Elske McCain: The Mr. Skin Skinterview

Hazel-eyed, howlingly-hot, screamingly-sexy starlet Elske McCain tore out of Yuma, Arizona like a runaway freight train to grace the screen as a sultry scream queen. After being named Tromette of the month by legendary gonzo schlock studio, Troma Films, Elske sizzled in a series of R-rated romps including Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006), Splatter Movie (2008), and Trade In (2009).

However, it was her erotically unhinged role as the titular Jessicka Rabid (2010) that really had skin fans foaming at the mouth. Elske proved as brainy as she is beautiful by parlaying her experience in previous projects to become the executive producer, casting director, star, and more for the revenge flick.

Elske graciously took the time to talk to Mr. Skin about her plans for Jessicka Rabid 2, her philosophy on nude scenes, and her favorite porno! Read on:

Skin Central: First of all, it seems like you've done a little of everything, from acting to producing to stripping. How many jobs are you working at the moment, and what was/is your favorite?

Elske McCain: My most lucrative job at this moment would definitely be dancing. Many people do not realize that often times I end up using my own money to fund personal projects/hobbies to keep myself busy. I have my hand in a slew of projects right now, and at this rate, one of them is bound to pay off. Aside from an occasional stint in front of the camera, my favorite job would definitely be writing stories and concepts. I have a dozen or more stories in my head at any given moment, ideally I would love to see them all become films/books.

SC: Tell us about Jessicka Rabid and your work in it.

EM: I had produced a horror film in Tucson in 2006, that was ultimately never released. I was so sad that my hard work was never going to be seen, that I made it a mission to do it all over again, but to have complete control this time, so that nobody could take it away. I had been using the screenname "Jessicka Rabid" as a forum name and MySpace handle for several years, and decided to just use it as a movie title. I did the financing, and along with Matt Reel, we basically made our own movie. At the time, I didn't realize how long the movie making process would take, but I persisted, and never gave up. The movie had 2 releases, the original version was self distributed in 2010, the second release was by Troma in 2011.

SC: And how did Jessicka Rabid 2 come about?

EM: I had pretty much given up on the idea of doing any sequel, due to the pain and suffering caused by the first movie. However a longtime Facebook friend, John Estrada, who happens to be in the film industry, came around asking if I would indeed be interested in doing a sequel. I kind of toyed with the idea for a while, until I could tell he was serious. Jessicka Rabid created a unique character with great potential for future movies, and he wants us to use that potential to make something special that will entertain the horror/action/grindhouse genres. While not as claustrophobic as the original film, the characters in the sequel are just as, if not more sleazy than in the original. Plus, women in this genre are starting to be taken much more seriously than ever before. John and I really intend to knock this movie out of the park! Maybe we can do a girls of JR2 photo shoot for Mr. Skin?

SC: What's your philosophy about doing nude scenes?

EM: When I was just starting out in the movie business I had no problem with being nude, because you have to start somewhere. However, over the years, with the fanbase and credibility I have received, I will only get nude in future films that pay well. I have never done porn, or even soft core scenes, so at this point in life, I would consider that a step down. However, I have been working out a lot, taking care of myself, and I am ready to unveil all the hard work to my fans...male and female, if you catch my drift.

SC: What’s sexy about horror movies?

EM: I believe that since the main theme of horror is Killer/victim, it only makes sense to have that victim be as beautiful and seductive as possible. That way when she does reach her fateful demise, there is some form of arousal. On the flip side, everyone loves a dominant female character, so if she is portraying a killer there is a whole genre of fans who just get extremely turned on simply by the idea of a strong female murderer.

SC: You were chosen as a Tromette of the Month, and of course we are big fans of Troma for their wealth of nude scenes. What’s it like working with them?

EM: I can't really say I ever officially "worked" for them, but I was definitely associated with them for at least 8 years. I have 2 movies released by them, (Poultrygeist and Jessicka Rabid) and will continue to support them as much as I can. Troma is responsible for not only giving me a lot of experience in the entertainment industry on many different levels, but have also blessed me with the opportunities to work with and meet more talented people than I would have ever dreamed.

SC: What do you think about the revival of grindhouse films that’s going on right now like Planet Terror, Death Proof, Machete, etc?

EM: As far as calling it a "revival" in 2013, I think that is a little late in the game. Jessicka Rabid was in pre-production during the Summer of 2007, mere months after the release of Rodriguez and Tarantino's "Grindhouse", and though it took several years to get an official DVD release, I did pay attention to most of the other "grindhouse homage" films that came out from 2007-2011. I can honestly say, that in spite of a few exceptions (Dead Hooker in a Trunk, Hobo With a Shotgun, Father's Day), they were nothing more than low budget movies with shitty filters thrown on.

SC: What’s the first movie and/or TV nude scene you remember seeing?

EM: The first nude scene I remember seeing, was the creepy old lady in the bathtub in The Shining. Though not sexual in nature at all, that scene just freaked me out for years, and I still have problems watching it to this day. As far as a sexual movie, my best friends had the porno Taboo 2. It's a cult classic and I highly recommend to those in the 70's retro genre, just make sure you know ahead of time that it's adults only! But if you are here on this website, I am sure that won't be a problem! :)

SC: Have you ever been strangely turned on by a movie, TV show or individual scene that seemed inappropriate?

EM: In the horror genre, I have noticed a lot of my male friends admitting that the Monica Bellucci subway scene in the Gaspar Noe film, Irreversible, turns them on. Now, this is a terrible scene, but after watching it a few times, I can understand why it causes that common reaction. It is acting after all, and since we know it is not real, I supposed there is not that much harm in getting aroused by such a scene. Either that or my friends are psychotic fucked up sexual perverts! HA!

SC: What’s your all-time favorite Hollywood nude scene?

EM: My favorite nude scene of all time is hands down the scene in Just One of the Guys (1985) where Joyce Hyser is at the prom and "reveals" her true self, as to not get any spoilers. She was truly a beautiful girl and it's nice to see a pair of fabulous old-fashioned knockers before everyone had silicone!

SC: What’s next on the horizon for you?

EM: I plan on finishing Jessicka Rabid 2, acting and producing alternative projects that I find interesting. Possibly producing a different incarnation of a show/podcast. Although it's not my favorite hobby, probably do some more modeling, because I know the fans just can't get enough. I've been taking a lot of my own concepts and turning then into short stories, some of which could probably even be converted to scripts at some point ALA Clive Barker, etc.

Thanks, Elske!