"I've seen this movie before. It ends bad."
The above line is uttered by one of the characters in the Tubi original movie Bury the Bride. However—even though the film features some horror-movie constants like young, nubile women and inevitable killings—that same line may ring true for some of the characters but certainly not the viewer, thanks to some fresh twists.
Trans icon Chaz Bono is featured in the movie, playing a character named Puppy (and that's all this writer to going to say in order to avoid revealing any surprises). Windy City Times recently talked with Bono about this film, as well as the state of the country.
This conversation was edited for length and clarity.
Windy City Times: Initially, I was a little hesitant about seeing this movie [because of all the familiar horror-movie themes], but the film surprised me—in a very good way. I thought the writing was on point and the length was just right.
Chaz Bono: Oh—thank you!
WCT: I read that you're the producer in addition to being an actor in the film. As a producer, what were your duties?
CB: Sure—I brought in a lot of the money. [Smiles] I helped with the casting process; everybody except one actor has worked with [director/co-writer] Spider One or Krsy [Fox, a co-writer who stars as Sadie] before, or was something I know of or had worked with. I enjoyed being a part of the process. I knew they were all good actors.
Once filming started, it was great to see scenes cut together. When you're just an actor, you do your work, go home and forget about it; you don't know what's going to come out. Now it's just as exciting to give it to the public and move on to the next one.
WCT: Just curious: Do you ever read reviews?
CB: With this, I have. I generally read reviews, though. I've read everything with this and it's all been good—and that's really exciting.
WCT: I am a horror-movie buff. This movie employs some great misdirection and it made me jump twice.
CB: [Smiles] I'm the same way. I look at people who can still get scared and I say, "I envy you." But I think there are some good scares and some great twists and turns. There's a huge twist that happens about a third of the way through. When you're watching that with an audience, it was so great people reacting the way you hoped they would.
Also, there's some levity in the movie—particularly with the character Carmen, played by Lyndsi LaRose, who's just hysterical.
I think the special thing about our movie is that, at its heart, it's a story of love between two sisters. It's a complicated relationship but, ultimately, a loving one. And there's a great camaraderie between the women in this film; it just feels real and grounded. And then when David [the fiancee of one of the women] shows up, it just takes the film to a whole new level. From that point on, the suspense and action are just non-stop. Also, I love the ending; it wasn't what I expected when I first read it. I was, like, "Yeah, I want to be a part of this."
WCT: And there's also a major twist involving your character [Puppy]. I'm not going to give it away, of course—but what can you tell our readers about him?
CB: I'll just way that I play a character named Puppy. I don't speak for most of the movie and that was a very interesting challenge as an actor, because I still have a lot going on. There's a lot to his story and I had to convey that without speaking—and his story is not what you expect. He is kind of a sad character; there's a lot he has to deal with.
WCT: One of the common things about horror movies is that there are sequels.
CB: Oh, yeah—we've talked about that. It's actually become a joke, because I've named the sequel Bury the Bride 2: Puppy's Revenge. [Both laugh.] We would love to do that and I think the ending lends itself to a sequel.
WCT: I'd like to conclude this by switching gears a bit. For you, what is it like to be part of the LGBTQ+ community in today's America, especially with all the anti-trans laws that have been considered and passed?
CB: It's scary, I would say. To be a trans person right now is really scary—and I've never really experienced that before. From the time I transitioned, I've felt comfortable in my skin, but I don't feel the same [level] of safety and anonymity that I used to. And it's not just with the LGBTQ+ community; it's with the Asian community, the African-American community. It's been a really trying time to not be a cis, straight, Christian American.
