By - Steve Mezo
I had stopped at my mom's place to drop off her morning papers and get some coffee when she asked me if I had heard of David Boyle.
His name didn't ring any bells so I had told her "No" and then she had handed me a page from The Home News Tribune (Monmouth Edition). The article had talked about David working on his movie "Abandoned in The Dark" and that Kane Hodder is in it.
Now my mother and I are big supporters of New Jersey Indie Horror and fans of Kane. And after I got done reading my mom had told me to get in touch with David to see if he would be interested in having me talk to him here. And then asked if I could contact him on FB with (Her pointing) that thing (My web phone).
I did a search and found David's FB pretty quickly, then I had posted on his wall about what had happened that day and asked if he would want to do an interview on here. Not only was he quick to respond he was really cool about it too. And it was a huge relief to find out that he was familiar with a lot of the same people that I've met and done work for here in Jersey on other projects.
David was all about the idea of dong an interview and I didn't want to go in cold so I did a little research and found out that he's an author of two anthologies. The first is "Blood Works" (2008) and "Abandoned in The Dark" (2012) which is now an Anthology Movie that David has just wrapped up production on.
As you can guess I'm really excited about this because I am all about anthologies Book, Horror Comic and Movie forms.
The wildest thing I learned from this interview is David Boyle didn't grow up as a Monster Kid, but he knows what scares you. And one of the biggest proofs of that is he knew to cast the ultimate Monster Kid "Kane Hodder" in the movie version of his book.
I had given David directions and set up a meeting time at
"The Abandoned Mom and Pop Video Store"
Only thing is I had to do a little prep work before he arrived.
The first thing I had to do was get all of the camo netting off of the transformer outside and attach a new set of jumper cables to the power box.
Then I had to make a run to the local thrift store to get another console TV for the Horror Section because the V-Hold went on the original...
Once everything was ready I had given David the heads up and he drove over. And once he arrived I had offered him a chair in the Horror Section put on the VHS of "SCREAMTIME" and got started with the interview.
What was your first monster toy?
First of all, Mr. Steve Mezo, thank you kindly for taking the time to put this fun interview together. I really appreciate the opportunity to meet and speak with your audience. Gosh, I can’t provide an adequate answer to this question, not one that would make me come across as really cool to the horror community. Darn it! I played with toys as a little boy—matchbox cars, spaceships, fire trucks, action figures, and the like. Not monster toys, though, I have no memory of any. How is that possible? I can’t account for such a peculiarity. I must have been dropped on my head at a tender age, and more than once. Someone is to blame for not incorporating monster toys into my playtime. Now it’s time to find out who the hooligan was that deprived me, and make them pay.
First of all, Mr. Steve Mezo, thank you kindly for taking the time to put this fun interview together. I really appreciate the opportunity to meet and speak with your audience. Gosh, I can’t provide an adequate answer to this question, not one that would make me come across as really cool to the horror community. Darn it! I played with toys as a little boy—matchbox cars, spaceships, fire trucks, action figures, and the like. Not monster toys, though, I have no memory of any. How is that possible? I can’t account for such a peculiarity. I must have been dropped on my head at a tender age, and more than once. Someone is to blame for not incorporating monster toys into my playtime. Now it’s time to find out who the hooligan was that deprived me, and make them pay.
Did you play with Green Army Men? If you did who was their worst enemy?
I’m not sure. I don’t think I did. I know I used to play with figurines of one sort or another, but it’s difficult to recall if Green Army Men ever entered the picture. Anything’s possible, of course. For now it’s safe to say no.
Which was your favorite Monster Cereal? Back when they were still made with real sugar...
Funny, I never cared for cereal. Oh wait, I take that back. I used to eat Cookie Crisps and Fruit Loops, sans milk. As for monster cereal, not too much comes to mind, except for Count Chocula, which might have been in the cupboards back then. This question has made me hungry.
What was your favorite Monster Themed Cartoon?
I enjoyed watching cartoons throughout my childhood. Of all the popular shows, Scooby-Doo was a favorite of mine. The show featured plenty of spine-tingling moments. What’s more, Scooby was adorable.
I enjoyed watching cartoons throughout my childhood. Of all the popular shows, Scooby-Doo was a favorite of mine. The show featured plenty of spine-tingling moments. What’s more, Scooby was adorable.
What was your favorite plastic monster model kit?
I’ve seen several pictures of model kits (some quite nice-looking), and have come across a good many at horror conventions, I suppose. However, when reflecting on my early days as a fan of all things eerie, playing with monster model kits doesn’t register. I’m so damn lame. I missed out on heaps of fun.
What was your favorite Bathtub Monster during bathtime when you were a kid?
My hand! If one examines one’s hand from different angles, as I did numerous times as a child, it can come alive in ways you hadn’t thought of. Be creative, submerge a hand in soapy water, and then pull it out, move the fingers left and right, back and forth, contort them at odd angles, and you’ve got yourself a monster with tentacles, or a snake, or an alien, or a talon. Let your imagination run amok. The possibilities are endless, my friends. I used to engage in all kinds of enactments in the tub, each movement accompanied by a series of inhuman groans, a gnarled face—anything that brought out the monster within. Unfortunately, though, I’m too tall to fit comfortably in the tub nowadays, so part of the scary fun has been taken away. Not fair!
My hand! If one examines one’s hand from different angles, as I did numerous times as a child, it can come alive in ways you hadn’t thought of. Be creative, submerge a hand in soapy water, and then pull it out, move the fingers left and right, back and forth, contort them at odd angles, and you’ve got yourself a monster with tentacles, or a snake, or an alien, or a talon. Let your imagination run amok. The possibilities are endless, my friends. I used to engage in all kinds of enactments in the tub, each movement accompanied by a series of inhuman groans, a gnarled face—anything that brought out the monster within. Unfortunately, though, I’m too tall to fit comfortably in the tub nowadays, so part of the scary fun has been taken away. Not fair!
Who did you fear most? The Closet Monster, The Under The Bed Monster, The Attic Monster or The Basement Monster?
All of the above, and that’s the truth. Everything shook me to the core. My imagination always went wild on me; and with age and maturity it hasn’t slowed down even marginally. Not only had I searched those areas regularly for any potential threats, I also feared who or what was around every corner, on every roof, under every car, behind every bush, and so forth. Though by watching horror films and through writing dark fiction I can participate in our collective fears and draw from them pleasure, entertainment, insight, and further knowledge about myself and my species.
You’re stranded on a desert island with an atomic powered portable DVD player. Which five horror movie DVDs would you have with you to watch?
Wow, so many screen gems to choose from. John Carpenter’s “Halloween” has been close to my heart since its release in 1978. That film has given me an understanding of and an appreciation for the elements of true modern horror, the kind of horror which I find intriguing, influential, and increasingly relevant in these times. Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence turned in unforgettable performances.
A timeless classic, “Psycho,” featuring outstanding work by Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, would without question occupy a spot. Like most of Hitchcock’s contributions, “Psycho” masterfully blended horror, suspense, and drama, relying on substance and storytelling to engross the audience and not on excessive gore and sensation as filler.
I’m also an admirer of the “Friday the 13thfranchise, so there’s much to choose from there.
Another hard-to-resist choice: Alexandre Aja’s “High Tension,” which sent my pulse haywire back in 2003. I saw HT in a theater during its limited release. I had gone out of my way to see the film, and lucky for me there was a showing a few towns over, but beyond that, no theaters had any listings. In spite of the dismal turnout (only two or three other people were there), the experience was worth the price of admission. I hadn’t been that unnerved by a movie in years. I left the theater feeling as though I’d found a long-hidden treasure—and a treasure it was indeed. Suffice to say, I wouldn’t mind having that DVD with me on the island.
The remaining slots would be filled by choosing from these masterpieces, to name just a small number: “Black Christmas” (original), “When a Stranger Calls” (original), “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (original, or the remake with Jessica Biel, whose work was fantastic), “The Stepfather" (original), “The Thing” (Carpenter’s), “Jeepers Creepers,” “Joy Ride,” “The Hills Have Eyes” (remake).
If price were no object what Monster collectable would you want to have?
The life-size figure of the original Michael Myers. No doubt about it. I have the animated Jason Voorhees figure and the animated Leatherface figure, and they’re always a lot of fun to display, most appreciated during the Halloween season. The kids go crazy over them. And I would be delighted to own a replica of Bruce, the shark from “Jaws.” You’d better believe I’d make room for a collectable of that stature.
Which Monster Movie would you want to see made into a video game with today's tech?
Game creators should re-imagine the Friday the 13th video game. Maybe it’s been done already, I don’t know. I think it was Nintendo that put it out back in the mid-’80s. It would be fascinating to see what advanced technology could achieve with an updated version. What fun it would be to play the part of camp counselor or camper, running away from Jason Voorhees as he stalks the woods, the cabins, the roads, using an arsenal of weapons to pick off anyone who gets in his way. I’d snatch that game up in a heartbeat!
Game creators should re-imagine the Friday the 13th video game. Maybe it’s been done already, I don’t know. I think it was Nintendo that put it out back in the mid-’80s. It would be fascinating to see what advanced technology could achieve with an updated version. What fun it would be to play the part of camp counselor or camper, running away from Jason Voorhees as he stalks the woods, the cabins, the roads, using an arsenal of weapons to pick off anyone who gets in his way. I’d snatch that game up in a heartbeat!
What was your first monster mask?
I think it was a plain mask, a man’s face, somewhat nondescript. Even though it wasn’t physically grotesque—not according to everyone who had seen it firsthand—the mask conjured up, in my impressionable mind, a number of horrifying images. As you can see, the most heinous monsters, from my point of view, are the kinds found behind the “everyday masks” human beings wear.
I think it was a plain mask, a man’s face, somewhat nondescript. Even though it wasn’t physically grotesque—not according to everyone who had seen it firsthand—the mask conjured up, in my impressionable mind, a number of horrifying images. As you can see, the most heinous monsters, from my point of view, are the kinds found behind the “everyday masks” human beings wear.
Would you be a camp counselor at Camp Crystal Lake or Camp Arawak?
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Camp Crystal Lake. I’d be so afraid of Jason that I’d probably fail in my duty to protect the children. Sorry, little ones. Hey, let them figure it out on their own, right? They’d learn survival real fast, don’t you think? Quite a few years ago I visited the Jersey filming location for Friday the 13th part 1. I took pictures, ate at the diner they used in the shoot, got butterflies in my stomach while imagining what it must have been like to be on that set, being a loyal fan and all. The whole experience gave me goose bumps.
Camp Crystal Lake. I’d be so afraid of Jason that I’d probably fail in my duty to protect the children. Sorry, little ones. Hey, let them figure it out on their own, right? They’d learn survival real fast, don’t you think? Quite a few years ago I visited the Jersey filming location for Friday the 13th part 1. I took pictures, ate at the diner they used in the shoot, got butterflies in my stomach while imagining what it must have been like to be on that set, being a loyal fan and all. The whole experience gave me goose bumps.
Zombies are busting in through your front door and you're racing out the back. What three items do you take with you? (And they don't have to be survival items).
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My wife and my two dogs. Good thing I had three choices. Otherwise somebody would be in BIG trouble.
My wife and my two dogs. Good thing I had three choices. Otherwise somebody would be in BIG trouble.
After David and I finished the interview I had thanked him for sharing so much with all of us. It was right after that when he had handed me a piece of paper and had asked me to read it in my best Vincent Price voice. *Eh-Hem*
David would like to give special thanks to:
Cover 3 Productions: http://www.cover3productions.
AuthorMike Ink Publishing: http://www.authormikeink.com/
Backers of the horror anthology film “Abandoned in the Dark”:
http://
http://
The entire cast and crew
The Haunted Scarehouse: http://www.hauntedscarehouse.
Supporters everywhere
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Oh before I turn the power off and head back to the Storage Unit of Terror make sure to stop by David's Home Page and make sure to tell him where you saw it.
