On this month's Special Page:
Bruce Campbell is a legend in the horror community, having appeared in such classics as Evil Dead (1 and 2) and Army of Darkness among others.
The Horror Zine's Media Director, Trish Wilson, has captured an exclusive interview with this very popular actor.
Horror fans know Bruce Campbell. While he had started out in horror and is most famous for his portrayal of Ash Williams in The Evil Dead franchise, he has branched out further into acting, writing, and directing. He is a multi-faceted and versatile man who has directed, written, and acted in Man With The Screaming Brain, Make Love! The Bruce Campbell Way, and My Name is Bruce ,,, and now, Ernie & Emma, which is a comedy about a widower who scatters his late wife's ashes in different locations in order to cope with her death. He is here today to discuss his experiences with horror, his new movie Ernie & Emma, and what the future holds.
An exclusive The Horror Zine interview with Bruce Campbell
TRISH WILSON: What would you look for in a horror script today as opposed to when you started out with the Evil Dead series?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: It’s a new ballgame. I wouldn’t be in ½ the things now that I was in then. But that was my mindset back in the day – say yes to anything to get experience. These days, I’m not really looking for horror projects at all.
TRISH WILSON: How did you develop the character, Ash Williams?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: It took a few decades. At first, it was learn how to act, then try and flesh the guy out a bit. I did Ash Vs. Evil Dead to finally make him a real, albeit tragically flawed dude.
TRISH WILSON: The next movie in the Evil Dead universe is Evil Dead Burn, set to release summer of 2026. As executive producer, how much involvement and say do you have in this film?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: I was very involved in 2013 and Evil Dead Rise. Currently, I’m on a multi-year odyssey to complete and sell my next flick Ernie & Emma around the world, so I won’t be as involved in the next two that come down the pike.
TRISH WILSON: Hysteria! is horror comedy about the Satanic Panic of the 1980s. What was it like playing Chief Ben Dandridge in Hysteria!?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: The show and the role were both well-written, so that was the appeal. Horror is always a tough sell for me and the writing sold it.
TRISH WILSON: You’re a very versatile actor. What do you look for in a role?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: Is there anything interesting about the character? I’ve turned down plenty of stuff because there was nothing to sink my teeth into.
TRISH WILSON: What kinds of roles would you like to play that you haven't run across?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: I never play the “what if” game. I just wrote myself a phat part that nobody was writing for me. My fingers ain’t broke. I know what interests me these days. More actors should write their own stuff.
TRISH WILSON: Ernie & Emma seems to be a very personal project for you. How did you come to write the script, direct, and star in the movie alongside your wife, Ida Gearon?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: Initially, it was out of a desire to see if I could make a “one character” movie. Eventually, with influences of my dad as a Detroit ad guy and the place where I currently live, Ernie was born.
TRISH WILSON: Tell me about the dynamic between Ernie and his late wife, Emma.
BRUCE CAMPBELL: They were married for a long time, so there was lots of history, baggage and unresolved issues. The journey comes with many revelations, good and bad.
TRISH WILSON: How does Ernie & Emma deal with death?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: Directly. Emma is a lead character of the movie. It was nice to do an “age appropriate” role.
TRISH WILSON: You've directed episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess as well as comedies such as My Name Is Bruce and other films and shorts. How was directing Ernie & Emma different from your past experiences?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: Fewer special effects and stunts. Ernie is all about the journey and the story, so the challenge was to always stay a slave to the story – not cool shots.
TRISH WILSON: Thank you so much for the interview! Any newer projects you can mention without giving too much away?
BRUCE CAMPBELL: Hey, Ernie is ongoing, so it’s as new as it gets!
