Sommers believes Roxburgh's portrayal of Dracula is right on target. "The movie takes place in the 1800s and Richard plays Dracula like a kind of privileged rock star—in a really good way. There’s something sexy, twisted and cool about the way Richard inhabits the role."
INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD ROXBURGH ('Dracula'):
How do you take a classic character like this and make it your own?
Really, I think in the same way as you do when you do a role that everybody’s seen on stage before. It’s the same thing. You have to sort of see the way that the character behaves, and what the character says and does, and claim it in the same way that you claim anything, really.
Did you study the old classics before taking on this role?
No, not really. I did have a look at the Bela Lugosi “Dracula” because there was a sense of homage to those old films in this that Steve [Sommers] wanted to achieve, so I looked at it for that reason.
What makes these creatures still so appealing to moviegoers?
I don’t know. I really don’t know. I think they’ve been scaring and tantalizing people for decades, if not hundreds of years, obviously before cinema. I guess they must appeal to people on a sort of deep level. But that’s a job for a shrink (laughing).
What type of training did you do for your walking on the ceiling stunt?
There was no training really. They just said, “Here, put on this harness and we’ll throw this thing up between your legs.” And then they drag you upside down. The hard bit is trying to talk without spitting up your own nose, which is actually what happens if you hang upside down (laughing).
Did you think they were crazy when they told you what you were going to be doing?
No, I actually enjoyed the challenge of all those things, I have to say. I kind of love all that stuff – those physical challenges. I guess there will come a time when I’ll get sick of it but at this stage, I just like it all.
Shuler Hensley and "Van Helsing" star Hugh Jackman shared the stage for the London revival of the musical, "Oklahoma." Friends off screen, "Van Helsing" marks the second time Hensley and Jackman have appeared together in a feature film.
INTERVIEW WITH SHULER HENSLEY ('Frankenstein's Monster'):
Why are Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula and the other classic horror movie monsters still so fascinating to movie audiences?
You know honestly I think there’s a Dracula, a Wolf Man, and a Frankenstein’s Monster in all of us. They are sides of our own character so that’s why I think we can relate to them in terms of a ‘I know how that feels’ kind of thing.
What’s it like working on a huge production like this that’s so heavily packed with effects?
It’s challenging but if you have a director like Stephen Sommers who this is his genre, this is what he’s a master of, so his energy level is so amazing that he literally gives you the picture on the blue screen by just describing it. So that made it so much easier to do it.
And this movie reunites you with your “Oklahoma” co-star, Hugh Jackman.
Of course. He’s so difficult… (laughing).
He’s a diva.
(Laughing) Isn’t he?
Is it true that you actually sang while in costume and entertained the kids?
I sang. You know, we had kids on the set and I was the only one in costume of the monsters because the other ones were CG. So I had to pass the time somehow and I was over 7’ tall in my leg extensions, so by being that imposing I thought it would be nice to get down on their level and sort of sing Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera or something that they might relate to.
Will we see any of that on the "Van Helsing" DVD?
Wouldn’t that be great? I hope so because I sang it enough (laughing).
How hard was it to do the physical transformation? Was that a very painful process?
It wasn’t painful. It was really more about preparation because it took about six hours for the makeup [we got] down to four and a half. It literally was piece by piece so by the end, I just sort of disappeared into the monster. By the time it was finished, I was ready to do it.
How many hours did it take to get it all off?
Less than one hour. Rip rip, pull pull, scrap, cut…
Will we see another “Van Helsing?” Will there be a sequel?
Wouldn’t that be nice? Maybe [set] in Hawaii. Wouldn’t that be nice? Not “Survivor” island, though.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Van Helsing" Premiere Interviews - Hugh Jackman & Director Stephen Sommers / David Wenham / Elena Anaya, Josie Maran and Silvia Colloca
"Van Helsing" Premiere Photos
"Van Helsing" Trailer, Credits and Movie News
