Currie Graham (R) on the set of Cabin Fever: Patient Zero

 

 

CURRIE GRAHAM INTERVIEW

Interview conducted by Richelle Charkot

Born in Ontario, Canada, Currie Graham is a film and television star with roles in a variety of films such as Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) and Hitchcock (2012) and TV series like Grimm, Fringe, and The Mentalist. He took some time out of his clearly busy schedule to talk with Richelle about his role in his latest film, Cabin Fever: Patient Zero.

Richelle Charkot: Tell me about how you got involved with Cabin Fever: Patient Zero.

Currie Graham: I received an offer shortly before production began. I'd never been involved in a horror project before, so I was intrigued. After reading the script and talking to the director [Kaare Andrews], I was excited to get going. I certainly thought the location sounded interesting and unique.

RC: How did you get into the mind of Dr. Edwards?

CG: Oddly enough, I never thought of him as a bad guy. I felt that he was really trying to due his best to stop this horrific outbreak. I'm still not sure what makes him so evil, but perhaps that's why I play a lot of "bad guys". I feel like most of the time they're just misunderstood.

RC: I am always fond of the evil doctor character, and Dr. Edwards is certainly worthy of such recognition - who do you think is the scariest doctor you've seen in a horror film?

CG: Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Charming, cunning, likable, yet still a scary flesh eating animal.

RC: Tell me about the experience of being on set at the creepy research facility.

CG: I thought the location production found was incredible. It is a real cave located in the city of Santa Domingo. They did an unbelievable job making that cave a set and being able to shoot there.

RC: I normally do pretty well with gore, but Cabin Fever: Patient Zero had me squirming in my seat in several scenes - do you do well with gory movies?

CG: I guess from working in film and television for so long I don't really think about it anymore. I can appreciate the quality of the effects, yet I don't get grossed out over them. I think this film really pushes the envelop when it comes to the gore factor. I think audiences will love it.

RC: What is it like seeing the gruesome prosthetics on your fellow actors? Is it just as gross in person as it is on film?

CG: See above.

RC: I'm always interested to read the origin story of creative people - tell me about the moment when you realized that you wanted to be an actor.

CG: I had already completed a three year acting program at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, yet I still wasn't sure that I "fit" into this business. I felt a little lost with the material I was reading and the jobs I was doing. I happened to see the film State of Grace with Gary Oldman. Watching that performance, I realized that THIS was the kind of stuff that I related to, identified with. I changed my look a bit and started to infuse my work with who I really was. Suddenly, acting became a more dangerous and risky art form. That's when I knew that I was hooked.

RC: The Cabin Fever films have had some memorably disgusting scenes when the virus infects characters (such as the leg shaving scene from the first film) - if you had your say in the scene, how would the virus affect your character?

CG: I think that I would have discovered the cure, then given myself the virus. I would've then gone on live television and cured myself in front of a global audience. Then find a way to sell the cure to the highest bidder in the most self-righteous manner possible. Thus securing my fame while keeping my do gooder façade in tact. (Yikes.)

RC: Dr. Edwards arguably has some skewed morality - what advice would you give your character?

CG: Try for just a moment not to make everything about your own personal success. Perhaps just a little generosity of spirit.

RC: Historically you have done a lot of fantastic work in television - is there a very different vibe to working in a horror film?

CG: Thank you. Very kind of you to say.

I think that it's kind of all the same. Being able to believe what you're doing and what you're saying is what makes it work. I think that in this situation the stakes are higher and so the characters must be firmly grounded in reality for the movie to work. I guess some times where there can be a little "tongue in cheek" but I never felt that that was right for this character.

Horror DNA would like to thank Currie Graham for taking the time to answer our questions.

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