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 | Wednesday, November 05, 2003, 9:24 AM. EST.
Ray Wise Takes on the Creeper
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Ray Wise has an addiction of sorts to the paranormal. A survey of his career, that spans over a decade, reveals staggering evidence that the 56-year-old handsome man with a deep golden tan is as close to a superhero that a mere mortal can get. He battled flotsam and jetsam in Swamp Thing and added eerie dimension to David Lynch's Twin Peak series. This summer, he resurrects a partnership with Powder director, Victor Salvo, as the cavalier farm dad who won't take 'no' for an answer in Jeepers Creepers 2. Even if his opponent is a flesh-eating monster right out of your worst nightmare.
In stark contrast to his onscreen ensemble of denim overall accessorized with dirt, Wise unbuttons his navy blue blazer to sit down in a hot L.A. hotel room. Reporters, publicists and actors stream through the hallways dressed in t-shirts and shorts. Wise wears a blazer and despite the hot wind blowing in from the open window and the pressure of questions from pushy reporters, not a drop of sweat glistens on his brow.
Onscreen, he plays the role of 'everyman' - the one you root for because he's neither impossibly rich or absurdly beautiful. Yet, in person as Wise muses aloud in his sonorous voice about the literary significance of his role and its similarities to Herman Melville's work, he seems larger than life. It's almost as if we need a big screen to fully accept and grasp Wise's presence. If only we all came equipped with enhanced panoramic and surround sound capabilities, then maybe we could all be 'everyman' in an absurdly funny horror film.
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 There are some issues I can't seem to come to terms with in the film. Why didn't you call 911 for help?
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Cells phones didn't work. They were in a zone where nothing worked and it was like they were cut off.
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| According to the legend, the Creeper comes to life every 23 years. How come you guys didn't take more proactive measures like burning him or hacking him up to keep him from coming back?
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It wouldn't do any good. He'd come back to life anyway. Nobody knows what the hell he is anyway, but I have the feeling that he's very elemental. He springs from the earth and he's been around since the beginning of time - since before man. You could burn him and throw his ashes in the ten different oceans, he'll still come back together again, especially if there's money to be made! (Laughs)
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| Are you insinuating that we can anticipate a "Jeepers Creepers 3" in the near future?
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Don't tell anybody I said that!
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| You're a veteran of the horror genre. What do you think has changed about it over the years?
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The make-up has gotten much better. The appliances on the faces of the creature has gotten much better - more expressive, more realistic looking. Every aspect of production has vastly improved and the special effects are just wonderful now. They can do just about anything.
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| Who do you think would win in a back alley fight between the Creeper, Freddy and Jason?
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Freddy and Jason would not stand a snowball's chance in hell against this guy. This guy is too elemental. He could be somebody's idea of god. He could be the all encompassing being of the universe, who knows.
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| Do you feel that the victims in this film are much more proactive in their struggle for survival than other films?
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When Victor [Salvo] asked me to do the film, he explained it in literary terms. He said [Wise's character Jack Taggert] is like Ahab in Moby Dick and that's all he had to say. He carried that idea out throughout the film. There's a point in the film where I'm … (He pauses and muses about giving away the surprise ending of the film. We promised not to give away the secret.) You know where I continuously stick [the Creeper] with [my spear]? I actually say the line, 'From hell's heart, I strike at thee.' And that's Ahab. Victor loved it, but I don't think MGM liked it (laughs).
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| What's it like working with Salvo and Lynch?
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[They are] very similar, actually. They're both kind of laid back, low-keyed. Both have good senses of humor. Both have great imaginations and are able to visualize it onscreen. Victor's an incredible writer.
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| Did you have any creative input with Salvo?
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Quite a bit. I found that most of the words that he wrote were perfectly acceptable to me and they didn't go against any of my feelings of the character, but I felt some instances I could add a little to it, you know.
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What did you add particularly?
Particularly, I couldn't tell you. I can't remember.
Just little things, you know.
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Besides being heroically stubborn, how else do you describe your character?
He's just very stoic. He's very hard, emotionally speaking, who works hard trying to raise these teenage boys. He's a widower. His wife died several years ago. He's trying to make the farm payoff and still raise his boys. He loves his kids, but he doesn't always show it outwardly. (None of this background information is mentioned in the movie).
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| Why do you think there's a renewal of interest in horror films?
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I think I know exactly why. I think everybody likes to go into a theater and sit for two hours and be scared by something that can't hurt them and they leave the theater and they listen to the sirens and they watch the news and they see the smoke - and all those things can hurt. Jeepers Creepers 2 can't hurt ya.
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| How do you explain your affinity for paranormal films?
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I sort of feel paranormal all the time. I look for that in everyday life and when you look for it, you find it. Everything is strange.
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| Are there any chances of another Twin Peaks installment?
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I only know this–I know what David last said about the subject and he said that the town is still there. Most of the people are still alive. (Dejectedly) He wouldn't say which. And he said the story is never over. It's going on right now, we just don't know about it. Whether he chooses to visit it again is up to him.
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