Horne and Corden on battling Lesbian Vampire Killers
James Corden and Mathew Horne in Lesbian Vampire Killers
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Monday, 16, Mar 2009 12:07
As if capturing the nation's hearts as sitcom best friends, hosting the Brits alongside Kylie Minogue and landing their own sketch show wasn't enough, James Corden and Mathew Horne are now taking aim at the box office with brand new comedy horror Lesbian Vampire Killers, certainly part of the top five of greatest tongue-in-cheek film titles ever.
Released on March 20th, the Momentum film sees the British comedy double-act as out-of-luck friends Fletch and Jimmy whose countryside getaway swiftly turns into a bloodbath when they discover an ancient curse has turned the female inhabitants of an remote village into Sapphic bloodsuckers.
inthenews.co.uk listens in as the Gavin and Stacey stars discuss horror, hit shows and Obama.
Were you a fan of horror before signing up for the film?
MH: There was a moment when I was 11 and The Omen II had a huge effect on me, with its pretty horrifying opening sequence. And in my teens, the idea of watching a film that you weren't allowed to, that sort of clandestine viewing, was really attractive. The Lost Boys was a big film for my generation too.
James, were you the type of youngster to hide behind the sofa when Doctor Who was on?
JC: I didn't even watch it. I was scared by it. But the only thing I remember giving me nightmares was Stephen King's It. To this day, that is one of the scariest things I've ever seen in my life.
MH: Until he turns into the spider.
JC: Yeah, then you go 'OK, it's rubbish'.
Horror and eroticism is quite a tantalising combination for a film - James, was your favourite scene the shower sequence?
JC: It wasn't, actually, that was one of the worst days! It was a really long, wet, cold day and the girl was in a body suit with this decaying face so there was nothing really erotic in it in any way!
How was working with Paul McGann?
JC: He was great, me and Mat were in awe of him.
MH: It was a real honour to meet him and the best thing about his performance in the film is how straight he plays it.
JC: A lot of my scenes were Paul and in a lot of them I was wearing a long coat, so I would sway about in the coat and in my head I was imagining I was in Withnail and I, and try and slip lines in, but he wouldn't ever bite.
With the film, the Brits, the sketch show and more Gavin and Stacey in the offing, are you worried about over-exposure?
JC: It's a constant worry!
MH: We're very mindful of it, but a lot of that is not to do with us. The sketch show starting ten days before the film comes out is out of our hands and we're obliged to support and promote these projects because we believe in them. But it is a tricky area.
JC: We promise we'll go away once the film's out!
Did you both want to do a film together and then this project came along?
JC: It's really amazing, actually, we both auditioned for this film independently. Before Gavin and Stacey had ever aired, about two years ago. We both talked about how great it was and how much we loved the script and then for different reasons the funding fell away. [Director] Phil [Claydon] has been the beating heart of this film though - there were points in the last two years when it felt like we'd missed the chance to do it, but he never, ever gave up.
Mat - can you tell us about going for the part of Fletch and ending up playing Jim?
MH: I was quite confused when I read the script because I thought Jimmy was the part I should go up for, so Phil was definitely wrong there! But that was the only time. But it's also about the dynamic, which James and I could do. Essentially, it's a buddy movie about these two guys who grow up in a weekend.
We often hear that hit British shows have an underground popularity in Hollywood - do you know if the same is true for Gavin and Stacey?
JC: It's played on BBC America and I know it's done well. At Christmas, I was really chuffed because I got sent this thing - the LA Times TV reviewer had listed the ten best TV events of the year and Gavin and Stacey was number two, and the US election was number one! (laughs) I know that people like it, it certainly has an audience. I went over to read for the new Jack Black film of Gulliver's Travels and I know that people have seen it and like it.
Does that mean Obama is funnier or more charismatic than Gavin and Stacey?
MH: He's definitely got more charisma.
JC: Oh god, yeah. Don't you love him? I almost get aroused when I'm watching him. Do you remember that speech when he said 'we are better than the last eight years'? Oh, man. I just went straight and. grabbed a mirror and had a w**k! (laughs)
Lewis Bazley
Lesbian Vampire Killers is released on March 20th.