My Bloody Valentine: Helene Udy Takes Us Into the Mines 45 Years Later

0:00 Hello, everybody, and welcome back to a Film By podcast. And we have got something absolutely special for you today. Garrett Gibson is with us. Our very own slasher girl, Amanda Janik, is back. Amanda, I love that you've been on the show a couple more times lately. We are going to be talking about one of our, collectively, guys, one of our favorite slasher films. Helene Udy with us. Helene, welcome to the show.

1:00 Great to see you again. It's been, it's been a while. We, you know, we, we met back at scare fest, uh, in Lexington last October. And I just, I've been looking forward to this. So thank you for, thank you for joining us today. For being patient. You're a busy, you're a busy woman. So yeah. And we're, I know we want to talk about some stuff other than my bloody Valentine. Uh, but I will say this, you know, Valentine's day, it happened a little bit ago, listeners, but, uh, if you thought we didn't get you anything, uh, I am very happy to share this episode with you. So it is the 45th anniversary of the slasher classic, My Bloody Valentine. And its star, Helene, is with us here.

1:44 I'm just going to ask, you know, we were at, like I said, we were at Scarefest last year where the highlight for me was having the opportunity to meet you and a few of your co-stars. I'm speaking, of course, about Rob Stein and Tom Kovacs. So we initially met on that Friday to discuss doing a quick on-camera interview, but it wasn't until Sunday morning that you guys actually had some limited time to talk because the fans came out in droves to see you guys. Yeah. So, Helene, I know you're no stranger to meeting the fans and doing these cons. How does Scarefest compare to other conventions that you've done? Oh, no.

2:24 Scare. scarefest was the best it was a fun weekend we were very busy fun to meet all it's a great fast i love seeing other old roommates i used to play with barbara cramp you're kidding long long time yeah when we were both children. We uh yeah didn't didn't have that in the lineup of questions but we might have to we might have to come back to that yeah we we barbara has been uh been to cincinnati for horror hound once or twice and Garrett, I know you've met her. She's a sweetheart. She truly is. Roommates with Barbara Crampton. All right. Well before. I mean, I had done My Bloody Valentine. I would say probably Reanimator. Wouldn't it be, Garrett? Absolutely. It was prior to that, I think.

3:06 It was when she needed it, which is. And you were there for her. All right. Garrett? So I actually watched that interview and noticed the chemistry you guys had. If you didn't seem like strangers meeting for business, you guys behaved like close friends. In that case, have you been able to keep in touch over the past years? You mean with Barbara or with the rest of the cast? With Rob and Tom? Yeah. Rob and Tom? You guys just seemed amazing. It's kind of like childhood friends. happened and you know before before i became an adult. Really wow oh no kidding or.

3:46 17 i can't exactly i don't know straight but but we were we have that bonding i didn't go to college so yeah uh we don't speak as much as we'd like to because of course we don't hang out as much as we'd like to that might so. It being a. Yeah, see, that's always a positive. It being, of course, a Canadian slasher film and everything, I take it that you guys kind of all grew up in similar neighborhoods and got to actually find your love for acting around the same time and everything. Well, Rob and I were discovered by George in his first movie, Pinball Summer.

4:29 We were all cast in that. And both Rob and Tom had smaller roles in that. And they ended up with bigger roles in this, and I ended up with a smaller role. So, yeah, George chose us, and he chose us well. That is so awesome. Yeah. Amanda, I know you've been looking forward to this conversation. I know you've got plenty of questions. What do you got for Helene? I sure do. Okay, so one thing I really want to know. First of all, Helene, it's so nice to meet you. Oh, yeah. This is like a little Slasher Girls fan dream come true to be able to talk to you. you know, somebody that I've watched on screen since I was a little girl. So, and that was a long time ago. So here's, you've been a constant, so that's exciting. I guess I would love to know like your career inspiration.

5:16 How did you get into acting? Like, was it a particular movie you saw or a director that inspired you? Well, you know, I actually, my father was a great inspiration. He read to us and told us poetry on, and my mother, encouraged it, encouraged it because it was lacking in all of that culture. And she, from a business fan, loved that aspect of my father. So we got to live the life. So my dad was a huge fan. And in fact, he found the audition for Pinball Summer, which was the movie, in the newspaper and drove me to the audition. He was like, you usually have a mom, a stage mom. He was my stage mom. And he also got me into theater school.

5:59 He locked me in the basement for a week, because it's a long story, but I'm going to shorten it and say after failing at an audition, my father was so embarrassed for me that he locked me in the basement. It just went through Lady Macbeth word for word for like days and days and days before my audition. Rob also went to, and I got in. And I got in, I got in, I was very young. I was 15 when I got into the theater. And they said, if we asked you to wait a couple of years, And sure enough, they let me in the pro left because I had a little pressure. It was tough for a 15-year-old kid to be like that outplaying. But my father had a lot to do, successful actor. But my inspiration, one of them was The Way We Work. I saw at one of those retro, but I was struck by it because my British actor, But, you know, that cultural divide kind of exists. Recognized it. I fell in love with that movie and the fact that they... And this was the... Oh, yeah. And the last scene of the run across the field, these young guys, Mel Gibson was run across the field, that when the bullets hit, everybody in the... took a gasp and they were just all like...

7:10 And we really responded to it. And in that moment... And that was very, you know, thoughtful in that way. Because. but that's what made her. So yeah, and very deep reasons. And then I ended up on my bloody Valentine, but I think that, you know, I think that when we, we did my bloody Valentine, we were all, we were all treating it like it was a man. All of us want, you know, make it. So that shows up a screen. For sure. I was going to say, you can totally see that on screen compared to movies that were coming out at the same time. And that same genre, there's something different about that movie. So that's interesting that you say that and kudos to your dad. That's, that's amazing. I love that. Cause when you said he locked you in a basement, it could have been a different kind of movie. I love that. I love that. Kudos to dad.

7:57 So Helene, I know, you know, we were talking about George, like, you know, he's, he, you know, he brings you into this, but take us back to the day. You, you, you get the script for my bloody Valentine and you're putting your hands. Can you, can you tell us a little bit about the audition process or was there a specific scene. That you, that you read? Well, because I, lucky for me, because I had, George had cast me Pinball Summer prior to that. What I needed to do to get the role was to cut my hair because at the time, both Lori and I had long blonde hair. So I had to cut my hair and change the color. And I had to agree to that, which I didn't mind doing because I loved doing, you know, that sounds like a fun idea to me. Oh, yeah, let's see what I could do. And I had to come into the office and Because it's not that easy to scream if you're not a screamer.

8:47 Yeah. But I was familiar with screaming. I could do screaming. So it was a really important part of it. I think that they often asked to audition because some people were green in front of people. That was it. I just had to scream. They're like, yeah, you got it. You're a good screamer. That is so awesome. So it goes without saying, but My Bloody Valentine is right there at the forefront of the slasher boom. With Black Christmas, Halloween, Friday the 13th, and so many others, did you ever imagine you would be involved with something with this kind of longevity? Yeah, that's a really weird question because the reality is, and I started in this, and I only knew about movies that they existed on the screen to see them.

9:31 And I kind of was overconfident about that, and I expected... my bloody valentine you know be a lasting treasure because aren't all good movies lasting treasure and aren't they all good movies like i didn't have perspective at all so uh i was thrilled to be the big movie scene you know i had a kind of distorted understanding of what was happening little did i know that you know years down the road i was very fortunate because the first movie three things I auditioned, my buddy Valentine, and then I got offered a couple little movies, smaller parts, but, you know, yeah, pretty regularly. And I just thought that's what happened. I had no downside. Until, and then I went to New York and the first audition I did was called As the Worlds and I nailed it. And and and then I got kicked off the soap. And that was the first time I was like, oh, oh, my God. Tragedy. I'll never work again.

10:28 And my my. Mother said, how much success you need downtown. Oh, there goes my light. Well, you know, we can still see it. And it's we're talking about a scary movie. We've got to have a little bit of darkness. I will move as I speak. But anyway, so she said, don't worry about it. Um, you, uh, you're, you're not going to work for a while. So just go and enjoy yourself and enjoy your auditions. And, oh my God, if that wasn't the best thing to a person. Oh, wow. Because that's what I did. I went and I just went to my auditions like, ah, whatever. And of course I nailed every one. I got everyone immediately because I thought I would never work again after.

11:10 Can you see me? Okay. It's like, yes, absolutely. At least there's a little more light, right? Um, I should be actually in this chair as we're, you know, this is the independent life. You make do with the light that's available. Okay. And is this okay? Am I framed okay? Yes, ma'am. Yep. Okay. We got you. So anyway, so then I got so confident that I got offered a horror film, and I wish I remembered which one it was, but I don't. And I got offered a play in Buffalo, New York, at the same time. And I took the play because I was so drunk on my success that I thought, I can do movies whenever I want to. There's work coming out of my ears. I'm going to go do a play in Buffalo. And my agents were like, no.

12:01 And they're like, okay, you're the boss. Go do what you want to do. So I went and I did this play in Buffalo. And I don't regret it, really. It was a really sweet little play called, but it doesn't matter. I'll remember it in my sleep, and I'll call you. Please do. But I went and did that play, and then after that, I moved to Los Angeles. And I had lean, and then I began to have lean time. I did work quite a bit, but I also didn't always work. So I didn't get every audition. I got maybe one in five auditions, which is still, in retrospect, a good ratio.

12:44 Yeah. But I was able to sustain because I had worked so much pre that I just had an anchor. I think the hardest thing for an actor, even a good actor, even a great actor, is to be rejected. And it's like a lot of success, a lot of city at first. And we stand. And so that's what I credit all of had a lot of support and then altogether. remind you, I had some lean, you know, selling flowers, bars at night to make the rent, but you know, not my, not my soul. So yeah. So that's how, that's how it all came to be.

13:25 Nice. So let's talk about Nova Scotia for a second. Uh, you guys arrived a week before shooting because George wanted you to, to get into town and, and bond with, Uh, Sydney mines is a very small Canadian coal mining town though. And I remember when I asked Rob, Rob Stein, you know, what did you guys do to pass the, pass the time all week? He responded with that grin and he said, uh, we were getting to know the local beer. Was it Robbie? Yeah. Well, it was, was there a particular, yeah. Was there a particular person or, or group that you gravitated to while in town? Like, like, because I, I ask you, cause like, I just see like you guys, like you look so you know, so close, like at Scarefest? Like, was that the group that you kind of gravitated to?

14:14 Well, I mean, there were some of us missing and some of us are dead now. You know, some of us are unwell and some of us are dead. But everybody would have been in that group. Not just Rob and Tom, who I adore, but Jim. Everybody, everybody was in that for sure. All of the actors, Carl, Peter. Yeah, we just hung out. We had that chemistry. We really chose some great people. I think, I know all this time, but I think that the major thing about the shows was that we were actors, that we considered the work series, and that we felt lucky. And we brought that into to go on vacations, rambling old hotel and have an adventure.

14:57 And it was a dream. When actors complain, Does that answer the question? I know I ramble a little bit. No, you are absolutely fine. We were all very close. And the group was everyone. There was no one, everybody was together. So, of course, there's a few scenes in that film that take place in the actual mines. But the guys are showering in ice cold water during one of these scenes in the mines. I wasn't there, but yeah. And these are real mines you're filming in, as deep as 900 feet. So it's cold, it's dark, it's dangerous. Did you ever have any reservations about filming in the mines? Well, that's the only question that I can't answer, because I was maybe the only person, aside from Carl, no, Carl went down the mines, because who never went into the mines? My character had no occasion to go down to the mines. I was dead before they decided, before...

15:52 they decided to bring the girls down there. Um, and the cloak room that I got killed at was up top. It wasn't down in the mine. So I never, yeah, I never went down there. And I think, uh, uh, I think they really want to limit that limit, limit the amount of people that were down there at the DC. Yeah. Completely understandable. Helena, I'd like to talk about your work in television for a few minutes. So, um, Cagney and Lacey, The Twilight Zone, Silver Spoons, In the Heat of the Night, Lonesome Dove. What about me? And then, of course, your pivotal role in an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

16:34 Yes. And then, well, I mean, obviously your memorable role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. So as an actress entering an established show, like the ones we're mentioning, these amazing shows, When you're coming onto a show where there is a cast, there's a set cast that's on set, is it difficult to get comfortable with them, you know, if you're only there for a few episodes? Or are they all like, hey, Helene, welcome? What's that like? Yeah, every show is different. Like, I'll try to be brief with these questions. But, like, on Silver Spoon, I did the last episode.

17:14 Oh, okay. So everybody was sort of in a special mood. Hmm. That last episode, and strangely, Heidi Kozak was in that last episode. We bonded like he and Heidi, Ricky Schroeder and his sidekick, whose name I don't remember. There's a whole long story, but we bonded and we just hung out that whole week. And it was the last week we participated in that. And it was just natural. Heidi Kozak ended up on Dr. Quinn with me. She was going to be on Dr. Quinn. Anyway, there's a long story about that, but that was the next time I saw her was on another show. But then Cagney and Lacey, in which I only, I was powerfully battle-axed. And I just had one, it's so hard to remember one line, like the hardest acting is one line. It's like, you've got to remember when to say it. You've got to pay attention the whole time.

18:10 You've got to be looking at people. You've got to be waiting for your line. You've got to make it look natural. You know, all the thing. And I was a maid with a French accent. And I said, that was my line. They were asking me for the phone number, my boss. I was telling them, I don't know. It ends up, of course, that we were having it. So they thought they would catch me up. by asking me for, and all I had was this. And for the, I just stumbled over that line and they were, they were like, I said, did it once. And they were like, thank you. Next. And it's the way I just stumbled through it. They're like, Oh, good acting. I guess she's nervous. Whatever. Really horrifying experience.

18:56 So each show has their own. You name me a show. Well, Dr. Quinn obviously was, I was at the beginning of that. So we created a family. And Dr. Quinn was very much the same way. You know, I had really good friends on Dr. Quinn. I loved the character. First time I ever got married in my life. So, you know. Well, I'll tell you, you made the offer, so I will ask about one. But real quick, I will tell you. So I tell you, the other gentleman, David and Wayne, you kind of had a deep conversation with them about Deep Space Nine. And you're talking about the makeup application, and there was a whole thing there.

19:36 Yeah. I tell them, like, hey, Helene's going to do the show. And they got super excited Cause they're like, cause you know, we have our, we have a, we have phaser set to stun, which is like our star Trek theme show. So they are lit up and they're like, okay, so we're going to do a whole episode on that episode. And we're going to have her. I was like, well, no guys, we're, we're talking about my bloody Valentine and her career. Like it's, it's, and you're not on the show. They, they were crushed. So I'm just going to go ahead and tell you now, like we might have to talk. Cause like I, they definitely want you back for star Trek, but okay. The twilight zone. You know, I've always been a big Twilight Zone guy from the remake to the original. Yeah. What can you tell us about your experience on Twilight Zone? Well, again, that was like, you know, that was like a one-line or two-line part. You know, when I look back at these things, because I didn't care how they do a good job and the line wasn't, I always felt, and I know that, you know, I have a lot of friends who are like, oh, one-line part. I'm like, you have no idea. where that part's going to get you, or how it's going to, or whatever. It was always fun.

20:41 So I only think I had one line in that, and I don't really remember it, but I did get to hang out with Wes Crave, because he was the boss on that. And he was outside of George, I think he was the first, in terms of the world, not at all what you would expect. He was kind of creepy, and he was just none of that. He was kind of like goofy. freckled, very soft spoken. I'd say, yeah, I have some pretty lay them out like that. I'm like, yeah, I've done some stuff. Yeah. Uh, Amanda. Yeah. I don't, I don't, I feel like I'm talking too much and this is, this is your, your, your whole idea. So, uh, what, what, what do you think?

21:21 This is your show, Jeff. So you talk away. Um, no, Helen. So Jeff was telling me about, um, That you work with performers from like Cirque du Soleil and the rock climbing and the acrobatics and whatnot. You know, I'm pushing 50 here. So, you know, like bending over is a challenge sometimes. And then he's telling me about this stuff. Is that how long have you been into that? Are they truly hobbies? Are you using that to train for a certain role? Because I'm interested. I'm very into fitness. I'm always expanding my horizons and stuff. So I'm really, I'm really interested in this that he was kind of telling me about. Yeah.

22:02 I kind of told her you're, you're kind of like an action star. Like I've seen some of the stuff on your, your social media. Speak that out into the universe. Cause that's my little secret wish is like, I could be the star, an old action star, but a good action star. Yes. I've got vision. Somebody put me in a movie. I know karate. That's a possibility. I mean, they are due for an Expendables 5 anytime now. Well, you know, it's funny. Like, where is the female version of the Expendables? Because, you know, you get Helene. Maybe you get Sigourney Weaver. You get Linda Hamilton, you know. We call up her old roomie, Barbara Crampton, maybe. We could do this, right?

22:48 Definitely. Definitely. I was inspired by, by, uh, who did you mention there? The, the one with the muscles. Oh, on, on, uh, not Robocop. She was the first woman. Linda Hamilton. Linda Hamilton was the first woman that, you know, that, that came out all toned and muscular. She changed the face of what it was to, uh, what was acceptable in womanhood. I definitely glommed onto that, but, um, I've always been a tomboy, always been a tomboy. Um, And so I've always just had a need to, you know, when I was maybe about five or six, when I was five, it was a pivotal year for me, five years old. But I remember my father putting me behind the washing machine to fix the washing machine because I was the only person that could fit behind there.

23:41 So first the basement, then behind the washing machine. Okay. All right. He was handing me tools and I was like a little monkey, turn to the left, do this. I was just following his instructions and we fixed the washing machine. And I remember like how important that was to me. It opened up a world to me like, oh, I can do things. What else can I do? My father also said, you can see how important my father was in my life. My father also said, I had took violin lessons and I went up to him boastfully and I said, I can play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. And he said, really? He said, but can you, you know, that would be. And I was like, I can do that.

24:24 I got on my bed with his help and I got on my head and he handed me the violin and I played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. And it was like those little moments in my life that built the person that I am, which is just that there's another pivotal thing. I'm telling you guys some interesting stuff here. That's what we want. We're glad for this. My sister, when we were growing up, my sister, and when we were in, she hated ballet, she was terrible, but in jazz ballet, my sister, and everybody wanted to be in jazz ballet. And then she, and nobody liked her. Nobody talked to her. At recess, she was a nobody. Everybody was, she's a 98-pound weekly.

25:05 And watching that was very informative to me. both her and myself, and that was that, find your people. You have to find your people. And so, you know, those are the formative things from, you can do more than you think. I've never been gender-based in terms of my ability or my desires. I have a lot of tomboy aspects to me. And also, find your people. And to this day, that works for me. To this day, there will be people that are really bent on making people like you're on. And, uh, And with rejection and all of that stuff, the perspective that it's given me has shaped me. So I'm always adventuring out there. I'm always trying something. I'm always climbing the next mountain. I'm always going to be the, you know, I got to live to 150 and maybe I'll climb Kilimanjaro and I don't know.

25:56 haven't formulated the whole thing, but you know, a lot of adventures to come. Yeah. I got to have an adventure. I always say you got to do the hard things to find out who you are. Yeah. Love it. That's exactly right. I love hard things. Yep. Amanda was talking to you about some of your hobbies and things. Of course, speaking to hobbies, I happen to absolutely love clowns because of the classic slasher film killer clowns for her horror film killer clowns from outer space. What can you tell me about your studies at the clown school in Los Angeles and the show you performed in called Was ist das? Oh, yeah. Was ist das? Okay.

26:37 Yeah. I'm going to go backwards on this, but Was ist das? is a German cabaret set in the 1920s. My character's name is Gretel, and we're doing the cabaret at my house in Berlin in the 1920s. And so everything was actually set in my house, at my house, much to the dismay of my roommates. No, they're lovely and they put up with me. They're equally eccentric. So we put this cabaret on in my house. And one of the funny things about it was after one such show, some German couple came up to me and they just went, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I went, sorry, all the German I know is was ist das?

27:23 I love it. That sentence no more. I think I could sing a song in German. That's it. So that's about Was ist das? But clown work is interesting because, again, when I first got to Los Angeles, I discovered that you can do children's parties as an animated character. And that, you know, more than other jobs, it gave you some flexibility. It paid well considering. I was so miserable. I just absolutely hated it. I felt like a failure, like I should be. Cinderella. And the worst thing about it was that, you know, I was having romantic issues at that time in my life. So whenever I was like Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella, I wanted to tell the children, it's not true. Don't believe a word.

28:05 I remember thinking, you know, as a 20-year-old, should I break it to them that life really isn't a fairy tale? I had these thoughts. So anyway, But when I got older and my residuals for Dr. Quinn started running out, I thought, oh, my God, I can't know how to type. Like, I have no skills whatsoever. What am I going to do? And I thought back to that old job that paid a lot of money, and I kind of went back to that. But that's what ended up happening. And then as I was growing, Doing well at that, I realized that I didn't really know anything. It was a much deeper, greater sort of art than I had given it credit for.

28:48 And I got interested and started taking classes. And that was probably, I think I started taking classes about it. And so that's been my other obsession. I was also not a funny person. I was sort of the thought. I modeled myself. And strangely, people said that to me. But what that meant was that I took myself, like, now when I see Japan, it, like, breaks my heart because he's so uncomfortable. Just lighten the load a little, you know. I like it. Because I was more awkward like him. When I first got on a stage as an actor, you're given words, and I could really grab words in them, but without any, I was, I could not. So the fact that I've come clowning and that I, yeah, it's affected my heart.

29:32 That is so awesome. Okay. Yeah. I'm even a little funny, right? You are, yes. Listen, it was such a highlight. Again, talking with you guys back in October, just how animated you were, how engaging you were. And it wasn't just with us. I'm watching this. We kept walking by. I was like, all right, guys, let's try and get the My Bloody Valentine gang together. And it's like, nope, they're still busy. Nope, nope, they've got a line. Nope, there is a six-year-old. You like talking to people. Yeah, and that's a fantastic thing, too, because we do a lot of these conventions just to meet actresses and actors and ask a couple questions here and there. And some people are just like, hey, hi, sign and go. But you guys are just like, hey, sit down. Let's talk.

30:25 Yeah. I mean, even that one time, I think it was maybe Saturday. I was like, okay, well, let's try and sneak over there. Nope. But there was like a six-year-old in full minor costume. Right. And you guys were just like, look at this guy. I know. We were like, wow. You got to honor that. Somebody is– put that together. They've dreamed that up. Wow. You know, you got to honor that. Um, yeah, Robbie, Robbie's always been that guy. He's always been a big bear. He's always been there, but I've definitely, I was very intense as a child. Um, yeah. And just think like guys like Sean Penn could get back to his inner Spicoli. If he just spent a little bit of time learning some clowning with Helene, that's all he's going to do.

31:09 Do some clowning, take a load off, you know? Yeah. Uh, So, you know, given your success as an actress and a stage director, where are you most comfortable? Which do you enjoy more? I love being on set. If I had to choose, I would say I love being on set because something happens. Everybody that works there and we're all, and the world is real to us, right? We were in a real mind. You know, the sets are real. Whereas in a play, there's a lot of the magic. Play is a wonderful thing. I do love plays, and I create them all the time. So it's a really hard question, but I think that if I could own one, I'd probably want one. And I don't care what I'm doing on the set. I've been an AD, I've been a PA, I've been a line producer, I've been the director. I've been an actor.

32:01 I've done it all. And I just, you know, it's like sawdust to me. It's like, give me a chair. Give me a walkie talkie. I'm on. What are we doing? Oh, yeah. So one thing about independent film way is that is that there is there is that intense feeling of like, oh, you know, we're making a movie, you know. All right. Amanda, I know you've got a couple of questions about the film itself. So we definitely got to jump into it a little bit. But let's go back to the mind scene again. Your character, Sylvia. Yeah. She kind of gets a raw deal, I think. She doesn't break any of the established horror movie rules. Sylvia doesn't do drugs. She's not having sex. You kept your clothes on. This makes you an ideal final girl. And you get what is arguably one of the more gruesome death scenes in the movie. What are we doing here, George?

33:00 So wrong, George. So wrong. It was designed that way. What is the question? So I guess what I'm curious about is, okay, as a viewer, we're all sitting there and we're watching what's happening on screen. You're obviously partaking in it. Probably takes away... you know a lot from the movie magic because you know the tips and tricks you know how they're pulling off what we're seeing on screen but what was your reaction the first time you actually saw the practical effects on the screen. Oh when i saw the result of what i did you know we're all so critical of ourselves so i was like okay i believe that yeah i i believe that part I was just going through the whole thing. Yeah, that was good. Yeah, that was pretty good. Oh, that was good. Yeah, I like my scream. That's what I'm thinking.

33:53 I'm watching it. It's all about me and how I did. Now that I, you know, that's the first time I ever saw it. Now that I look at the whole movie, like I have years, years now, Whenever I see the movie now, I forget that I was it, and I'm able to have an audience. And what I love about the movie, also, I have to tell you guys that I did not like horror movies like that. I was such a snob. I'm like, horror movies, dreck. I did not become a horror lover that I am now until I hit about 40. I just didn't think much of horror movies at all. Now I need horror movies because I need to do some screaming. I need a little catharsis.

34:41 I need to turn on a good horror movie and feel like at least I'm alive. Whatever it is about horror movies that we all get addicted to. I love the big scare. I'm like, ah, don't do it! Sometimes I can't even watch the whole movie. But I think it really... I'm a... I'm a George Mahal because nothing was, he created a little slice of law. He let us know town, this let's petty problems, you know, whatever. And it hooked us. Then he brought in the horror and, um, you know, we can't compare it to nowadays because, you know, uh, and thank God, because I can't watch, I don't, I'm not a blood and guts person. I prefer, um, the what's around the corner. So, I would say that in that way, I really, I really love George. The movie he did previous to that was a movie called Pinball Summer, and it's a completely different movie. And it's like a, it's like an art, you know, and that's all out of George's head, like how he made, how he created.

35:48 He's a world creator. My Bloody Van is very successful in what it intends to sort of draw you and make you. Fall in love. Like, oh yeah, you're one of the guys. You're in the business too. You're drinking the man. He's very, very good at that. What did you think? Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely loved it. There is a story that I've heard, though, about one of Thomas Berman's effects was so realistic and gory that it may have made the director vomit. Is that a true story? I wouldn't have been on. I wouldn't have been on. Well, you know, apparently Tom Kovacs, his murder was.

36:29 And really like visceral, and they cut it out. Sensors cut it out. And you may be talking about that because it didn't pass whatever at the time in Canada. And then they lost the footage. This is well known. But we'll never know. We'll never know or see that. But it could have been. I don't think Bob knows. He's not like that. That's one of those stories that just makes the legend of the movie... Yeah, maybe. Something else threw up. It's so shocking that they got sick, you know. Was it really? Do you guys find it that shocking? Do you find the gore really good?

37:11 Absolutely, yeah. Especially that uncut version of this film. Yes, it's truly amazing, yeah. Oh, really? Okay. I'm not seeing it with clear eyes then, yeah. Well, Amanda, I know you pointed out, because when we were first talking about doing this, you're like, guys... you've got to see there's unrated versions of this stuff. It's unbelievable. Really? Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I actually, one of the things I was going to ask you about Helene, like when you saw the final version of the film, did you notice like your death scene in particular was way trimmed down? I mean, I know there's editing, there's cutting, you know, things that end up on the cutting, cutting room floor, but did you notice like, how trimmed it was when it was actually released? No.

37:57 And the reason is, is because when you're an actor as your kid, reading your second script ever, and you have no idea, try and remember what you're doing. You have no. Expectation at all because you don't even understand page minutes, real minutes. And, you know, the actual scene of me going, you know, going through the coats and stuff, probably that might have been three lines on the page. So I had no idea what it was until I got on set and started doing it. And then even then, it's take after take after take. So as an actor, the director and the editor construct it. So you have no sense of what it should be. All I can say is that, you know, again, I was in my method.

38:46 Sean Penn was really... I was like doing the... Nobody says I'm hard to... But I know that... you know, in the back, scaring myself and, you know, hyperventilating and getting really nervous and trying to like, trying to like be the girl. So that, that was really all that I could think of when I saw the movies. I was so great that I looked like I was scared, you know? That's amazing. And I appreciate the perspective on it because obviously we're only seeing what's put on screen, you know? And then, so.... I didn't see the uncut footage until way later in life, like way later in life. And it was like kind of seeing a different movie and I was literally pissed for you I was like, all this good stuff got cut.

39:38 You know, Maple's death, all this stuff got cut. So it's kind of interesting to hear that perspective from you that you didn't have any expectations of what was going on screen. You just wanted to do it well. So that's interesting. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah, yeah, that's right. That's exactly right. Yeah. I won't be. God forbid you walk onto a set as an actor and you have a director's eye. That's that's death. honestly you give it up as an actor you're a bit of a pawn you're kind of like it's just not yeah you you know i don't know i i i you know because i'm a director as well so i try to like the director they've got their vision my thing is interesting. I love that thank you yeah.

40:18 Yeah uh i gotta be honest like i for years i've always seen the theatrical cut amanda brings it to our attention it says guys i've got some uncut footage i'm gonna share you know i found it on youtube And that got me digging. Quick shout-out to Scream Factory. This is the 4K Blu-ray, like, steelbook. Amanda, you're going to love this. It comes with the theatrical version and the unrated version. Oh, interesting. Yeah, the unrated version. Wow. I wonder if I've even seen it. Yeah, you wouldn't think it's a whole new movie, and it's not. But some of these scenes that are just, you guys were really going for it. And, you know, the effects are just incredible. And like you said, like, you know, the, the MPAA was just like, ah, no, we're not doing, we're not showing that much. We're not doing that. We're not going that far, but yeah.

41:08 Yeah. And it's a gorgeous transfer. It's playing in the background right here behind me. Well, I was going to say that you couldn't have timed it more perfectly when we were talking about Sylvia's death because it was playing in the background. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You guys look gorgeous in 4K here. Oh, wow, that's so good. That's great. No, you know what? I'm starting to wonder whether I actually seen the uncut version, but I think I have. I think I just saw it at ScreenFest in October. I was going to say, I thought you guys did that, did a little something, right? Because I know there was a great panel. Uh, and I gotta, I gotta ask about, about something with the panel now, you know, I know the question was asked, you know, at, at these cons, there's always like that kind of question. Like anytime there's a popular, a very popular film that we're going to choose to remake, everyone's always got to ask, well, they ask about it.

41:57 Right. Right. Um, now I know famously you said you had never seen the 2009 remake. So my question, unless we could pick at it as little or as much as you wish, you know, because I know you said I used to not be a horror fan. Have you since then? Have you have you seen it or is it as a situation where you're like, you know what? I did it. I've been there. I've done that. See it. But like, I guess I've got a thing where I just don't want to see it because I know like when I go to be it's not the one I pick. and I don't know why it's gotta be a subconscious thing because I have nothing against it. I think it's great that they redid it. And, you know, we benefited from the resurgence of my bloody Valentine and all of that stuff. And, and I think that it's, I think it's super, I have nothing against it. It's just, I'm not into slasher films.

42:47 Yeah. I think that's what it. Comes down to. I'm not into slasher films. I'm into like, I'm into like more like supernatural. I'll, I'll give you one reason to watch it. Because again, I mean, you guys, we didn't need a remake. Right. Truthfully. But, and I just noticed Amanda's shirt and it brought it to my mind. Tom Atkins, who we absolutely adore. We've talked to him a couple times on the show. He's amazing. Tom's in the remake. So if you needed any reason to check it out, it's Tom Atkins, right? Right, Amanda? Absolutely. Who does he play in it?

43:27 He's one of the cops. Yeah, I think he's the sheriff. I've only seen him. Like twice, and that was just for Tom and Jensen. The rest of it, no. I'm good. So it's a bit of a retelling of the original story, but he's the sheriff that put a stop to Harry Warden years ago during the original attack. So he's the retired sheriff that 20 years down the line or whatever the break was. Okay, okay. I mean, yeah. This is homework. I hate homework. Yeah. Well, at the end of the day, the main problem with the remake is that there's no Helene beauty. There's what? Is that what?

44:09 You're not in it. Like, you know, we could have done something. It suffers very much from the time period that the remakes were coming out, the faults that they all had. Very time stamped, very cliche, very, it's, yeah. It's like, I don't know. I really, honestly, I, I, I think the only reason that I don't watch it is because it's not, it's not the kind of horror that I like. I like, I like that TV show, which is funny because it'd be my favorite TV shows of all time. FX what's Sully. And yeah, like I like, you see, you know, I like, is there blood and stuff?

44:50 I'm not into. Yeah. So when it comes, when it comes to like the psychological horror, like is, Is there a go-to for you? Is there a favorite? Like you're like, ooh, I love this one. It's my go-to. Well, like I say, I can always watch Supernatural. I don't like to watch things more. I do. I can watch that. Like I sleep with that on. I'll have a good night's sleep. What have I seen? I have to look at my Netflix to tell you. Okay. You know, I kind of like creepy features. Like I like Frankenstein. But not the one... I mean, that was okay. I didn't, I didn't love it or hate it. It wasn't really a scary movie, you know, didn't have that deep, intense.

45:32 I liked the, the Frankenstein series find on Netflix. That was really think like my, my bloody downtime. I'm attracted to people. I'm attracted to. Okay. Yeah. I don't like, I walked out of the first violent saw. Oh gosh. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm like, that's not my thing. That's a whole different subgenre, for sure. Not into it at all. Hotel or hostel, not into it. Those are brutal. Yeah, yeah. That's just not my thing. Yeah, and I don't think I've seen the Friday the 3rd and all those. I know, I'm sorry. You know what it is? And I have my friend Lisa Zane was a wood girl, but.

46:15 Yeah. Yeah, she was in Nightmare of Six, I think, right? Oh, she was? Yeah. Yeah. Yes. She was sitting across from us, actually. Yeah, so I'm very specific about what I like. You bring it up Friday the 13th, though. Garrett, I know you and I were talking about this. So I have to point out that I feel it may have been a missed opportunity. The movie has the title card Thursday, February 12th. It's not lost on me that it's a Paramount film released a year after Paramount's Friday the 13th in 1980, of course. I know we had a remake, but does it surprise you that we aren't getting My Bloody Valentine Part 8 by now? I know they kind of blew up with the Friday the 13th films, but is it I mean, especially going to these conventions and you're always seeing these people dressed up as Harry Warden and everything. Are you surprised that we didn't get more from this?

47:11 So surprised. Like, in retrospect, it makes no sense, right? It was, you know, he runs off into the mines. It was a perfect setup. And I do not know the politics on it at all. I wouldn't have been in it, obviously, because I was dead. But was there an opportunity? Fabulous missed opportunity. So much. Never understand. Yeah. I remember watching this with my uncle as I was a child and we did the watch parties with the Friday 13th films and the Halloween films. And after watching the way this one ended with Axel running off into the mine, I was waiting to see part two and.

47:52 To my surprise, there wasn't one. So I was always curious about how you guys felt about it. We were all very confused. And I know that George had been, you know, talking. There was talk. There's talk. Oh, my God, that talk has been going on for a long time. And, you know, it wouldn't be, you know, we all, you know, a lot of people want to. Sure. I mean, I still think the talk isn't dead. I think they're still talking about the possibility. Everybody be a grandparent and I would be, you know. her twin sister or something. I have no idea, but yeah, missed opportunity. Hey, you're, you're rock climbing and you're doing all this acrobatic stuff. Like don't tell me that you can't run through a mine and take care of yourself.

48:35 You know, if we do this, you know, give me the opportunity. Okay. So, yeah. Well, I mean, I come back from the dead. Well, revenge myself. Yeah. Well, you know, I, On the topic of sequels, though, because let's not forget what's kind of in vogue right now is the legacy sequel, where we kind of ignore the sequels over the past decade. And it's like, let's go back to the original one and then kind of reconnect. So I'll point out that in the theatrical version, we don't technically see your character killed. Right. Could Sylvia still be out there in Valentine Bluffs?

49:16 Yeah, you know. And if so, if so, though... helene is she preparing to take on the minor or has she become the minor you know what what what if you had your choice if george called said hey i've got a great i got two ideas for you let's what do you think you know you know whether you're. I think it's a revenge story she's gonna take on okay yeah absolutely. Preparing this whole time Waiting. Or like you said, the twin sister. I think she's a zombie. Okay. So a zombie minor. Yeah. Okay. All right. This is something I like. I don't know why.

49:57 Oh, this has been, this has been absolutely amazing. Uh, I know we got to wrap up guys, but, uh, Helene, can we talk? I know. Cause I know, like we said, uh, we, we had to, we were working to, to make this happen. you're pretty busy. Is there any current or future projects that you're allowed to share with us right now? Anything that we could talk about? Well, I mean, the thing that I do now, I've had this research. I am in my sixth. Don't believe it. I always thought I would work forever, but I wasn't being realistic about it. But it turns out that I can be working forever because there's a new thing called vertical shorts and what it is. Do you guys heard of vertical shorts?

50:38 Tell us a little bit. I'm sorry? Tell us about Vertical Shorts. Okay, so Vertical Shorts. Is a thing where you watch a kind of a soap opera on your phone. And you watch it in three-minute chunks. And each sort of TV is about 80 episodes. I can't remember the exact math. And you have to buy into an app called Real Short or Drama Box or whatever. They are apps that you download, and by virtue of downloading them, you can watch these vertical shorts. It sounds very complicated. But the weird thing is, is that even though you guys haven't heard of it, it's a multi-billion dollar business. It is the thing. And what they are, they originated in China, I think, or anyway, some part of Asia. And people watch them.

51:31 So I have this. And what they are is they're modern fairy tales. And thank God they're modern fairy tales. I have graduated to wicked stepmother. That's my thing now. So you can catch me, and I've done probably about 15, and I keep doing them. It's like so much fun. So I'm a working actor. You've got to find me on a vertical short. I'll be your favorite nasty... Uh, stepmother. Um, I, I think, I think we, I'm talking with a buddy of mine who does them too. We need to bring the horror console shorter. It sounds like it was built for it. Right. Like three minutes scares. You got to have a scare every three, you know, and then you want to know what happens to the heroin. So you never know.

52:17 You never know what might be. Yeah. Are we, uh, I, I, with your schedule, uh, any chance, what can we hope that we're going to see you this year? Uh, maybe, uh, Maybe back to Scarefest or, you know, some of the other big shows in the country? You know, I'm not in charge of that, but I would say I hope so. Okay. That's another interesting thing is like, I know, you know, Barbara Kramp and Lisa and, you know, all of the other kids on the block, they do a lot of those shows, but we don't please friends. Ask your local horror con to bring in My Bloody Valentine because it's by virtue of people requesting that. us that we that we get to go and do these things and i have to be honest and say that i've done a horror con so not fun i do not know like on my oh wow okay you know i'm just not personality for that i was like get me out of here but with the whole crew then it's fun and then we can sit and chat to people yes request us please.

53:19 Absolutely listen uh garrett you know you know all about this uh This is how it works. Gang, whether you're listening to us or whether you're watching us right now, you have got to contact the conventions. You've got to say, I want to see this movie, this reunion, or this star, because that's how it works. Helene, I know recently Tiffany Helm, who's become a friend. We were talking the other day, and she was just like, yeah. I guess it was like a Friday the 13th, 5 p.m. They were trying to get it together somewhere. She's like, look, guys, we want to do it. You've got to let the cons know. People, you're watching, you're listening. All you've got to do is just say, I want my Bloody Valentine. I want Helene.

54:11 Call Rob. Call Tom. Call Joy. Get them. Just get them. Get everyone together. That's how we do it. I, for one, have. Not been shutting up about cause you guys were just fantastic. Uh, last year. So much fun. We love, love, love to do it. And that's the only time we ever get to see each other is when we're brought together. So it's like, yeah, please, please get us going. Yeah. I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to be campaigning hard for you, for y'all. Cause like, I'd love to see you guys come back. Uh, listen, no point, no point talking about whether, you know, like a lot of times we'll talk about our recommendation, like, Hey, was this a movie? Listen, we all love this film. Um, I know, I know right now, uh, I obviously, if you, you know, if you, if you're looking for like, Hey, I just want to watch it. It's, it's streaming free on Pluto TV. I think right now it's, it's free, but is it.

55:02 The unadulterated one or is it the, the, my, my understanding is it's theatrical. It's the theatrical. I just watched it. I just had it on today. Yeah. So, so again, uh, you know, I, you can do that, but you are so much better off again with your 4k steelbook. which also, I mean, it's loaded with extra features. I didn't even, I didn't even talk about this. I'm not, I don't work for him. So I'm not going to plug it too hard, but there is one thing I do want to talk about. There is a really cool little documentary on this guy called Becoming Sylvia, which happens to have Helene. So, you know, Helene, we, I love the fact that we had you doing our own little documentary here and talking to you, but you know what? Hey, check, check out the Becoming Sylvia.

55:46 Is this your longest show ever? Cause I can't shut up. No, no. Listen, we would talk with you all night if you had let us, you know, we always try to be like, Hey, let's try to, let's try to get like, maybe if they, if we could get them for like a half hour to 60 minutes, that'd be fantastic. We can have a, we can have a good time and talk. And I did tell you things that I haven't said to anybody. So this is an episode where things that I, that I. There you go. We have our exclusive then that's that, that makes me happy to have some exclusive stuff. You can say that for sure. Yeah. Excellent. Excellent. Well, listeners, what do you think of My Bloody Valentine? Did Paramount miss the opportunity here to launch a franchise? You can let us know on social media. Helene mentioned she loves the psychological horror. She'd have to check her Netflix queue. Maybe if you want to know what's in Helene's Netflix queue, maybe we can convince her to answer for us or come back. If we have time, yeah.

56:47 What's Helene watching on Netflix? Do you have it right there? I'm sure I do. Another exclusive. Yes, we're going to do this. Another exclusive. Okay. Hang on. I don't have my glasses on. I left them in the other room, but let me see what I got here. Okay. Oh, this is fun. I didn't expect this. Oh, 28 years later. Okay yeah good did you guys like that i did yeah i was watching the series i i'm a killer that's not quite horror because it's real life documentary but it's pretty scary. Like true crime stuff yeah yeah.

57:27 True crime i'm a killer um let's see what else was i watching oh no no oh shoot no um Geez, okay. Well, I can say 28 Days Later was not disappointing. 28 Years Later, that was not disappointing. And I loved the first movie. That was super cool. Oh, Prodigal Son. Those are the kinds of things that I like to watch. You said you like the supernatural kind of cerebral stuff. Yeah, I do. Did you dip your toes in something very bad is about to happen or going to happen? I haven't yet, but it's on my list. Is it good? I just finished it last night. It's two shows in one, man. Two shows in one. It's good? I've got thoughts, Helene.

58:10 I've got thoughts. Hey, be careful. Garrett and I, we've been... covering that one on YouTube. We're only halfway there. We're halfway there. The first, the first four episodes will hit your sweet spot. Okay. I love it. Yeah. Big time. I will say, I must have said, I don't like this. I don't like this about 20 times per episode for the first four episodes. You mean you're scared to watch what's next? I don't get scared. Oh, Oh, wow. Okay. But I was like, nope, don't like this. Nope, not like this. Oh, okay. I hope I get through it because there is a TV series on here. I'm trying to find it where I can't get through it. And it's like a Swedish, it's like a Swedish thing. And it's, okay, I'm going to close this so I can see you guys. It's like they go into a, it's a town, it's a Swedish town and people, kids disappear.

59:08 Yes, I don't like that. And they go into this castle. And there's like this horrible other world cave. I'm in. That sounds good. Oh, it's a call. I can't remember. Really scary. I can't get through it because I'm too scared. I'm like, I can't watch it. Well, hey, another exclusive. I know what I'm watching tonight. Go ahead. Yeah. No, I was going to say, we got, we got to end with one, one last more, uh, one more exclusive from Helene, uh, her Netflix picks. I, you know. I think Netflix was the first thing that I saw. Yeah. I think Netflix has a song. I loved it. I, I, I'm a fan of them. Um, I just thought what they did in the, in this new one was, was fantastic. Yeah.

59:53 Me too. I loved it. It was definitely, definitely. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well, Helene, uh, I got– well, real quick. Like listeners that are watching right now or they're listening, anything like as far as like links, like fan pages, any organizations, anything where– If they want more, where. Do they go? Well, I'm a foster mom, and I foster dogs. I have a little girl named Sunday that needs a home. She's got a home with many dogs that need homes. But go to Loved Again Pets if you're looking for a dog. Foster dogs, people. Take one in.

1:00:34 It's the best way to enjoy an animal. No commitment at all. Save a dog. Put it in your house for a week. And then let somebody take it forever. Like save dogs. That's my big calling. So go out there and you won't regret it because, oh my gosh, it is so fun. When you get a dog adopted that you saved from the street or shelter or danger. I mean, I went and got a pregnant mom the other night and she had babies, the very next. And had I not gone like at midnight to go get her in some barrio in, you know, the hell town of, of Los Angeles, she would have had her baby would have been dead by morning. So things like that. So exciting.

1:01:14 If you're a horror fan, go out there, save it. Yeah. Save a dog. And then my, you can follow me Instagram. I am most active at Instagram. It's spelled H Y and I'm also on Facebook, but I have a lot of copycats on Facebook. So it's hard to tell which one is, but Instagram definitely. I do have Vasistas on Instagram, which is spelled W-A-S-I-S-T-D-A-S, which means what is that, of course. And that's it. I update on Instagram. Definitely, I'm going to put my vertical shorts and stuff. The problem with those is that you can't post about that stuff until it's aired.

1:01:59 Yes. And, and like a couple, I always feel like, Oh yeah, I did this when, but I, I try to post about the vertical and stuff and all the comedy shows. Okay. Uh, we will have, Google my name, make me famous. Well, we, we're going to do, we're going to do our part. We will have links to all, all of them, uh, in the show notes. So check, please check that out. Um, Amanda, I, I can't thank you enough for recommending that we cover my bloody Valentine. This has been an absolute treat. Yeah. Uh, and Helene, this is just, this has just been fantastic. Thank you so much for speaking with us. I don't know. I'm so forgetful. Okay. Um, you gave me a second chance.

1:02:44 No, we, we, we would love, you know, I'll give you, I'll give you a third chance. Let you know. We, I hope that we get to talk again. I hope you come back, uh, whether, whether we're in person at a scare fest or whether, you know, we bring you back and, Let's talk more about the dogs. Let's talk more about your Netflix picks. Let's talk more about clowning. Yes, definitely. Speaking of Netflix picks, I think I found the show you're referring to, The Glass Dome. I believe that's the Swedish. No, but I like. The sound of that. I'll check that one out. But no, it's not that. It's a Nordic noir show that's on Netflix. I do like Nordic noir shows. They've got the edge I need. You've got the darkness, the sadness.

1:03:32 We want to thank Helene for joining us today. And for those of you out there listening and watching each week, following us on social media, watching us on YouTube, subscribing to the Patreon, supporting the show. We absolutely thank you, and we will see you next time.