Talking With the Dead: 13 Questions with Victoria De Mare

“Dubbed by the media “Hollywood’s Hottest Scream Queen,” Victoria De Mare (professional actor, dancer, vocalist and model) started her expansive career in the horror film genre with a bang when she was cast in Roger Corman’s 2002 horror/comedy Slaughter Studios. From that point on, her place in B-movies would be further solidified by her near constant work in the horror, science-fiction and thriller genre.

Victoria stars in numerous memorable lead and starring roles in such cult classics as ‘Werewolf in a Women’s Prison’, Killjoy 3, and the highly anticipated John Lechago’s ‘Bio Slime’.

Originally from the East Coast, Victoria graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Broadcast Journalism. She danced professionally with the Wilmington Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and St. Croix Ballet Companies, as well as the Hart Pulse Dance Company upon relocating to Los Angeles, CA.

Victoria is also a professional lead, back-up and harmony vocalist on soundtrack label BSX Records. She is a former member of all-girl punk rock group Black Room Doom produced by legendary, Grammy-nominated platinum-selling songwriter and producer Kim Fowley.

Victoria is also a published lifestyle, parts, & glamor model in dozens of national and international magazines including Femme Fatales, Sirens Of Cinema, Scars, Girls & Corpses, Shots, & Dance Magazine.

For two years, Victoria also hosted and produced the live morning talk show ‘The Chat Cafe with Victoria’ on the SKY Channel distributed in the UK & Europe.

In addition to being a performing artist, Victoria is also an ASCAP songwriter and publisher, as well as a producer of short and feature films, live episodic television, music, music videos, and a published poet.”*

1. You got started on your film career in 1999, but you broke into the horror film genre when you were cast in Roger Corman’s 2002 horror/comedy Slaughter Studios. How did you feel when you got the call to work with Roger on Slaughter Studios, how did he help you to envision your character, and at the time, was horror what you were hoping to do with your career?

Well, my film career actually began way before IMDb lists it starting. I was thrilled to learn that I was cast in ‘Slaughter Studios’. I knew the long list of Oscar nominees & winners who had begun their careers working on Corman productions, so I was elated to join that list. Mr. Corman believes if you are any good, you won’t work with him for very long, so I was just there to live & learn. He did not help me with my character at all. I did all the work there. ‘Slaughter Studios’ was the last film to be shot at his legendary Venice Studios, so I was completely psyched to be a part of that history.

2. In 2004, you returned to work with Roger Corman again as he was the executive producer on Dinocroc. On this film, you had the opportunity to work with Costas Mandylor (Hoffman in the Saw series), Charles Napier (Silence of the Lambs, Maniac Cop 2) and Mathew Borlenghi (Cannibal Hookers, A Nightmare on Elm St: The Dream Child). What did you take away from working with these seasoned genre actors, and what was it that drew you to the project?

A role was written with me in mind on ‘Dinocroc’, but I ended up being cast in a different role than the one the writer wanted me for. I’d rather not comment on my experience of working with those “seasoned” genre actors. Let’s just say that you would expect such actors to be more prepared for their job when they come to work than they were.

3. “A house with a murderous past… A parapsychology class hunting ghosts… What they find is love, fear and jealousy… And perhaps their own desires… Each student has a hidden agenda… Even hidden from themselves… And the teachers have their own plans… Eveyone has something to hide… In SHADOWS…” was the synopsis of your next film, Dan Donley’s Shadows in 2005. Can you tell us about the interaction between your character Stevie and Alex Petrovitch’s Richard, and how did it make you feel when the film was voted as one the of top two “Best In Festival” films for the Los Angeles FAIF Film Festival?

Again, you truly can’t get all your “accurate” information from IMDb. ‘Shadows’ was not my next film. It was possibly my next film to be listed on that website, but it was not my next film. I loved working with Alex Petrovitch! We got together prior to our location shoot to discuss & rehearse our scenes. “Stevie” wasn’t completely in love with “Richard”. She just wanted him because he wasn’t available & she knew she could manipulate him. I thought it was a great film & Dan Donley did a terrific job with it. So, I was thrilled that others at the FAIF Festival agreed with me.

4. Jeff Leroy cast you in the role of Sarah Ragdale in 2006’s Werewolf in a Women’s Prison. The synopsis: “Set in the fictional third world country of Canpuna, ‘Werewolf in a Womens Prison’ is the story of Sarah, when camping with her boyfriend, is attacked by a werewolf. She wakes up in a corrupt prison only to find out her boyfriend has been torn apart and she is the only suspect. Forced to do things only found in a prison populated only by women it’s only a matter of time until that strange bite starts to take effect.” Do you feel like this film is a modern rendition of the Women in Prison (WIP) pictures of 70’s, and what did you think of the werewolf make-up process?

‘Werewolf In A Women’s Prison’ was a complete homage to the sexy, silly B-movies of the 70s involving prison stories. It was great fun to work on. I love doing any make-up effects in my work. My werewolf make-up was minimal, actually, but Jeff Leroy made the entire werewolf suit by hand that the stunt actor-Tai Chan Ngo- climbed into every day that I mistakenly lit on fire in the opening scene. I almost killed Tai, but it made for a great shot!

5. In 2009, you got your taste of zombies in J.T. Seaton’s 2009 horror/comedy George’s Intervention. In it, “George’s friends have all gathered for an intervention… George’s intervention. You see, George is a zombie and George’s friends are attempting to convince George to stop eating people and to enter ‘zombie rehab’. But the intervention doesn’t go quite as planned.” The film also starred Lynn Lowery, Brinke Stevens and Lloyd Kaufman. What was it like working with the three of them, what role does your character of Mouse play in the film and what was your take on how the director used the comedy in the film to poke fun at interventions (with zombies!)?

I love what J.T. Seaton did with ‘George: A Zombie Intervention’. I did not have any scenes with Lynn, Brinke, or Lloyd, however, I know all of them & they are all a delight! “Mouse” was a stripper called to the house for a party. Unfortunately, “George” bites her & eats her boob, & she becomes a zombie. I think too many “zombie” movies take themselves way too seriously, so I think this was the ultimate zombie comedy because it is presented in a very “ordinary life/everyday” fashion.

6. One of the films I am dying to see you in is John Lechago’s Contagion aka BioSlime (2010). I was reading on your IMDB page it took you about 2 hours worth of showering to remove all of the make-up you had to wear when your character gets taken over by the monster. What did you think of the make-up and the process it took to apply it in this film as opposed to the make-up in Werewolf in a Women’s Prison?

Oh, that is a good one! This film was released in Japan as ‘Contagion’ on DVD in 2010, but it has been released as ‘Bio Slime’ on DVD domestically this year. Ahhhhh-how I HATE IMDb & how they list information incorrectly! Sorry, but that site needs to be removed from the Internet. Anyway…yes, it took me a 2-2 1/2 hour shower to remove the make-up. It was the most intense make-up application/removal I had experienced thus far in my career at that time. I loved it! I love John Lechago & his work, so I am willing to get dirty when working with him & he knows it! Again, my make-up application for ‘Werewolf In A Women’s Prison’ was minor. I was not the actor in the suit.

7. I just finished watching the “Batty Boop” seduction scene from John Lechago’s film Killjoy 3 (2010), and I can say is that I wish a demented killer clowns looked that good! This was your second film with John, and your first Charles Band and Full Moon. What was it about the role of Batty Boop that attracted you to it, and how was it working for Charles Band and legendary Full Moon Entertainment?

‘Killjoy 3’ was not my first Full Moon feature. I worked on a film called ‘NoAngels.com’ in 2000. “Batty Boop” was written for me by John Lechago. I was shocked & flattered to get the opportunity to bring that sexy, dangerous succubus to life on screen. “Batty” has been one of my favorite roles to portray in my career thus far thanks to John. You should purchase the DVD & watch the entire film, as well as ‘Killjoy Goes To Hell'(Killjoy 4). ‘Killjoy 3’ made the #10 spot on the 10 Best Independent Films of 2010-a first for any Full Moon film. ‘Killjoy 3’ & ‘Killjoy Goes To Hell’ put Full Moon back on the map in a big way & financially able to keep cranking out films.

8. One of the more interesting projects listed on your IMDB page is Joe Estevez’s Horrorween (2011). The cast is an amazing list, including William Shatner, Jenna Jameson, Tom Savini, Donald Trump, Flavor Flav and Lloyd Kaufman! How did you come to get involved with amazing cast of characters and what was the funniest moment on the set?

Brad Milne who played my husband brought me onto the project. I didn’t have any scenes with any of those actors, so I can’t comment on your question, sorry. The funniest moment on this film was that is actually got made. It was shot very spread out over a long period of time.

9. In 2012, you played the role of Heels in J.M.R. Luna’s Stripped. At first glance, one could assume that it is a cheap knock off of Eli Roth’s Hostel, but upon closer inspection, I feel Stripped, in its scope, is a more plausible idea. Knowing that comparisons will run between the two films, how do you feel this film differs in style and approach to Hostel, should Stripped be classified in the torture-porn segment of the genre and if a sequel is done, do you see yourself returning for it?

‘Stripped’ is only like ‘Hostel’ in that they are both horror features that involve abduction & torture & that’s it. And, there is absolutely NOTHING porn related to ‘Stripped’ whatsoever, & honestly, I’m offended by the comparison. Just because a film has “sex scenes” in it & it was made low-budget doesn’t make it porn! There are no plans for a sequel as it was not set up as a series, but if one crews up, I’d love to be considered to return.

10. Also in 2012, you teamed up yet again with John Lechago, Charles Band and Full Moon for Killjoy goes to Hell, reprising your role of the lusciously dark and sexy “Batty Boop”. What did you try to bring to the character of “Batty” this time around that you didn’t in Killjoy 3 and what kind of mindset do you bring to the set when you are reprising the role of a character?

I had much more of a chance to develop my character of “Batty Boop” in ‘Killjoy Goes To Hell’ simply because I had more screen time. I tried to bring much more attitude to her & establish more of a relationship between her & “Killjoy”. I come to set “in character” when I work, especially when I am portraying such a challenging & multi-layerd character such as “Batty”. I come to set to work-not to goof off-so I generally isolate myself until I am called to set to actually shoot to stay focused.

11. You are currently in production on Patrick O’Bell’s The Divine Order. The synopsis: “The Divine Order shadows a tightly knit cult hiding in a remote desert enclave as they prepare for the impending apocalypse. Two dissenters try to escape through the vast desert wasteland as the cult embarks on a mass suicide pact.” What can you tell us about this project and your character Candice?

I love Patrick O’Bell to death! If I could go to set every day & work with him for the rest of my life, I’d be eternally happy. “Candice” sets the lead character played by Andy Gates off when she leaves him. I loved playing the girl who induces the ‘shit to really hit the fan’, so to speak. Patrick, Andy, & producer Mo Whelan are all old friends, so it was just a love fest on set!

12. You have been dubbed “Hollywood’s Hottest Scream” and a “Terror Titan”. How do you feel as an actress to be given such titles, what Scream Queens have you idolized while coming up in the industry, and what up and coming actress is on your radar as the next great Scream Queen?

Yes, I’ve also been amazingly dubbed as a “Horror Heartthrob” by Brian Harris at WildSideCinema.com. I love the titles! They confirm that I’ve actually accomplished something in this insane business. I always loved Jamie Lee Curtis & how she embraced her horror status, yet gracefully moved into the mainstream of Hollywood. I am determined to do the same. And, I think the playing field for Scream Queens is wide open, so I encourage all aspiring actresses to go for it!

13. Thank you so much for your time and all of the great films you have worked on! What other projects would you like to mention and what would you like to say to all of your fans?

Thank you so very much for the opportunity. I just completed one pilot for a new TV series & I’m currently in-production on a second one this season. Keep an eye out for the release of my limited edition signed CD of my new pop/rock album ‘Victoria De Mare’! And, I’d just like to tell all my fans that “I love you all infinitely & thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your continued support!” xo