Eric Peter-Kaiser: From the Basement Up with Evilution’s Naughty Doctor. By Brian Kirst
Eric Peter-Kaiser is a ‘Miracle’ to the horror film community. (And it’s not simply because his first lead role was in the major motion picture with that name.) In the last few years, he has helped revolutionize the fright community by helping create and by appearing in superior scare flicks like Evilution and Basement Jack (being released to DVD this November 17th). Recently, he took a much needed break from punishing the innocent and creating man-knawing zombies to answer some salt and vinegary questions for this Horror Society exclusive.
Brian: So, you have an elaborate background as an athlete. Was performing always a goal for you or did being cast in Miracle begin your whole show biz odyssey?
Eric: Miracle did not necessarily start my show biz odyssey but it definitely sparked my move to Los Angeles. While playing hockey in Canada I began to take acting classes to feel more comfortable with the press and fell in love with it. Then, I decided to take a scholarship offer to SUNY Potsdam University instead of playing pro in Europe due to the school’s theater program. I was definitely the only theater major/jock at the school. It was during my first year at Potsdam that I landed my role in Miracle. It often sounds like an odd transition, hockey player to actor, but I actually find that the two have a lot of similarities such as mental preparation, lots of practice, odd hours and living in the eyes of the public.
Brian: Well, that is totally why I gave up professional hockey, myself!! – Okay, Kurt Russell performing a Miracle or Kurt Russell kicking ass and killing the babes in Deathproof? Which one do you prefer and why?
Eric: LOL, tough call on this one. Working with Kurt was so much fun and I learned a lot from him and since Miracle is one of my favorite movies to have worked on thus far I may be a little biased. Working with Kurt showed me how rewarding making a movie can be. I think the fact that Kurt can do such different films is a credit to his ability and his career.
Brian: True. – Do you do a lot of research for your characters – you portray a scientist in Evilution and a serial killer in Basement Jack – or do you rely more on instincts when performing?
Eric: I do some research for my characters but I also like to let the characters come naturally to me. For Basement Jack, for example, I did live with the long black hair and beard for a while prior to filming and isolated myself from people to get into Jack’s head space. I needed to be able to get to a very dark place, which actually was quite scary for me. After playing Jack, I really had to decompress to let that character leave me.
Brian: I wonder why!! – What was the most exciting part about bringing the world of Evilution to life? (Getting to play with lots of test tubes – running around outside in your underwear- bashing in fake zombie brains?)
Eric: In school I was a total science geek and still am so this made it very fun for me. I brought a lot of myself to Darren Hall, which many people do not know. Well I guess they will now, lol. I would have loved to bash some more alien infected brains in though but maybe that will happen in the sequel. In Evilution, Hall really has a good heart but just f%#\’s everything up. I’m pretty sure he’ll want to redeem himself in the next one. I have to give Brian O’Toole, the writer, all the credit for bringing the aliens to life in this movie. He did such a great job building a life and purpose for our glowing orange little alien. Brian brought together two of my favorite films in Evilution, Re-Animator and 28 Days later. – With regard to running outside in my tighty whiteys…. Well what can I say; I have no problems making an ass of myself in front of people.
Brian: And we appreciate it, as well! – What was the most intriguing part about playing Basement Jack and what was the most difficult?
Eric: The most intriguing part about playing Jack was that he did not speak and this was the first time I was given the chance to play the bad guy. I really got into Jack’s headspace, which scared me at times, and I think the crew too, but this made him more human I think. Jack’s story is actually a sorry one and makes the things he does almost understandable. This was the first time I really used a more method style of acting. Obviously I didn’t go around killing people, but I did isolate myself almost completely and lived with his look for a while prior to filming. I really wanted Jack to feel as real as possible to the audience through my eyes and I wanted them to see Jack’s pain. All Jack really wanted was a family.
Brian: Well, my mom’s kind-of lonely if….ah-h-h, maybe better not. So, can you tell us about the most interesting thing that has happened to you on a set of any of your films?
Eric: I think one of the most interesting things that have happened to me actually occurred off the set, just after we wrapped filming one night for Basement Jack. After we wrapped for the night, around 3 or 4am I went to get some gas and as I pulled up to the gas station, after just seeing the writer/producer Brian O’Toole go in to pay, the gas attendant ran outside and locked the station. I guess I was still in character, lol.
Brian: Scary! — Lastly, any words of advice (IE: Never listen to your mother – especially when she’s into electric water torture) or future projects you’d like to tell us about? And thanks, this has been better than infecting a local gang banger any morning of the week!
Eric: In terms of upcoming projects we have 3 in development The Necropolitan, the third film in our loosely threaded trilogy following Evilution and Basement, A Necessary Evil, a modern day take on the story of Elizabeth Bathory, and Outside the Eye of God, a cool creepy ghost story. A lot of people have really responded to the Manager character in Evilution and Basement Jack played by my good friend Nathan Bexton and in The Necropolitan fans will get to find out truly what he’s all about.
Brian: Nathan Bexton rules (and so do you!) – and that ain’t just ‘The In Crowd’ talking!!!
