Exclusive: Chromeskull talks Laid to Rest 2

When the clock moved from 11:59pm on December 31st to 12:00am on January 1st, 2011 only one horror sequel Killer Film gave a damn about, and it wasn’t Scream 4. It was the return of Chromeskull in writer/director/FX master Robert Hall’s Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2. While the film isn’t released until September, we couldn’t resist feeding into our temptation and curiosity, so we caught up with actor/stunt man Nick Principe, who plays the unrelenting masked killer called Chromeskull, to talk about this anticipated sequel.

Jon: When I last talked to Rob Hall (here) he was trying to get Old Scratch off the ground, but said there’s a possibility that Laid to Rest 2 would come first. How was it coming back to the franchise and working with Robert Hall again?

Nick Principe: Rob’s awesome. It’s different working for him, because he’s a friend and he knows how much I love Chromeskull, so it’s much easier to work with him than most [directors]. Plus, Rob has a coolness on- set that’s rare; no matter how rough things get he never let’s people see him sweat.

Jon: I imagine that chrome mask kind of sucks wearing it daily, and now for the sequel – especially after the climax of the first film – you now have that mask and facial prosthetic to wear. How is it now adding more to the mask and what’s your daily shooting schedule like as the masked killer?

Nick Principe: I didn’t get any complaints about my performance with fans, so I figured if it’s not broke don’t fix it. I just did what I thought Chromey would do for what each scene called for. I just wanted Chromey to be really pissed off, as I see him to be very vain. Now that his face is gone, I thought so take this lunatic, now make that lunatic have nothing to lose, and that’s how I played him for the sequel.

I’ m used to wearing far worse than what I did for Laid to Rest, so it’s not a big deal for me. In this one, I wore a towel underneath the mask that looked just like my head and neck anyway, but with wounds around the top. On the days where I would have to be unmasked, it was a 7-hour appliance time. So if the crew’s call time was 8am I’d be in (with special makeup effects supervisor Eric Porn and whom ever he’d have working with him that day) about 5 hours before the crew to be ready to shoot around 10 or 11 am. It’s tough but beyond worth it.

Jon: So your stalking Thomas Dekker (Tommy) once more, but added to the mix is Danielle Harris (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers), who knows a thing or two about a masked killer stalking her. Talk about working with her.

Nick Principe: This was my second time working with Danielle (first was on Fear Clinic). She’s my age, but she’s been doing this since she was like 7 or 8? She’s a total pro, and always a pleasure to work with. Though, I’m not stalking her in this. She’s kind of right beside me, without giving away too much.

Jon: Also added to the sequel is the mysterious character Brian Austin Green plays. How was it working with him, who’s worked with Rob Hall before on The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and did he bring Megan Fox to set?

Nick Principe: That’s the number one asked question when Brian’s name comes up: “Did he bring Megan to set?” As most professionals don’t bring their significant other to their workplace, he was no exception. Plus, I think she was out of town shooting something of her own when we shot Laid to Rest 2, so no.

Jon: I know Rob and have talked to him a few times (here and here), so I’m sure he’s bring his A-game in the gore department. Can you talk about the sequel’s bloodshed as well as, your favorite kill?

Nick Principe: Rob doesn’t want me to talk about specific kills just yet, but the kill count is doubled for the sequel, with never-before-seen kills! Eric Porn probably didn’t get a wink of sleep for the whole shoot; every night after doing a kill,he had to prep for two or three
more the next day. If you liked the kills of the first film, you will love the kills of the second.

Jon: Interestingly, since the first film, is the horror cultural impact and popularity of Laid to Rest and Chromeskull. Outside of Jigsaw from SAW, Chromeskull is one of the only iconic killers since the Big Three (Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers) faded out. In your opinion, since you’ve played the character twice now, what’s his appeal?

Nick Principe: I honestly don’t know. And every time someone names the “Holy Three” and throws Chromeskull’s name next to them, I get goosebumps. It still hasn’t sunk in that some people consider him to be that iconic, and to those people, I thank you a million times over! You’re my heart!

I guess, he’s a little different from the Big Three, but not so different he breaks the traditions. He’s calculated and smart, but still plain evil. And there’s that sexual element that only Kruger really touched on before lightly in being a child molester, but we don’t know what Chromey does to these girls in the coffin, and for me, that’s far more scarier. What you don’t know and what you assume will always be scarier than what’s explained.

Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 comes to Blu-ray and DVD from Image Entertainment September 20th, 2011.