By DEIRDRE CRIMMINS
As an actor who started with a Roger Corman film and starring roles in Blaxploitation classics like Coffy and eventually had a career revival as the star of Quentin Tarantino’s Foxy Brown, Pam Grier truly needs no introduction. She has been steadily working since the 1970s in both film and TV projects. Now, Grier appears in THEM: THE SCARE on Prime Video. This eight-episode horror series shares the actors and the Los Angeles setting of its previous stand-alone season, but now the troubles take place in 1992 on the cusp of the LA riots rather than in 1950s Compton. Grier is Athena, the matriarch of a small family with big problems. In this exclusive interview, RUE MORGUE speaks with Grier about truth in acting, the nature of horror and what scares her the most.
Does the genre of a project you’re in ever inform or change your performance?
No. My performance is raw. Truth doesn’t change with the genre … You’re bringing a human emotion that is not hiding. It’s honest, and it’s really one take. You’re in the moment. I didn’t know how much I wanted to be in this show because of so much I’ve lived through that I’m fearful of. That is horror to me, you know, abuse, riots, inhumane issues against humanity. That bothers me. And to know that my daughter, played by Deborah Ayorinde, is like my real daughter – and I would never want to see her harmed because I told her she could do it and she couldn’t. I’ve got to be honest with her. I’m taking care of her and a son, and I’ve learned to be strong and stand tall and take it. And now, I don’t know if I can take care of her anymore because of my health and my aging. Nobody wants to reveal health, aging and wrinkles.
No, we don’t! Give me a little insight into your character, Athena, on THEM: THE SCARE.
Now, [my character has] a secret. Is it a secret? Or is it that I can’t remember? It’s a secret, and I don’t tell – or do I tell? Do my daughter and my son see these issues? I’ve got paranormal activity in my home. How did that happen? Do they see it? Or is it just my imagination? I think I see a washing machine in the basement become an aggressive monster, and it’s shaking and rattling and rolling and just, like, turning into this incredible monster. Do they see it? Or is it my imagination? I’ve washed a load of clothing. Why? Okay. I’m having a nervous breakdown. I’m having some serious issues. Do I tell them and continue a lie, continue the secrets, and now, am I putting them in harm? So, there’s so many layers. And as a human being, I’m honest, I just don’t want to lie. I just want to take it. Let everyone react, conform to that truth and grow from it. To me, to be vulnerable at every corner I turn and reveal so much about my character [is stressful]. I told Little Marvin that he’s going to have to pay for my therapy. [laughs].
I wanted to be a part [of the show], but I just didn’t think I could because the demand was going to require so much horror – which is a filter. It’s to protect ourselves. Be fearful. Don’t walk into that dark room. Don’t put yourself in jeopardy. So much humanity was laying on the line … it’s a challenge. I’m there. You’re challenging yourself. But catch me if I fall. I don’t want to do take two or three. I’m first time out. Scare me. That’s what the fans are looking for.
Little Marvin and I had a bit of a talk about horror in the real world versus the imaginary world. He described it as sneaking a little medicine into something else, and that’s how people take it. It’s easier to get them to eat a piece of candy and get the medicine that way.
Not everybody can accept horror. Or see it. Or recover from it. I’ve had people say, “No, I don’t do [horror],” because they’ve had an experience that was more than they could take. And you never know where they’ve been or how they were wired. So, you respect that not everybody can recover. There were moments I was like, am I gonna get through this? Or will I do it so well that everyone will be moved? For me, having the courage in my craft to be so raw and exposed [is important].
Do you avoid watching horror films? Or is it an outlet you love?
Well, you know, Alien wasn’t a horror film, but [the creature] jumping out of somebody’s chest was the ick! I enjoy horror because it’s a very strenuous – not difficult, but arduous – emotion to display and for others to connect to. And back in the day, [horror stars] like Bela Lugosi and [movies like] Frankenstein still had a commitment to frightening, scaring, making people raw and connected with their emotions. Fast forward to the emotions that are so real now. We’ve got technology and sci-fi and other elements that can really bring it home – really scare you and really take you to another place. And it took a while. You have to develop an audience to be afraid and scared to enjoy it.
Develop [that audience] and they’re going to follow you every step of the way from the new horror cons that are coming out right now to the reboots of horror films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween. Now, we know they’re coming to bring it. They’re going give you a good bump in the head. But a lot of people and how they’re wired [can’t handle it]. I respect that. Like, I don’t curse in front of people that I know that can’t handle it.
What scares you?
I’m not afraid of snakes. I used to be, but I talk to them; I negotiate with them now. [laughs]. You stay there, and I’ll be there! I’m afraid of… not even death, but I’m afraid of me hurting someone, injuring them. Because, basically, if you’re ignorant, you don’t have the information to do something right. But if you have the information, and you still continue to act on something, and you’ve hurt someone out of stupidity – I don’t want to ever injure or kill someone like that. I’m going to be in a padded room for a while. I’m such an empath. I rescue animals and people all the time, and I hurt for them … Hey, I cry over roadkill! So, I’m afraid that, sometimes, something will hurt me so much. I don’t know how much my heart can take after so many years on this planet. I’m afraid of hurting or injuring someone. That’s probably the most honest answer to your question.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
I’m not going to walk into dark rooms without a weapon or a light on. I’m not going to put myself in jeopardy when I know my animals need me.
There is a famous quote that says horror is just extreme empathy. It doesn’t work if you don’t care. I think you’ve tapped into that. It is an incredibly terrifying thing that you could be the cause of grief and pain.
[It’s] terrifying [for Athena] to lose [her] family. And not tell them [she’s] taking pills. Not tell ’em there’s paranormal activity in the house – a ghost in the house. Something’s in the house. And let them walk in and get hurt because I didn’t tell them. So, yes, that’s what I’m afraid of – not caring enough.
