Recently on FEARnet, my fellow writer Tyler Doupe listed the top ten out-of-print horror films that fans go nuts over. Mark Herrier’s Popcorn (1991) is at the top of the list – and no surprises there – fans and distribution companies have been trying to get this film re-released for a few years now. There have been Kickstarter campaigns, social media campaigns – you name it – fans have tried it.
Popcorn is an interesting little film that came up against a few major hurdles during production; director Alan Ormsby was fired and replaced by Mark Herrier, and lead actress Amy O’Neill was also fired, and replaced by Jill Schoelen. Popcorn has reached such cult status that a VHS tape will run you up to $80+ on Amazon, Ebay, and other collector sites. Released on VHS in 1991 by Sony Pictures Home E, Popcorn also had a DVD release in 2001 through ELITE Entertainment. Do I have a copy of the VHS? Of course!
Maggie (Jill Schoelen), a student at USC film school, is plagued by recurring dreams that feature a terrifying man evoking Satan and other cultish horrors. At school, the film department’s funding has just been cut, but the department head comes up with an idea: holding a festival of old gimmick horror films in a soon-to-be-demolished theatre to raise funds. A film memorabilia expert shows them a film called The Possessor, which features occult sacrifices being conducted by Lanyard Gates, the guru of a film cult in the 1960s. Maggie is startled when the film shows things that appear in her dreams. As the festival begins, a masked madman starts killing off Maggie’s classmates and those closest to her. It also appears as though the killer wants one thing – Maggie. The story is a tad contrived – it is set up to suggest that Lanyard Gates is the killer but it turns out that the killer is someone else who fits into the contorted Lanyard Gates schema. The script does offer a few amusing lines. One student protests that there is more social relevance in one Police Academy film than in all of Ingmar Bergman’s!
The masterminds behind Popcorn were none other than Bob Clark and Alan Ormsby, who worked together on the frighteningly fabulous Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972), Black Christmas (1974) and Dead of Night (1974). However, they both took their names off of Popcorn because of all the controversy surrounding the making of the film. Ormsby wrote the script and used the name Tod Hackett. Although Bob Clark was on set everyday, he decided to be uncredited. It isn’t known why their names were removed, or why Ormsby was fired.
Mark Herrier was the replacement director, and Popcorn was his first feature. Popcorn comes with a great affection for the lost pleasure of attending a movie at the theater, and it even screens old refreshment and snack ads. Popcorn may have been more successful if it were released today – with such heightened nostalgic aspects, the film would have proven to be popular amongst the sequel-loving horror fans today. In particular, Popcorn has affection for the old gimmick films of the 1950s. Many of the gimmicks used in the film – the mosquito harnessed to fly across the theatre; insurance policies and warnings about dying of fright; electric buzzers on the seats; and odors pumped into the theatre are all gimmicks that William Castle used in the 1950s. Popcorn also challenged its audience with self-reflective postmodern sensibilities in away that wasn’t really experimented with until Wes Craven’s Scream.
FEARnet had the pleasure of speaking with the star of Popcorn, the lovely Jill Schoelen about the production and how she ended up on set, in the starring role, in Jamaica with only a few hours notice.
Popcorn was a film that was promoted as a cult classic from the very beginning. How did you become part of that production? I know that three weeks into the shoot you replaced Amy O’Neill. Why were you brought in at the last minute to take over the role of Maggie?
Well, I actually I read for the part earlier. I went in and read for the part and I did not get the job. I was just finishing up another movie and I got a phone call about Popcorn, and I thought, “Oh weird. Is that that movie that I read for ages ago?” I was told that they had to let go of the lead actress and they also made a change in director half way into the shooting of the film. I literally hopped on a plane and went out there with no notice. I don’t why know they let go of Amy, no idea. I was told – and I don’t know if this is true – but Alan Ormsby originally wanted me and Bob Clark wanted Amy. They fought over that apparently, and eventually they let go of Amy, and then they let Alan go as well. Of course, then Mark Herrier was brought in to direct the film, and he knew Bob from the Porky’s films. So that’s what happened. I always found it odd, and it was strange to be working, at first, with the person (Bob) that didn’t want to hire me [laughs] but he was so sweet.
Popcorn was shot in Jamaica – which seems really unusual to me. Was it for you as well at the time?
I literally got up and left for Jamaica. Actually, my first scene when I arrived on the set was the scene where you first meet my character and I’m sleeping in the bed having a nightmare. I don’t remember exactly, but it was a scene like that. It was my first day on the job, I got there so late at night and then I had wardrobe fittings at 4am and I had to be on set for 7am. I remember they were lighting the scene, I was lying in the bed, and I just went OUT! I fell asleep! The director grabbed my toe to wake me up!
It was a bit awkward too because a lot of the dialogue had to be looped. It was also tricky for me because the other actors had already shot several of their scenes with Amy, so I had to shoot scenes without them. Their reactions were based on what Amy had done – because they shot several scenes with her and kept the footage of the other actors. I had to come in and replace her completely, and redo all of those shots!
Even after all that, we ended up reshooting audio later on in Toronto. The sound that was recorded on the set was virtually unusable. I spent ten or twelve days in Toronto working on the sound for that film, doing pick up shots and that sort of thing.
But yes, it was really hard – one day I was shopping in Los Angeles, and dancing, and being a young girl and then an hour later, I was on an airplane in Jamaica. I think the reason why we were shooting there was probably because it was cheaper. I know very little about why we were shooting there.
Alan Ormsby has had an interesting career.
Yeah, I have no idea why he was fired. I had heard rumors about him and Bob Clark, and Alan took his name off the film. He wrote under a pseudo name. He wrote the screenplay for Popcorn. Now when I think about the film, talking to you about it, it is strange. The woman I am today would have asked way more questions, but at the time it was just so hit-and-run. They were desperate to have me get out there and play the role of Maggie. It was very much like, “What do we have to do to get you here today?!” I will say though, the people on set, the Jamaicans that were working on the movie were such big movie fans and they were so happy and excited to have us in town filming. They don’t shoot too many films there, so they were really excited and really friendly.
What was your working relationship like with the new director, Mark Herrier?
Mark was great. I loved him. I feel like Bob directed for a few days as well, if I’m not mistaken. I was there just before Mark. Bob Clark was right there and he had his hand in everything.
Do you have fond memories of Bob Clark, the uncredited producer on the film?
I have a lovely picture of the two of us with our arms around each other, and he was so great. Considering all of the issues that took place on the film, Bob Clark was wonderful to me. I know that the film must have gone way over budget. It was a small horror movie without any big name stars, and they really had to dig deep to pay for it all. Financially, the film was a disaster. On the set though, I was the type of actress that would get to set, do my best work, and then I’d go back to the hotel. I felt like I was always recovering, and trying to catch up with everything. There wasn’t a lot of downtime on that shoot, but I do remember that I enjoyed Bob Clark so much. He was as sweet as can be, and he was so involved.
What was it like working with Dee Wallace?
I was such a huge Dee fan – I still am, so getting to work with her was so exciting. She’s a wonderful actress and I was very excited. The movie is interesting, but it’s not Oscar winning dialogue [laughs] so I’d love to do a heavy piece with Dee someday, because she has such great acting chops, but she was wonderful. She gives 100% plus on every movie she does. I can’t say enough wonderful and positive things about Dee Wallace.
Any behind-the-scenes secrets that you can tell us about being on the set of Popcorn?
Just the whole production was fascinating for us as actors. We were shooting in Kingston, which was a rough city. It was dangerous. And interesting. For example, you’d go out into the city and there were large city buildings and goats running around! Most of the actors spent three months there shooting – I was there a much shorter time, of course. I love Jamaica though. I fell in love there, actually! I was with that man for three years. This was after Popcorn though, years after. I went back after the film.
You also have the distinct honor of being one of the few actresses to tackle the role of Christine Day in The Phantom of the Opera. What was that like, working with Robert Englund?
So great! Robert and I got along so well, we worked really well together. I’ve just done a couple of conventions, and Robert was there – and he actually signed his book to me – which makes me so happy – he signed the inside cover, “To my favorite leading lady!” I was so excited. I’m a huge fan of his; he’s just such a wonderful actor. I really think he’s underrated – he’s both blessed and cursed by Nightmare on Elm Street.
Your character goes through so much in that film! What was it like playing the role of Christine?
It was lovely to get the opportunity to play Christine Day and I did try my best. I didn’t try to play it as a stereotypical scream queen. I never wanted to be that kind of actress. I tried to play her for real, and I did my best – I really did! I was a bit limited of course, because they turned it into a horror movie, but I loved the experience of that movie.
Did you expect The Phantom Of The Opera to be that gory and horror-cliché?
Yeah, that film took a total left hand turn and went down that gore aspect. I mean, I understand why the film had a hard time finding an audience. It was too beautiful for most horror fans, and too gore filled for non-horror fans. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with that movie. This is just my personal opinion, but I felt that a financial choice was made based on the Nightmare series and how those films went so gore and horror – and I think they tried to capitalize on that with Phantom. It was decided that the movie had to be that way to sell the film, to have a Freddy-Phantom. I think the film could have been sold on its own merits. The score was beautiful, the costumes were beautiful, the hair and make up, the set pieces – it was all high level. My costumes were so real, down to my underwear – the corsets, everything. I wore authentic period pieces, I had to have an assistant dress and undress me. It was so authentic – the whole nine yards. But then came the gore. I didn’t understand it. I think that had the movie been made five years before or five years later, it might not have been necessary to do that to the film. The 80s wasn’t a great time for these types of horror films. I think Popcorn suffered the same fate.
You’re also fantastic in When A Stranger Calls Back. The first part of that movie is very intense, it really scared me when I watched it for the first time.
I loved that movie. I’m rarely asked about it because I don’t really look like myself in that movie! Fans will come up to me and tell me how bad I looked in that film! It’s very funny. I loved working on the film, I remember reading the script and I felt like – I knew it was for me. I knew I wanted to do it and that it was right up my alley. I felt the same way about The Stepfather. I knew I could do the role and nail it. I loved the original film, and it was wonderful to be part of the remake, and you’re right – the first twenty minutes are fantastic, and I got to work with such great actors. It was such an honor; it was the real deal for me.
I understand you’re a singer as well? How can fans and FEARnet readers out there find your music?
Yes! I’ve always been a singer. I’ve recorded one record, a very personal record based on growing up – my best friend’s parents were jazz greats – iconic jazz people. I lost my best friend to cancer ten years ago and the entire record is based on the music of her parents. Its called Kelly Smile and its available everywhere. Fans should have no trouble finding it – it’s everywhere. I’m looking forward to recording my next album; I’m in the process of putting that together. That should be out within a year or so, so I will keep you posted!