For the past few years, editor, director, and animator Zach Passero has been working on a hand-drawn, animated horror film called The Weird Kidz and it’s finally making the rounds at film festivals. Passero, who has frequently worked with Lucky McKee on films like May (2002) and Tales of Halloween (2015), created The Weird Kidz from the fond memories of his childhood, and McKee serves as a producer on the film. Featuring cassette tapes and mullets and perfectly capturing the vibe of the eighties, The Weird Kidz follows three friends, 12-year-old boys Dug (Tess Passero), Mel (Glenn Bolton), and Fatt (Brian Ceely), as they go camping in the desert with Dug’s older brother Wyatt (Ellar Coltrane) and his girlfriend Mary (Sydney Wharton).
When the group stops at a gas station, the owner Duana tells them about The Night Child, a creature she claims lives in the desert and took her younger brother twenty-five years ago. They quickly dismiss the story as an old urban legend, but once they arrive in the desert and set up camp, things get weird. The Weird Kidz is funny, heartfelt and nostalgic, and has a clever, horrific twist you won’t see coming.
Fellow frequent McKee collaborator, producer, actor, and director Angela Bettis (May, Masters of Horor: Sick Girl) lends her voice to the crafty character Duana, who is deviously sarcastic, making her highly entertaining. Bettis also appeared in Girl Interrupted in 1999, and 12 Hour Shift in 2020, but has gained a cult following because of her performance in Lucky McKee’s 2002 film May, in which she plays a lonely woman who uses the body parts of her victims to build the consummate friend.
Bloody Disgusting was delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Angela Bettis about bringing the character of Duana to life, working with Zach Passero and Lucky McKee on The Weird Kidz, and a lot more. Read on to find out what we talked about.
Bloody Disgusting: The Weird Kidz is such a fun, coming-of-age horror movie. What appealed to you about Zach Passero’s script and the role of Duana?
Angela Bettis: Zach’s script was funny, smart, scary, and exciting! I was and am quite thrilled to be a part of The Weird Kidz. Duana is my favorite character! It was a lot of fun to read her, and even more fun to play her.
BD: Filmmaker Lucky McKee is a producer for The Weird Kidz. What is your favorite thing about working on a project with McKee?
AB: Lucky is one of my very favorite artists to collaborate with. He’s a talented writer, director, producer, and actor. He is a multi-faceted filmmaker and a great artist. He has always challenged me. He has been able to bring out wonderful and surprising qualities in me as a performer, as an artist and as a person. He’s a creative soul mate of mine.
BD: Your character Duana in The Weird Kidz is so entertaining. Besides not working in front of the camera, how is voice acting in animation different?
AB: One has to do all of their acting with their voice. You don’t have the benefit of body language and facial expressions. I find it freeing! You can go to work in your pajamas.
BD: What was your favorite thing about working on The Weird Kidz and working with director Zach Passero?
AB: Getting to work with Zach and helping him realize his vision with Duana and The Weird Kidz was my favorite thing! Zach is just the best. Being directed by him was great. He allowed me to find my own Duana and, at the same time, let me know exactly what he wanted and needed from me. Another truly great artist, Zach Passero.
BD: What do you look for in a potential role?
AB: I look for roles that challenge me; that are well written and expressed; that I feel I can bring truth to. I ask myself, “Can I understand and serve the director’s and writer’s vision?”
“Can I possibly even elevate that vision?”
BD: Can you share what you’re working on next?
AB: Two Yuri Zeltser films may be appearing soon—Our Little Secret and Circumcision.
The Weird Kidz has been named The Nevermore Film Festival’s Best Feature Jury Winner and will premiere at the festival in North Carolina on February 25th.
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