~Girls, Corpses, Exorcisms, & Airplanes~
My Chat with “Exorcism at 60,000 Feet” creator ROBERT “CORPSY” RHINE
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE THIS LATEST FILM? I’M ASSUMING A FONDNESS FOR THE ORIGINAL “EXORCIST” FILM AND “AIRPLANE” AM I RIGHT?
I had taken a trip to Vietnam a year ago and started thinking about this on my flight home. There was a pair of stewardesses who are reminiscent of the characters played by Bai Ling and Matthew Moy in Exorcism at 60,000 feet. The movies The Exorcist and Airplane are a two of my favorites movies. But I didn’t want to do a parody of either. I mean, how do you parody Airplane?! But Airplane is on such a broad comedic scale and I wanted to keep our Exorcism at 60,000 Feet film a bit more grounded in a pseudo-reality. In other words, no inflatable up co-pilot. But don’t get me wrong, Exorcism at 60,000 Feet is still really nutty.
I liked the idea of passengers being trapped on an Airplane with a possessed demon and everyone becoming infected and each character on the plane affected in a different way. There was a brief moment when I thought of doing this film as a non-comedic horror film but it’s ridiculous for the passengers not to notice the bodies piling up. So, I went with horror/comedy. I brought in my friend Daniel Benton to co-write the script with me, who I have know for twenty-five years, having met when I was in Hardbodies 2 in Greece.
HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF PUTTING THIS FILM TOGETHER LIKE WHEN COMPARED TO YOUR FIRST GIRLS AND CORPSES’ MOVIE “CYNTHIA” ?
Each film had it’s own unique challenges. With Cynthia we had; a baby, two young children, practical effects, on set teachers and a cat and for Exorcism we were trapped on an airplane set for two weeks; with lots of special effects and a dog. There were two directors on Cynthia, Kevin Gage and Devon Downs and I found they worked together fantastically. With Chad Ferrin on Exorcism, he outlasts the crew while needing only a cigarette and a Dr. Pepper to go all night. Both films I produced, executive produced, wrote, sole-financed and performed. I enjoyed making both films immensely. I have been asked why I don’t also direct and the truth is that it’s just too much juggling all the other hats and I like having a director at the helm. When you are doing moderate low budget films, you must to have only one or two locations, and we did for both films. But when you go through SAG, that brings up the budget considerably with wardrobe trailers for your actors and other considerations.
WE NOTICED THAT YOU PLAYED A MUCH LARGER ROLE THIS GO ROUND… WERE YOU MORE INSPIRED OR WAS THERE OTHER REASONS YOU TOOK ON THE ROLE?
I think the director Chad wanted me to play the Rabbi. But it’s a bit weird being the producer and being on set all day and night looking like a Hasidic Rabbi. But I had a blast playing the Rabbi and I hope audience enjoy my role.
YOU’VE BEEN ACTING FOR A WHILE, FANS HAVE SEEN YOU IN SUCH FILMS AS “DRACULA IN A WOMEN’s PRISON” AMONG OTHERS, HASN’T ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU TO GET A DAMN REAL JOB?
(laughs)
I’ve had real jobs. I worked for the studios, Universal, Columbia, TriStar …for ten years as a Unit Publicist on big budget films and traveled all over the world. I’ve also written a lot of projects that were never produced but made enough option loot to buy a small house in the valley.
WILL WE EVER SEE A RETURN OF YOUR HORROR CULT MAGAZINE? EVEN ONCE A YEAR? YOUR FANS ARE DIEHARD!!
Well, it’s funny to say, but our magazine about death died with the demise of publishing. There was a moment when I was in the waiting room at my dentist’s office where I had an epiphany, There were all the usual magazines in the lobby; Time, Sports Illustrated, People, Golf, etc, but no one was reading them because everyone was on their cellphones. That was the moment I decided to retire Girls and Corpses Magazine. But sales of our back issues is still going like gangbusters and some magazine on Ebay sell for $50.00 – 100.00 and going up. We are now a full time film label and that’s where Girls and Corpses will keep the brand alive.
IT’S CLEAR YOU HIRE WELL KNOWN FACES FOR YOUR PROJECTS, WHO IS STILL OUT THERE THAT YOU’D LIKE TO WORK WITH?
Besides you?
(He pauses a moment to think…)
Jason Bateman, Simon Pegg, Julia Garner, Ei Roth, The Soska Sisters… too many to name.
AND FINALLY — I PLAY A SMALL ROLE IN YOUR UPCOMING SCIENCE FICTION FILM, IS IT TRUE THAT I WAS CLEARLY THE MOST TALENTED ACTOR YOU’VE EVER WORKED WITH… THUS FAR?!
WELL, LET ME THINK A SEC… I’VE WORKED WITH SOME BIG NAMES TOO… BUT NOBODY HAS THE CHARM AND SEX APPEAL OF MY FAVORITE CREATIVE MAD SCIENTIST GENIUS ROBERT “CORPSY” RHINE!! YOU DA MAN.
THANX FOR CHATTING WITH MYSELF AND THE READERS OF FirstComicsNews!!
Exorcism At 60,000 Feet is streaming: OnDemand, Amazon, Vudu, iTunes, AppleTV, Direct TV, Spectrum, PlayStation, Xbox, Dish Network, Comcast, Cox, Charter, AT&T Universe, GooglePlus, Fandango Now and on sale at Walmart, Best Buy and Target.
The Blu-Ray/DBD combo, with killer extras, can be ordered at Amazon and Shout factory here:
DVD/Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/Exorcism-60-000-Feet-Blu-ray/dp/B084FDZS3S/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=exorcism+at+60%2C000+feet+blu+ray&qid=1588116185&sr=8-1
SHOUT FACTORY (DVD & Blu-ray only): https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/exorcism-at-60-000-feet?product_id=7355
About Author
