Exclusive: Richard Brake Talks Joining the Firefly Clan in 3 FROM HELL + DOOM-HEAD Spinoff
Josh Millican
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Theatergoers checking out Rob Zombie’s Three From Hell during its three-day run next week will meet the newest member of the murderous Firefly clan: Winslow Foxworth Coltrane (aka “Foxy”) played by Welsh actor Richard Brake. Fans of Zombie’s catalog will remember the actor from his arresting portrayal of Doom-Head in 31; he also played Gary Scott in 2009’s Halloween II. But even though this isn’t Zombie and Brake’s first collaboration, it is the actor’s first appeared in The Devil’s Rejects franchise.
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We were lucky enough to sit down with Brake to discuss what it was like being a newcomer in the already-established Firefly clan, while also addressing those persistent rumors about a Doom-Head feature film. Check out our conversation below the trailer for Three From Hell.
**Tickets for the September 16th/17th/18th nationwide release of 3 FROM HELL are available at FathomEvents.com/3FromHell**
Dread Central: Between playing Doom-Head in 31 and the mad chemist (and tiger owner) in Mandy, it seems like your horror pedigree has really risen. How does it feel to be a burgeoning icon?
Richard Brake: Oh I love it, mostly because I love the roles I’ve gotten to play. I’m really lucky. First Rob asked me to do Doom-Head [in 31] and than Panos [Cosmatos] asked me to play that crazy, drug-manufacturing madman in Mandy. It’s been great and it’s been really lovely to meet fans of these films. It’s a real treat.
DC: Years ago, we heard rumors of a potential Doom-Head spinoff movie. What’s the scoop?
RB: You know, Rob has so many irons in the fire all the time; he’s such a creative force. If the idea comes to him and he gets the creative urge, then it’ll happen. And it’ll happen like it always does: I’ll get a phone call [impersonates Rob Zombie] “Hey man, what are you doing in July or… next week?” And that’ll be it; we’ll be out making it. But you never know. With Rob, it may happen or it may never happen. It all depends on Rob’s creative urges, and that’s what I love about him.
And that’s what I love about this film. I think its been 13 or 14 years since The Devil’s Rejects. And everybody was wanting some kind of sequel or trilogy. But as much pressure as he was getting, Rob didn’t make Three From Hell until he really felt he was ready and it was something he wanted to do. As an artist, you’ve got to respect that. So hopefully, for the lovely character Doom-Head the day will come!
DC: Well I can tell you for certain there are a ton of fans who would love to see a Doom-Head movie. Now, Three From Hell is your 3rd Rob Zombie movie, but your first in the Rejects saga/trilogy. How did it feel to enter this established franchise with such a major role?
RB: Well first of all, when Rob asked me, I was totally over the Moon. I was beyond excited when I first heard. Then I sat down and thought about the character; I did the same work I would on any job. And whenever I work with Rob, I always get this creative inspiration; I’m sure everyone does. There a feeling of “I never want to let him down” and “I want to do my best to help achieve what he’s going for”. So, when I go in with that attitude it never goes wrong.
I came on set about four days late because I was working on another film in Spain. I literally flew home to London, changed my closed, and flew out to LA to work on Three From Hell. And the first scene was with Otis, myself, and Baby. Otis [Bill Moseley] and I were in the room and Sheri [Moon Zombie] walks in in full Baby-Mode. And the camera’s on me but I’m watching her just absolutely going for it. Crazy and just brilliant. And I’m sitting there as Richard thinking, “Man she’s incredible, she so good!” And then I thought, “Oh shit, the camera’s on me!” And then I realized that’s probably what Foxy’s thinking. And so, what I love is that it was written in a way that felt like I really belonged in the family and we really gelled. One of the things I loved about the whole experience and becoming part of the Firefly world was the chemistry between the three of us. And I hope that’s reflected in the film, because it was definitely there while we were shooting.
DC: It does, and the Three From Hell feels almost like a celebration of that bond. How did the vibe on set compare to the vibe while shooting Halloween II and 31?
RB: There’s always a celebratory vibe on the set of Rob’s films. Everyone’s creative juices are on full flow. That’s one of the things I love about Rob and why he’s, without a doubt, my favorite director. All the directors I’ve worked with have been fantastic, but if someone put a gun to my head and said I could only pick one, it would be Rob. He inspires me and everyone on set to be the best. There’s a real feeling of family. Celebratory is a good word. Even through you’re making a film about slaughtering people and committing all kinds of mayhem and madness, you’re having a blast doing it.
DC: The Devil’s Rejects felt like an ending, but Three From Hell feels like a new beginning. Did Zombie talk at all about making another Firefly movie?
RB: Once again, it’s totally up to Rob and his creative urges. He won’t do it until he’s ready—if he ever does it at all. But if he does do another one, it’s going to be fucking brilliant, that’s for sure.
3 From Hell will reunite the Firefly clan (Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie, and Sid Haig); the film will also feature Richard Brake, Emilio Rivera, Danny Trejo, Kevin Jackson, Wade Williams, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Pancho Moler, Daniel Roebuck, David Ury, Sean Whalen, Austin Stoker, Dee Wallace, Bill Oberst Jr., Dot-Marie Jones, and Tom Papa.
Are you excited to check out Three From Hell next week? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
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