INTERVIEW: Dolph Lundgren takes on ancient evil in ‘Don’t Kill It’
Dolph Lundgren is a man who needs no introduction for cinephiles. From Rocky IV to Johnny Mnemonic to The Expendables, the actor has kicked butt for decades, and now he’s taking on an ancient evil that’s been unleashed on a Mississippi town in the new horror flick Don’t Kill It.
Directed by Mike Mendez, the film centers on Lundgren’s character of Jebediah Woodley, a demon hunter who shows up in this southern town to fight off some evil spirits. His partner in crime is an FBI agent played by Kristina Klebe.
“I don’t think there’s enough heroes in horror,” Mendez said recently in a phone interview. “We have Ash from Evil Dead, but I always felt that it would be great to have an Indiana Jones of horror. When Dolph got interested in the script, I became even more excited about it because I just felt like, oh my God, that would be amazing to have an awesome action star who I’m a big fan of come in and be that kind of hero. … It also spoke to my sensibilities that it was fun. I really like having fun with it. As much as I love horror, and it is one of my favorite genres, I do like that you could have a good time, have a good laugh. And I think the script really kind of opens itself to have those possibilities.”
Lundgren said he was attracted to the project because the film is more character based, and Jebediah was so much fun. “It was a guy who talks a lot,” the actor said. “He just won’t shut up. A lot of characters I played, they say one word and shoot somebody, and that’s it. So to have a three-page monologue in the first scene, I thought it was interesting. And I met Mike after I saw his movies. I just thought this should be a lot of fun, and it was.”
The legendary actor enjoyed the experience so much that he’s open to sequels. In particular, he likes how Jebediah reacts to situations and the choices he makes. Plus, there’s his political incorrectness. “He’s really old school,” Lundgren said. “He’s chauvinistic. He’s violent, but at the same time, he’s kind of fun and relaxed and kind of cuddly in a weird way. It’s a funny character. Yeah, I think so, a sequel would be great.”
Mendez said the shoot for Don’t Kill It was fast. They received their marching orders right before Thanksgiving and needed to finish the project before Christmas. Those are the obstacles that independent films must endure.
“It was certainly a hurry to say the least, but the good thing is that sometimes movies can really have bad luck or good luck,” the director said. “Thankfully we just had a good energy and really good people, and it was fun. We just had a good time, and everyone was on board within the spirit of it. So thankfully luck was good, and we had the wind at our back.”
Mendez also serves as the editor of the film, another common feature for indie films. Producers seem to like the director-editor combination because, as Mendez jokingly said, “they don’t have to pay an editor.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I actually enjoy doing it,” he said. “I think it’s wonderful, and it’s a way to help out the film. But it’s a lot of work, I’ll say that. I had a good time. Having an editor’s brain helps me on set know exactly what we need and what is a waste and what we need to focus on. So it’s helpful that way.”
Lundgren is perhaps best know for being an action star in some of the most high-profile films in the past few decades, but the actor actually enjoys movies that go beyond the punches and weapons. He’s a fan of films that are a little more realistic. “I like more mythical kind of historical dramas like The Godfather, Gladiator, Spartacus,” he said. “Those are on my favorite list. Action movies where everything is fantastic, it’s OK. I’m in some of those. … But I’m a little more of a fan of action thrillers, I would say — a little more of that, like Heat or Scarface, those kinds of movies, a little more realistic.”
For Don’t Kill It, both actor and director want the audience to have a good time.
Here’s what Lundgren hopes the audience takes away: “They will enjoy the blood and the guts and the humor, and it’s kind of a very entertaining picture. I was really happy to be in it, and hopefully they’ll see me in a different type of role.”
Mendez concurred. “I think audiences have never seen Dolph quite like this, and I think it’s a lot of fun to see something different, a little bit of a lighter side,” the director said. “I really feel that it’s a standout role for him. I think it’s pretty awesome.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Don’t Kill It opens in select theaters Friday, March 3 and is also available on VOD. Click here for more information.
