided to go on a killing rampage, it’s really kind of silly. Man’s inhumanity to man is well known. We’ve been killing one another for a very long time. When we take a look at the reasons why people do things, let’s get it right. To say that watching Night of the Living Dead 3D made people go crazy and do these things, for the sake of the film itself, yes that’s what happens in the film, but that’s not what happens in life. We have to start making that distinction about what happens in life and what’s fantasy. Son of a gun, I just got preachy. That’s my take on it and everybody’s got their opinion.
MJ: What was it about Mimesis that attracted you to your role in the film?
SH: The fact that it was really different, that approach really never caught on with me before and when I took a look at it and thought this was a really interesting take on how a film could work out. That was my big decider was the fact that it was something unique for me and I think it’s going to be a good film and people are going to really take to it.
MJ: I enjoyed it and I thought it does have a nice and unique twist to it that I don’t think a lot of people will be expecting, so in that aspect I enjoyed it and thought it was a good film.
SH: Good, I’m glad you did enjoy it. Hopefully, it takes off and gets wings and the company moves forward and does more films and everybody gets what they want. Ultimately, that’s what we were all shooting for, that brass ring we’ll see what happens.
MJ: How was it working with the director, Doug Schulze?
SH: Very cool, very easy going, it was a relaxed atmosphere which I really appreciate because a lot of times people get all tense and whacky and start doing things that are inappropriate. He knew what he wanted and knew how he was going to go for it, and he did. It’s great when that happens.
MJ: You also have a role in the upcoming Rob Zombie film, The Lords of Salem. What are you allowed to say about that film?
SH: (Laughing) There are times when you have to be tight lipped about things because you said that you would, you understand? So, I really can’t say much about the film except for the fact that I hope people enjoy it. That’s one thing about horror film fans, we hate spoilers. I’m not going to give any.
MJ: Is there anything else coming up for you that you would like to plug or talk about?
SH: Oh my God, yeah. I did a film that I’m really anxious to see how it works out, a film called High on the Hog. I’m really anxious to see that come to fruition and do well, I think it will. There are some amazing actresses they were able to find to do the roles so hopefully that all works out.
MJ: Great! Mr. Haig, we’re out of time and I know you’ve been doing a lot of radio interviews before this and you must be tired. I loved your role in Mimesis and I’m looking very forward to seeing you in The Lords of Salem. I’ve been a big fan and I always like seeing you in roles and look forward to seeing you in whatever you do.
SH: Thank you. My goal is not to disappoint, that’s where I go with what I do.
MJ: Thank you so much for talking with me.
Mimesis streets on Blu-ray and DVD February 12th, 2013
Watch the trailer for Mimesis here,
