Interview: Tony Todd Takes You to His ‘Final Destination 5’

Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2011 - 2:43pm

CHICAGO – “Final Destination 5” may have under-performed a bit this past weekend at the box office but that has nothing to do with the legendary Tony Todd. The horror icon perhaps best-known for playing the title character in “Candyman” but also a major part of the movie and TV landscape for decades breezed through Chicago on the day his new sequel opened. The charming star discussed the longevity of the “FD” movies, what made him an actor, the future of 3D, and much more.

HollywoodChicago.com: When you were doing the first movie did you have any idea that you’d be someday talking about a fifth one?

TONY TODD: No, no.

HollywoodChicago.com: Do you have a good sense for that kind of thing?

TODD: I have a good sense of when something is going to be GOOD.

HollywoodChicago.com: That doesn’t necessarily mean profitable.

TODD: Unfortunately, that’s true. Let me qualify — When we shot “Final Destination,” I knew that it would be a hit. It had that written all over it. The directors were hot — Wong and Morgan from “The X-Files.” This was originally an “X-Files” submission and that was hot. I was just tickled pink to be invited to the party. And not have one of the deaths. [Laughs.]

Final Destination 5
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

HollywoodChicago.com: I worry every time you show up that they’ll get around to it.

TODD: And when they do that they’ll do what they gotta do. I hope they do do that instead of leaving it hanging. There are some things that need to be cleared up about this character.

HollywoodChicago.com: Well, is that going to happen? I read in an interview that you mentioned a possibility for two more of these movies?

TODD: I was just throwing that out there. I don’t know. We’ll see come Monday. I’m not an accountant.

HollywoodChicago.com: The last one made money and this one’s much stronger.

TODD: Yeah. The last one sucked. [Laughs.]

HollywoodChicago.com: Yes. It was pretty rough.

TODD: They wanted me to be in that. But they didn’t want me enough. [Smiles.]

Final Destination 5
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

HollywoodChicago.com: Why has this franchise endured?

TODD: Ten years ago with the first film was almost entirely different generation. The target base for these they say is 17-23 years old. I expect that it may be a little older than that. That would make somebody ten years at twelve or thirteen. A cool twelve or thirteen-year-old would have found a way to see “Final Destination.” I saw everything they told me not to see at that age. It’s got that patina of forbidness, elusiveness, finality…it’s a HELL of a title. To me, it’s the ultimate thing of why we still go to theater. We can watch a lot at home but with this you want to be in a shared space with strangers. Be with someone you know — at least one familiar. And you all process together. There’s laughter, silence, “no, they didn’t.” There’s a lot of “no, they didn’t” in this one. There’s a lot of hatred of body parts. I think there’s an eye fetish going on.

HollywoodChicago.com: In horror in general. I think it’s such a commonality — fear of eye damage. And we’re WATCHING something, so we’re using our eyes.

TODD: Right.

HollywoodChicago.com: The idea of community in horror is interesting because you go to all these conventions. You sign, shake hands…why do you think horror fans are so loyal? Did you tap into something about the community experience in the theater?

TODD: Yeah. And we like to party, man. [Laughs.] They love to party. Let’s face it. Horror has its own bizarro universe. You got this little code that goes on. You’ve met Freddy, two Michaels, Candyman, two Jasons. Once you get the keys to that kingdom, you get a cool factor. Maybe you carry that. And then you come upon something new like this. I don’t even really do anything [in these movies]. In the first one, my role was merely exposition — I had to explain the concept and I tried to do it in an entertaining way.

HollywoodChicago.com: Now what’s your role?

TODD: Now I’m explaining the NEW concept. [Laughs.]

HollywoodChicago.com: And there’s a flavor.

TODD: Yes. There’s a flavor. A seasoning. A wink in his eye.

HollywoodChicago.com: You go to these conventions and shake hands and sign things. Why? Some people stay home. Do you feel a need to give back to your fans?

TODD: Yeah. I do. And also they come at different times of the year. There are slow periods. And there’s a little commerce involved. There’s worse jobs. I go through spurts. Right now, I’m in the midst of big public interaction. Next year, I won’t go out at all because I’ll want to just chill. I’m going to Monster Mania next weekend. And maybe Dragon-con.

HollywoodChicago.com: Do you have fun at these things?

TODD: Yeah. Or I wouldn’t do it. Lately what’s going on is when I’m in a city I’ll call up some directors and see what’s up. 50% of the time I’ll get a job offer.

HollywoodChicago.com: So it’s networking too.

TODD: Networking. Yes. This was my Facebook.

HollywoodChicago.com: So you’ve gotten jobs through the convention circuit.

TODD: 50% of the time I’ve gotten offers.

HollywoodChicago.com: Just by calling up directors and saying “what are you working on”?

TODD: Yeah. Sometimes it’s just about being visible.

HollywoodChicago.com: Interesting. What attracts you to a project primarily? The overall project or your character?

TODD: My character specifically. I’ve made some mistakes. I’ve learned that you’re only as good as you’re weakest link. You need to have someone with a strong vision.

HollywoodChicago.com: Who’s got a strong vision now in horror?

TODD: Tom Holland. I worked with him on two things. Adam Green has a strong vision. [Thinks.] I had the chance to work with Joe Dante recently. There’s a lot of good filmmakers out there. I’d love to work with Scorsese. “Shutter Island” was a great horror movie.

HollywoodChicago.com: Do you get scared at the movies any more?

TODD: Very rarely.

HollywoodChicago.com: Can you think of the last movie that scared you?

TODD: I saw a movie that took place in Africa — “The Dark”? Where they went with the camera…one of the actors actually got Malaria. This was capturing real shit.

HollywoodChicago.com: So you’re into realistic horror?

TODD: Yeah. I liked part of “Turistas” until they messed it up. But the set-up was great. “Hostel,” not so much.

HollywoodChicago.com: The idea that there are really horrible places and horrible people in this world.

TODD: Yeah.

Final Destination 5
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

HollywoodChicago.com: What movies inspired you?

TODD: Anything William Holden would do. My favorite movie is “Sunset Blvd.” Have you seen it?

HollywoodChicago.com: Of course.

TODD: I don’t presume.

HollywoodChicago.com: I would think most critics coming in to talk to you will have seen “Sunset Blvd.”

TODD: I would hope the f**k so. [Laughs.] It’s my favorite film of all time. I love Billy Wilder. William Holden has such a sense of effortlessness. He had that face, that look. I love “Double Indemnity” the f**k to pieces. Fred MacMurray, man. People don’t know about Fred. They just know “My Three Sons,” which he hated. They’re talking about a remake. Just leave it alone. They had Edward G. Robinson — what are you going to do for that now?

HollywoodChicago.com: Do you have that memory of the moment you wanted to be an actor?

TODD: I knew I could be an actor when I saw “Night of the Living Dead.” But probably when I saw “Midnight Cowboy” in high school. I thought that’s noble work and I know they are acting because Dustin [Hoffman] didn’t die but I feel like that character died. And John Cazale — the five films he did were all masterpieces. Five great works. And that relationship between him and De Niro. Everything he touched was gold.

HollywoodChicago.com: What’s your favorite character you played?

TODD: [Shakes his head.] They’re all children. Could you choose one of your sons? No way.

HollywoodChicago.com: Finally, do you think 3D is here to stay?

TODD: I think it’s going to evolve again. I was looking at a 3D phone that you can see without glasses. That’s the future. No glasses.

HollywoodChicago.com: They need that for sure. I’m not buying a TV where I have to wear glasses and sit in the same place.

TODD: No, no, NO. You’ll get up and trip trying to get a beer.

“Final Destination 5” is currently playing in theaters.