Josh Millican’s Top 10 Interviews on Dread Central
If you had asked me five years ago where I’d like to be in 2020, I’d have said: “Writing and working full-time for a horror website like Dread Central.” As a life-long fan of the genre, I’m truly living the dream, immersed in an artform I genuinely appreciate. Best of all, my position here at Dread has given me the opportunity to meet and interact with many of my horror heroes.
This marks my 5,000th article on Dread Central! True, most have been quick bits of daily news (trailers, posters, press releases, etc.) but I’ve conducted many dozen in-depth interviews with some of the biggest names in horror today. So, to mark this latest milestone, I’ve taken a look back at my body of work in an effort to identify my most profound and entertaining interviews.
I hope you’ll enjoy this trip down Memory Lane as much as I have. Stay tuned for my next 5,000 articles on Dread Central, certain to include many more incredible interviews with horror’s most important creators!
10 Years BEHIND THE MASK: An Exclusive Interview with LESLIE VERNON Actor Nathan Baesel
I discovered Behind the Mask during Netflix’s heydays, back when it was an absolute treasure trove of mainstream, foreign, and indie genre offerings. My interview with Nathan Baesel was one of my first for Dread, and I was thrilled to make his acquaintance. I’ve since met Nathan in person at several horror conventions and can attest that he’s a gifted actor with a big heart.
Interview: Jen and Sylvia Soska Talk RABID, David Cronenberg, and Transhumanism
I’ve been impressed by the output of Canadian filmmakers Jen and Sylvia Soska since Dead Hooker in a Trunk made waves back in 2009. In turn, the “Twisted Twins” have always been supportive of my writing and my career. Over the years, we’ve had many wonderful conversations (both on and off the record) but this one, done in the support of 2019’s Rabid, shows how passionate and intelligent Jen and Sylvia are about their films, and the depth they plumbed in order to create a love letter to David Cronenberg.
Adam Rifkin Talks DIRECTOR’S CUT, THE DARK BACKWARD & His Last Conversation with Bill Paxton
Director’s Cut was one of the first films released by DREAD Presents (the horror distribution arm of Epic Pictures) and I was excited to interview Adam Rifkin about the movie’s release. I’ve been a huge fan of Rifkin’s since I found The Dark Backward while wandering aimlessly through a video store in the 1990s (and as a KISS fan, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Detroit Rock City). The most poignant moment of my two -part interview, however, came when Rifkin talked about the friendship he forged with Bill Paxton since the two met on The Dark Backward. At the time, we were all still reeling from the actor’s untimely passing, and Rifkin described a somewhat ominous final conversation he had with Bill before his surgery.
Life After Charlie: An Exclusive Conversation with HEREDITARY’s Milly Shapiro
If you thought Hereditary was over-hyped, blame me. I’m one of those critics who declared it was “the scariest movie since The Exorcist” after its Fantastic Fest screening in 2018. I may have created some unrealistic expectations for some, but I stand by my statement to this day! I knew immediately that Hereditary is one of those films we’ll be talking about for decades, so I was thrilled when offered the opportunity to interview Milly Shapiro, the young actress who played Charlie. I’ll think you’ll be as surprised as I was by her intelligence and charm. She even ended the interview by sending a shiver up my spine with a Charlie-style “CLUCK!”
Exclusive Interview: Tommy Chong Talks COLOR OUT OF SPACE & Cannabis, Man
As the host and creator of Chronic Horror, it’s no secret that I support the legalization of cannabis. And as an aficionado of both horror and marijuana culture, having the opportunity to converse with stoner icon Tommy Chong was a dream come true. Talking to Tommy is exactly as fun as you might suspect, and discussing about the evolution of the stereotypical stoner in cinema was both heartening and enlightening. One of these days, we’ll snag Tommy for an episode of Chronic Horror in order to continue the conversation (while sparking some spliffs, man).
What horror journalist wouldn’t have an interview with Freddy Krueger actor Robert England on their Bucket List? I was lucky enough to get6 the opportunity earlier this year.
Exclusive Interview: Bong Joon Ho talks PARASITE and Upcoming Mystery Projects
Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite was the toast of Fantastic Fest in 2019, and the film’s success has been nothing short of staggering (nabbing Oscars in 2020 for Best Film, Best Foreign Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Production Design). My interview with the Korean filmmaker includes hints about his next project—one that has yet to emerge.
Interview: Tony Todd Sets the Record Straight on Unmade CANDYMAN VS LEPRECHAUN Crossover
When you’re talking to Tony Todd, you know it! No one else sounds like Tony, with a timber that instantly evokes images of Candyman (a character he made iconic). I’d heard rumors for years about a pitched Candyman vs Leprechaun crossover movie, so I was excited to go to the source and find out if there was any truth to the matter! Like Robert Englund, Tony is a horror heavyweight, making this one of the most significant interviews of my career.
Exclusive: Devon Sawa on THE FANATIC + National Tragedy That Tanked Potential IDLE HANDS Franchise
I’ll admit it: When Idle Hands was released in 1999, I was way more into punk, heavy metal, and girls than horror movies. Still, as a genre-lover and a stoner, I was tickled pink by the movie and, decades later, thrilled to have an opportunity to interview its star. Anyone who follows Devon Sawa on Twitter knows he’s cheeky and comical, but he can get deep—like he does in our interview. In addition to delving into The Fanatic (a vastly underrated flick written and directed by Fred Durst—and co-starring John Travolta!) he explained why Idle Hands wasn’t the “Next Great Teen Horror Franchise” we all hoped it would be.
Exclusive: Rob Zombie Explains How THREE FROM HELL Could Have Been Much Different
Love him or hate him, Rob Zombie has been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the horror landscape of the 21st Century. Rob and I connected in order to promote Three From Hell at a time when Captain Spaulding actor Sid Haig was hospitalized and gravely ill. It was impossible not to focus on Haig, his importance to the “Firefly Family Trilogy”, and his legacy. In retrospect, it’s something of a pre-obituary.
Which of these interviews is your favorite? Who would you like to see me interview on Dread Central in the future? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
Categorized:Editorials Interviews News
