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Michelle Fatale: The Count Rackula Skinterview

Horror director Michelle Fatale made her first short film Dead Line in 2004 and promptly won official selection at the IFFNTX.com film festival.

Michelle’s subsequent film credits include Paraphilia, Closet Monster, Monkey Vs. Hooker, and Werewolf in a Women's Prison (a personal favorite of the Count’s).

Recently, Michelle finished a new movie called The Cleaner and stopped by Castle Rackula to have a live (so to speak) chat.

COUNT RACKULA: Ah, Michelle. Thank you on behalf of all the children of the night for taking the time out to visit me and the ghouls here at Castle Rackula. Be careful where you sit. So, what’s new in the world of Michelle Fatale?

MICHELLE FATALE: Currently I’m working on a feature film called Siren Lake starring Fangoria magazines first “Spooksmodel” Shannon Lark, and cult star Jeff Dylan Graham. It surrounds a group of guys that decide to rent out a lakeside property for a bachelor party. The guys eventually run into three beautiful women who end up being half-bird half-human sirens. If you’re not familiar with sirens, they originated from Greek and Roman mythology. They would lure sailors to their death with their beautiful singing voices and manipulative suggestions. I thought it would be awesome to bring that concept to the present day. It focuses a lot on the female influence over a man, it’s extremely psychological, and also has a great dose of blood and guts for the horror fans. And at the same time, also very much a love story. With ridiculously hot chicks.

Of course I’m familiar with sirens! I graduated with a degree in Mythology from Vlad Tepes Community College. Also, I was married to one for thirty years. But I digress. How did you get started making horror movies?

I’ve always kind of ran around with the old VHS video camera as a kid, but when I really made a project outside of film classes and did something independently it was around 2004 when I made my first short film Dead Line. I can’t really say what got me started, I’ve just always had this amazing satisfaction from seeing something go from a story in my head, to putting it on paper, to filming it and making it something I can share. Horror for me has always been a passion, also can’t really explain why. I love the genre because being scared is the greatest escape when it comes to watching a movie. It kicks your ass a little and makes you feel a bit more alive then you did when you first walked in the theatre, or threw in the DVD.

Unfortunately, nothing can make me feel alive anymore. But I comprehend your meaning. A good scare tingles the spine just like a nice set of boobs tingles the dingle. What was the first horror movie you ever saw? What’s your favorite?

First horror movie I ever saw (and it took me up until just this year to find out what it was) was a British film called Bloody New Year. I saw this film when I was 5 years old on cable when I was visiting family in England with my mom. I searched for that movie for 24 years and finally found it! It was really memorable for me because it was such a fun time with my mom. It scared the shit out of me but I wouldn’t let her turn the channel. My favorite horror film, that’s tough. Most people scoff at me, but I have to say Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers directed by Mick Garris. Yes I know, it’s not the greatest thing ever made, but it was the first film I got brave enough to watch at a young age after being scared of virtually everything until my teens. Freddy, Chucky, you name it. I was scared of it. I watched Sleepwalkers over 40 times and that’s when I stopped counting when I was 9. Seen it many times since, and that was my initiation into the Nightmare series, which I love, and Sleepaway Camp. Also one of my favorites. Then I just stopped getting scared and fell in love with the genre.

Ah, yes. Sleepwalkers with the lovely Mädchen Amick. Sadly, she keeps her clothes on in that one. Do you put nudity in your movies?

The only nudity I have ever put in a film was male, and that was my short film Dead Line. And not by choice! My actresses of course (and I don’t blame them) would not take their clothes off, especially not for free, but one of my main male actors Jon Carlo Alvarez had absolutely no problem with it. God bless him. But yes, I have requested nudity but have not yet had a female blessing. And I can work with that.

Often you can get girls to take their clothes off for free if you hypnotize them with vampire magic. But I know that option is not on the table for everyone. How important is it to have nudity in a horror film?

It’s important for sales and distribution I think. It can be important to represent a character. I advocate it, I love it. I don’t think it’s shameful. But I also respect an actors boundaries and I don’t feel they should do it if it’s beyond their comfort level.

I also find that an actress’s comfort level can be improved by drinking three to four pints of her blood. That’s what I did to Brigitte Bardot. Speaking of old actresses, who do you think are the three sexiest Hollywood actresses from previous eras?

Audrey Hepburn for sure. She had personality and her own unique sexiness. Meg Foster, who still looks amazing. Lastly, I’d have to say Jane Fonda. I’ll never get over my Barberella obsession.

Who could ever get over Barberella? Roger Vadim is a dear friend. He was going to make Count Rackula: The Movie back in the 1980s, but none of the studios would bite. What Hollywood actress would you like to see play you in your life story?

Well there’s not that many redheaded actresses my age, so basically my only option is Lindsay Lohan. She’s seriously a great actress so I’d be honored, no joke.

Absolutely. What Hollywood actress would you like to play in her life story?

Sharon Tate. That sounds fucked up since we know what happened to her, but I’d really like to know more about who she was and not how she was killed. I think that’s a story that needs to be told.

Sharon was a dear, though I’m still offended by The Fearless Vampire Killers. Don’t get me started. Do you remember the first movie nudity you ever saw?

The earliest memory was probably when I saw the movie Paradise with Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. The movie was PG-13 and I remember I saw boobs. I think Elijah Wood's character was spying on someone’s sister. But I remember thinking it was really cool, like I was watching something I wasn’t supposed to, but it was okay because the movie wasn’t rated R.

So you enjoyed the pair-a-tits in Paradise. As did we all. But what about more recent racks? Who do you find to be the three sexiest Hollywood actresses working today?

Scarlett Johansson. Because she’s absolutely beautiful, and so very talented. I’ve always loved Madchen Amick (Twin Peaks, Sleepwalkers), seriously one of the most beautiful women I think I’ve ever laid eyes on. And lastly, Drew Barrymore. Sexy is inside and out, and she’s a prime example of that.

I quite agree. Sexy is inside. That’s why it’s so important to bite these actresses on the neck so that what’s inside can get to the outside. And then inside me. Thanks for stopping by Michelle. Watch your step on the way out And don’t mind the werewolves, they won’t bite unless you show them your moon.

You can visit Michelle’s website at www.michellefatale.com.