‘Halloween Kills’ Interview: Judy Greer Discusses Finding Her Family On Set And One Ugly Pair Of Jeans
Mary Beth McAndrews
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Karen Strode is just your normal, everyday woman with a lifetime of trauma and an affinity for Christmas sweaters. While the daughter of iconic Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) spent much of Halloween (2018) trying to convince her mother and daughter (Andi Matichak) that Michael isn’t coming back, in Halloween Kills (2021) she’s much more frantic. Now that he’s back and on the rampage, she struggles to keep both her mom and child safe.
Dread Central sat down with Judy Greer, who plays Karen, to talk to her about some choice wardrobe pieces, playing some incredibly iconic roles, and the family she’s found while filming Halloween.
Dread Central: How does it feel to be back as everyone’s favorite Christmas sweater-wearing horror protagonist?
Judy Greer: I learned this time around that what I really hated were the jeans. I am so happy to be back, I feel like this is a family. This is my new family that I love. It was mostly the whole same crew, a lot of the same actors. It was just really fun. We had a really good time.
DC: That’s awesome. What has it been like for you to become part of the massive Halloween franchise? I feel like you’ve really probably gotten to know the horror community, and what has that experience been like for you?
Greer: Well, horror fans are really diehard fans. They challenge you in a way that I’m not used to being challenged about story and plot. But I’ll take it all day long. When you bring back a franchise that has so much history, and it’s so loved, and being asked to be a part of it, it’s very flattering. It’s very exciting to step up and be able to grab the Olympic torch.
DC: You’ve played some incredible and iconic characters throughout your career. Do you have any favorite characters you’ve played, in particular?
Greer: Well, let’s see. I love all my children. Just kidding. I loved this movie, and I loved Karen Strode because I love making these movies so much, and it’s a family now. It feels like a family affair. I guess, I love jobs more than characters.
I did love playing Lucy / Tom-Tom because she’s such a bitch in 13 Going On 30. It is really fun to be the bitch, but I also loved being in that movie so much. Kitty Sanchez [on Arrested Development] was out of her fucking mind. And so is Cheryl on Archer. So those two are fun because they can do anything, and anything goes. Those are some of my favorites off the top of my head.
DC: You’ve done comedy, you’ve done horror. Which one do you like doing more? Or what has been the different experience for you in filming two very different, yet kind of similar, genres?
Greer: You know, I find them to be very similar, actually. Whenever the director yells, “Cut,” when I’m shooting both of them. We all end up laughing. It’s really fun. I think you have to have a lot of energy when you’re shooting both of those genres. You have to be really in the moment, and you can’t cheat because you have to have good timing and you have to really believe it.
DC: What was it like for you to physically prepare for this role? There’s a moment, in particular, that made me gasp when you’re on a set of stairs in the hospital.
Greer: I tried to get them to hire me a trainer mostly just cause I wanted a trainer for free, but they didn’t feel that was necessary. I still feel it’s necessary. I’m still trying to find someone to hire me a trainer. I guess, the main thing I had to do to prepare was to make sure I still fit in those ugly jeans and that sweater. So, there was that.
DC: OK. That’s fair. Andi talks a little bit about working with Jamie Lee Curtis, and I know that you’ve said that it’s like a family, so I’m curious about how your relationship has grown How has it changed and flourished in Halloween Kills?
Greer: I think, whereas before I was just in awe of her, and while I still am in awe of her, now I feel like we’re friends, like we’re actually friends now. I was afraid of her because I was such a huge fan. Also, she’s a badass, and she’s very honest, which I love. But when someone’s that honest with you all the time, you have to be careful of the questions that you ask. It’s nice now. I feel like we’ve gone through so much together that I can lean on her a lot.
DC: What was it like in that scene going face-to-face with Michael? Obviously, you could see the actor, but what was that like, emotionally, for you to embody that moment where she’s holding the mask and taunting Michael to come out of the house?
Greer: Yeah. That was really fun to shoot because, some setups, we were on the stage, and some setups, we were in the actual neighborhood in Wilmington. I pretended Michael was my biggest fear, and you’re asking for your biggest fear. Like, you’re asking to have your biggest fear reveal itself, so it was emotional, but it was also such a badass moment. But I don’t ever want to be like, “Okay, I have to be a badass in this scene.” I want to keep it honest, you know?
Then, at the same time, my daughter is injured behind him, and I just, in every part of my being, need to get him away from my daughter, and the only way to do that is to take away his identity, which is the mask.
DC: I love that. Just one final question, have you seen the Super Yaki shirt that says, “Judy Greer should have been the lead”?
Greer: I have, and I think it’s so awesome.
DC: Isn’t it the best thing?
Greer: Oh my God, yes. I love it, and actually, a friend of mine bought two of them for my parents. That’s the cutest thing, and I love it. I don’t have one, and I don’t know why I don’t. I should buy one and wear it. I’m very flattered. When I see people wearing it or posting it on Instagram, I’m like, “Oh my God.” If I was better at social media, I would repost all that.
Halloween Kills is now playing in theaters and streaming on Peacock.
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