It’s no holds barred as the legendary VERNON WELLS and I get together again for another chat, this time discussing one of his latest films (there are more than a few to pick from!), OF THE DEVIL, and so much more!
You’ve known him for years going back to his early unforgettable breakout roles in Commando and Mad Max. And you love him. And because of that, VERNON WELLS has never stopped working, dazzling us at each and every turn, but most particularly when playing a bad guy, a villain, or popping in for something horrific and terrifying. Over the past few years alone, even during a pandemic, Vernon has popped up in a multitude of projects, among them, Rusty Revolver, The City of Gold, Social Distance, Camp Twilight, The Crossbreed, Lilith, the anthology Tales from the Other Side, Thor: God of Thunder, and Fear of the Woods, just to name a few.
But with experience and age, and a loving wife, perspectives shift and change and a man realizes it’s time for an exploration of a different kind of role, a different type of character, a deeper examination of life. And that’s just what VERNON WELLS does as a priest in OF THE DEVIL.
Written and directed by Kelton Jones with story by James Cullen Bressack and starring VERNON WELLS, Robert LaSardo, Eileen Deitz, Jonathan Stoddard, Daniela Palavecino, and featuring a breakout performance by Lucas Sequeira, OF THE DEVIL is the story of a desperate mother and father attempt to cure their eight-year-old son’s brain tumor by enlisting the help of a shamanistic healer; when the ritual results in the child being possessed by an ancient demon, the father must now face his own demons and return to his role as a former priest in order to save his son’s soul and to protect humanity from the evil that he has unleashed.
And while many of you are thinking that Vernon is the shamanistic healer, you’d be wrong. That honor goes to the incomparable Robert LaSardo. VERNON WELLS steps in as the priest, a “good guy role” where “there are lines you don’t cross.”
Diving into OF THE DEVIL and what would at one time have been a unique “good guy” role for him, Vernon lets us into his life and his heart as he talks about his career and his own challenges and how his outlook on life, his profession, his craft, and the type of roles he wants to now play has grown and changed. A very deep and heartfelt conversation. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of laughter, too!
As comes as no surprise, OF THE DEVIL isn’t the only film VERNON WELLS has distributing this year. There’s also Frost where he plays an estranged yet loving father to Devanny Pinn, the kid detective tale Sally Floss: Digital Detective where he appears as Sally’s grandpa, the exciting thriller End of Loyalty where he co-stars with Simon Phillips and Michael Pare, and he’s a bigfoot hunter in American Bigfoot. But dare I say, the biggest surprise yet to come from Vernon Wells this year as playing Santa in The Christmas Tapes. Vernon gives a little glimpse into all of that and more.
Always a joy when Vernon and I get to speak, and this conversation is no different.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 07/20/2022
