In the summer of '67 a film was in teh process of being made that would forever change the horror genre. The film was NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. It would pave the way for many undead/zombie related films yet to come. A young girl, only 9 years old, named Kyra Schon was asked to play a part that would make adults and children alike, squirm for years to come. 30 years later, all grown up and looking better than ever, Kyra was nice enough to give us an in-"trowel"-view for you punk and horror fans. You'll find out, there's no reason to be afraid of this Ghoul Next Door.
CORNFLAKE OVERDOSE-What is your earliest memory of being scared by a movie?
Kyra Schon-I don't think I was ever really scared by a movie when I was young, but I was terrifed of clowns. The Crawling Eye and the Wasp Woman were my favorites when I was about 5 or 6. I remember being disturbed by the Three Stooges. I like them, but I had to watch them with the sound off. I remember when my Dad would come home from work, the Stooges were on TV, I'd make him turn the sound down so I couldn't here the eye-poking sound effects. The original Phantom of the Opera was the first truly scary movie I saw and I loved it.
COD-Who were you approached by to play the part of "Karen", and do you remember your thoughts when you were told that you were going to play one of the undead and that you were going to kill your Mother in the film?
KS-My Mother was teh one who told me I was going to be in the movie. She woke me up for school one morning and she said (I'll never forget this), "Honey, you're gonna flip." Then she told me that I was going to be in the movie. My Dad later explained the character and that I was going to be a zombie. I was ecstatic.
COD-What exactly was teh sound effect used in the scene that you stabbed your Mother with a trowel?
KS-I'm not really sure how they did that one. It's the only scene and sound effect that gives me the creeps. It's right up there with the Three Stooges.
COD-Does it get old for you to be known as the "trowel killer" from the movie?
KS-Never. I love it.
COD-Any weird or funny stories about those days on the set of Night of the Living Dead?
KS-Can't think of any weird stories, but the one funny scene that comes to mind is when "Harry Cooper" is shot and falls down the steps. They had to do that scene several times because he kept getting caught in the coat tree next to the doorway and it followed him down the stairs. Maybe you had to be there, but it was really funny. Everyone was cracking up.
COD-Did you receive any money for your part in the film?
KS-$300.
COD-Do you receive any proceeds today?
KS-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
COD-What was the funnest part in working on the movie?
KS-Is funnest a word?
COD-What did you think of Tom Savini's remake of NOTLD?
KS-It sucked.
COD-Okay....could elaborate a bit?
KS-I didn't hate it. I just didn't think it resembled the original in any way. I seemed to bright. The originial was gloomy and hopeless and the remake felt like a picnic in the country. The effects were great, but the general tone of the film wasn't depressing. I didn't care for the treament of Barbara, nor did I like what they did with Harry Cooper. The original Harry Cooper was driven by fear, Harry in the remake was just plain mean. Despite the advances in special effects, the remake pales in comparison. Thank God they at least had the decency to change the daughters name in the remake!
COD-What do you believe to be the worst horror film ever made?
KS-That's easy. Maximum Overdrive. Horrible.
COD-In this same isue we are featuring Tom Sullivan who did the special effects for Evil Dead I & some of Evil Dead II and the Fly II. Have you seen the Evil Dead trilogy and what are your thoughts on the films?
KS-I've only seen the first one. It's amusing.
COD-Do you think Burger King's decision to flame-broil is better than McDonald's fried burgers?
KS-Flame broiling tastes much better than frying, but then the dilemma is carcinogens v. cholesterol. I like carcinogens.
COD-Have you been in any other films since NOTLD?
KS-Yes. I appeared very briefly in a video called "Tortured Soul part II". Some friends of mine in Minneapolis made the film. Don't know where you can get it other than at Kevin's website. I played the part of "Alice" , the unfortunate victim of a trowel murder.
COD-I hear that you're a big MISFITS fan. Do you listen to any other punk rock?
KS-I used to love a Pittsburgh based band called HALF LIFE, but they split up a long time ago. I hate to say it, but I'm not really familiar with most punk rock. Feel free to educate me.
COD-Where do you see the country going in the next 10 years?
KS-I don't really know.......I see alot of problems that I think will just get worse. Public education needs to do alot more than it's doing right now to keep us from becoming a 3rd world country. The schools are turning out too many kids that can't read and don't know how to think. More money needs to go into education, not into politicians pockets.
COD-What do you do with your life now?
KS-I teach pottery and sculpture in a public school.
COD-Any religious beliefs?
KS-Not any I care to share.
COD-What lies ahead in the future for you?
KS-Nostradamus said that I would hit the lottery and retire to Bora Bora.
COD-Any hidden or lost footage from NOTLD that maybe we haven't seen, and if so can we expect to ever see it?
KS-I don't think there's any footage out there that we haven't seen. there were 8 or 9 minutes out from that movie because the distributor felt it was too long. I believe it was dialogue between Harry and Helen. It would be great to see it restored with that footage, but that particular footage was lost in a flood in the Latent Image basement.
COD-Any final words?
KS-Um.................no.
Thank you Kyra for the interview...........you sexxy thang!!
Kyra's awesome website