Barbara Crampton talks about KING KNIGHT!!!

Barbara Crampton talks about her role in KING KNIGHT!

Hi fellow horror geeks! Prometheus here, and recently I had the chance to chat with the legendary Barbara Crampton about her role in the new film, KING KNIGHT, written and directed by Richard Bates Jr. The film also stars Mathew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) and Angela Sarafyan (West World), and is a dark comedy about a coven of witches. Only they are... not your basic witches, as Barbara explains.

Hey, Barbara!

Hi Josh! How are you?

I'm fine, how are you?

I'm fine!

So you've released a new movie, KING KNIGHT! What can you tell us?

It's about Mathew Gray Gubler's character, Thorn, and he has a clan of witches with his partner, Willow. It's interesting because it's a Ricky Bates movie, but it's not what one would expect. Rick normally makes these kinds of dark films about existence. This movie is much lighter and a bit festive in that it's about someone coming to terms with themselves and being good with themselves. It's the character of Mathew (Grey Gubler), and I play his mother. It's a bit of a comedy.

You think Ricky Bates and you think dark, but it's really a comedy, it's just horror because it's about witches, but it's really a fun movie. He did it before COVID and we were all depressed. (Laughing.)

Really?

Yes, we did before COVID. Little did we know we would need a movie like this coming out of COVID, to make us all laugh. It's a really sweet movie. I play a very judgmental and ruthless mother. I don't know, in the latter part of my career, I seem to have these villainous roles. (Laughter.) Bad babysitters and bad mothers. This may be my horror hag mistake, but I had so much fun working on the movie with everyone and I can't wait for people to see it, and also see another side of the talent by Ricky Bates.

The horror world loves you Barbara, we'll never let you go.

I hope not! Every job I have, I think, is the last. No one will ever call me again. Maybe I just wore people out, I've been around so long. (Laughing.)

You're definitely busy! If you had to sell me KING KNIGHT in one sentence, what would you say?

A sentence? You embarrass me, Josh. (Laughing.)

I am, I know it. For you, I'll make it one continuous sentence. (Laughing.)

Thank you… This is a delightful film about the dark inner world of oneself, accepting it and being victorious on the other side.

I succeeded.

Will this help sell people? I don't know.

You sold me!

Okay, fine.

Now the movie tagline is, not your basic witches. What sets these witches apart?

I feel like there's comedy in the movie, but it's like dry comedy. When we were making the movie, Ricky said, look, don't play this as a comedy. Even though he hired a lot of actors for the movie. I feel like everyone in the coven is very honest about how they feel and what they want out of life and community. The only one who isn't really honest is Thorn (Gubler), because he's hiding something from his past.

So I think these aren't your average witches because everyone is very introspective and really tries to actualize themselves as much as possible, and it's actually the leader of the coven who needs more help. self-actualization to feel good about yourself. It's really a film about being good with yourself, whoever you are and wherever you come from.

Anything else you think we should know about the movie?

I really like Ricky (Bates), I think he's a writer. He has his own style and his own way of seeing the world. I hope people will come and see the movie!

What are you working on next, Barbara?

Thanks for asking! I have another movie that just came out recently, Alone With You. I play another mean mother in that one. I just gave the green light to a film that I've been developing for about a year and a half. It's a Lovecraft movie, written by Dennis Paoli, who wrote Re-Animator and From Beyond! I can't really talk about it much yet, but I will be producing and performing in it.

Awesome! I will watch! I really appreciate your time!

Thank you, take care!