Richard Harmon – Puppet Killer

By starrymag | October 6, 2021

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

 

 

 

Q) You play Rick in the indie horror film Puppet Killer. How was Rick originally described to you? 

 

A) I can tell you exactly how. One of my best friends, Lee Majdoub, plays the character’s old brother. He was already signed on long before me. He brought it to me and pitched it that we’d get to be siblings. If you’ve seen the movie, Lee and I do not look at all alike. I knew that this would probably be the only time we’d ever get to play siblings. I knew I had to do it. The whole movie is a total riff on everything you’ve seen in other movies. It’s great because there’s a lot of logic that makes zero sense and it’s all on purpose. That actually allowed us to have so much more fun.

 

Q) Please describe what you did to bring the character of Rick to life. Was there anything you added to him that wasn’t originally in the script?

 

A) I don’t know. I think a lot of making this movie was about taking a different approach. This movie is not like anything I’m used to making. I usually have to try to figure out what a character wants and needs from a more serious perspective. In this case, I had to do that while figuring out what was right for the movie. The goal for this movie, for a lot of the actors, was to have as much fun as we could have and that was going to be what was right for the film.

 

Q) You have experience working in genres that tend to be dramatic or serious in nature. How was your experience filming Puppet Killer, which combines elements of horror and comedy different from what you’ve done before?

 

A) It was so much fun. I’m a huge horror fan, so to make this movie paying homage to the entire slasher genre was a great opportunity for me to have fun doing the kind of stuff that I love watching.

 

Q) Talk about working with director Lisa Ovies on her first feature-length film.

 

A) Absolutely. Working with Lisa, it was so clear that she had a specific vision for what this movie should be. We all knew that this movie was her baby. She loves the concept; she’d been trying to make it for so long. She did a great job of making us all understand exactly what she was after. She shared her vision of the film with us and allowed us to play within that. We still felt that we have the freedom and control to be ourselves.

 

Q) Puppet Killer features a colorful cast of characters. How did you get into the proper headspace to act out life or death scenes with hilarity surrounding you?

 

A) To make this movie right, it was imperative that we had fun. That was the only thing we could hold onto. Our characters are in life or death situations, so we’d bring it over the top and lean into it. That itself is comedic. But you also have to believe it as well. It’s a weird balance. This movie is certainly one of a kind in my career. Striking that balance between knowing you’re going to die, but also being funny.

 

Q) Speaking of those life or death scenes, how did you shake off a long day of filming?

 

A) Doing an indie movie comes with its own set of challenges. It takes a lot more doing than a higher-budget film where a lot of things are done for you. There’s less pampering. I love this about indie films. Everyone has to be on the same page about giving it their all or else it’s just not going to get done. There’s a fine line between success and failure and being able to finish the movie. Lee and I would drive to set together every day. It’s cold and in the middle of nowhere and we’d have to drive an hour back home from set to downtown Vancouver where we both live. Lee helped after a long day of running and gunning. It can be stressful, and you need to take a minute. Driving home with Lee helped. We could talk for the full hour and air out frustrations. If we needed a laugh, we could do that. Lee helped me get through the tough stuff. To have your best friend there is a pretty great way to decompress.

 

Q) Please share what your favorite horror film reference in Puppet Killer The Friday the 13th one is among my favorites.

 

A) I’ll go for the Friday the 13th one, too. That one has a lot to do with me in the movie. Without giving spoilers away, it was fun to be able to do that scene with Simon wearing his little Jason Voorhees mask. It’s unsettlingly cute.

 

Q) You’ve worked with Aleks Paunovic, who plays Jamie in Puppet Killer, in several shows including “The 100” and “Van Helsing.” What was it like working with him on such a different kind of project?

 

A) It was so funny to watch him do his thing. Even before we worked together, Aleks and I have known each other for years. We became friends through mutual friends and then we worked together. Watching him in this was so much fun. I think he’s the best part of the movie. This massive 40-year-old man playing a meek 17-year-old is so funny to me. He crushed it. He really gave it his all.

 

Q) What did you enjoy most about working on Puppet Killer?

 

A) Working with friends. To do this was truly just a bunch of friends “pretending to be friends.” It was so much fun. It was truly just like the movie. A bunch of friends in a cabin in the woods over Christmas break.

 

Q) What do you think it is about Puppet Killer that is going to make it a fast fan favorite amongst horror fans?

 

A) I think the simple answer is that it was made by horror fans. I always say that horror should be handled by people who love horror. It’s a genre that needs to be handled by people that love it. I think this movie has a good chance at becoming a cult hit because it was made by people who adore the genre. It’s a love letter to horror and the slasher genre. You can tell it came from a place of love, and not just someone trying to make a money grab.

 

Q) What is it about genre projects that draws you to them?

 

A) For me, it’s just that whenever someone is crazy enough to want to hire me – I immediately go there whether it be genre or not. As far as my career is concerned, I take what I can get. As far as my love for it, I don’t know why I love horror so much. I love the feeling of being scared and the adrenaline. It impresses me when a movie can scare me.

 

Q) Are you currently working on other projects?

 

A) I just finished a movie last month actually. It’s a horror movie called Margaux and it’s going to be a ton of fun. I see it almost as a modern twist on the Evil Dead and maybe something like Space Odyssey. There are elements of AI. There’s this group that goes to a smart home Air BnB for a weekend of drinking and debauchery. The artificial intelligence in the home does everything for them, and things are not as they seem. It’ll be a ton of fun. I also start a new television show in a couple of weeks, but I’m not allowed to say what it is! I’m very excited for people to see it. I don’t think they’ll have to wait too much longer.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters who support you and your work?

 

A) It’s crazy to me. I just want to say thank you. Thank you for wanting to watch me do what I love for a living. I promise I’ll always give it my all. I hope you continue to find entertainment while looking at my face.