Barbara Crampton is a legend, plain and simple. Earlier this year she wrote a scorching op-ed for Birth.Movies.Death about how offensive it is to be called a Scream Queen given her lengthy and varied acting career. It’s difficult to disagree with a woman whose career has spanned decades and included classics such as Re-Animator and modern fare like We Are What We Are.
These days, Crampton is a producer in her own right too, helping last year’s brilliant Beyond The Gates get off the ground in a big way. Her personal interest in body horror movie Replace is obvious, taking a stab, as it does, at the process of ageing and how the fear of growing old effects otherwise rational women.
Although Crampton isn’t the protagonist of the movie, her chilling, villainous doctor (a fun twist, considering she was at the mercy of a crazy scientist in her most well-known role) is a standout. Replace may not be the best film of the year, but it’s yet another showcase for Crampton’s considerable talents.
Kira’s skin starts to age rapidly, dry out and crumble away. But then she discovers that she can replace her own skin with somebody else’s
Directed by Norbert Keil, who co-wrote the script alongside goth king Richard Stanley, Replace stars Crampton, Rebecca Forsythe and Lucie Aron as three women struggling with their own sense of identity and self in hugely different ways. Check out our review of the movie here.
Wicked Horror caught up with Crampton at Frightfest 2017 in London to discuss ageing, the limited roles for older women in horror and how it felt to have someone besides her on the slab for once.
Interview conducted by: Joey Keogh
Camera: Richard Waters
Editing: Richard Waters
