The following contains spoilers for American Horror Story: Asylum
On the premiere season of the hit FX drama American Horror Story, we were introduced to the character of Ben Harmon, played to frightening extremes by Golden Globe Award winning actor Dylan McDermott. While not a part of the initial cast of American Horror Story: Asylum, much to the dismay of many fans, McDermott has finally arrived — and his role is anything but subtle. In last night’s episode, “The Coat Hanger“, we were introduced to McDermott’s character, Johnny Thredson — son of Bloody Face himself.
And the apple apparently didn’t fall far from the tree…
But where does Johnny go from here? DarkMedia had the opportunity to talk with McDermott earlier today on his performance as Johnny, how he feels about paranormal versus psychological horror, and the evolution of AHS. During his media interview, he also discussed why he believes American Horror Story resonates with viewers, what Johnny wants, and if he’s willing to come back and do it all again for season 3.
On how he got involved in AHS again: “We (McDermott and co-creator Ryan Murphy) talked in the summer, and he said he was looking for something for me to come back; I wanted to come back, and we weren’t sure in what capacity. And then the day the show aired, he called me and said he wanted me to come back as the son of Bloody Face — you know, the modern Bloody Face…And when he told me the story, I was just flabbergasted. Because it was just so horrendous, how this guy would survive, and what he would become, and who he was. I was just fascinated by him. It was so different from, obviously, Ben Harmon, to come back to the same show with a different character. I just thought it was a great way to make television; completely different from anything you see on television, because when do you get to play two different characters on the same show?”
On how many more episodes he’ll be appearing in this season: “I will be, I believe, in the next three out of four.”
On the influence of Zachary Quinto’s performance as Oliver Thredson on his performance as Johnny Thredson: “I kind of watched him and picked up a few of his mannerisms; there is a scene coming up where we’re in the same room. I guess in the writer’s room, they put up a picture of me and Zach and Sarah to see if I could be their son, when they were casting it. I think we have some similar qualities, darker features, so I don’t think it’s much of a leap. But I did try to listen to his voice and look at his mannerisms a little bit.”
On what he personally added to the role: “I wanted him be high, because a lot of these guys are high. A lot of people do obviously terrible things on drugs, and it was important for me to have him be a drug addict as well.”
On what’s been personally hard for him to shake as an actor working on the show: “There’s a lot of things in the show that are disturbing, and hard. There’s a lot of violence on the show, and it’s hard to get around that. It’s real; it makes you feel things and it’s upsetting. Nonetheless, as an actor you can’t judge it, you have to be in it. So, when I’m playing a serial killer, I’m in it. I’m not judging him, I’m not judging his environment, I’m just in it looking for the “why?” — why he is the way he is. There’s no doubt that you’re going to take — if you’re a good actor, you’re going to take this stuff home with you.”
“This guy has gotten under my skin a little bit, I have to say. I don’t take the tattoos off, I keep them on, and I’ve sort of been living with him (Johnny Thredson) a little bit more than other characters that I have played. And you don’t plan that out, it just sort of happens — an unconscious thing. And, for whatever reason, I have an understanding of who he is…some characters just stick more than others.”
On what’s coming up for Johnny: “I think we’re going to look into some sort of closure with his mother. He can’t understand, he can’t wrap his head around, why someone would want to throw him in the trash. So I think we’re going to peek into his psychological world in the next three episodes, and then we’re going to have closure with this character in the finale. It goes into the psychology and the pathology of who he is; he’s not just a serial killer, and out there on the run with no reason. I think we really get into the reason of Johnny Thredson. People behave badly, and people are in prison, and people are on death row, and there’s no excuses for anybody’s behavior. But most people are coming from abuse, and I think Johnny is not alone in that. I think he just really suffers from an enormous amount of abuse, and there’s a reason he’s doing the things he’s doing. And this guy’s not justified, but we’re going to peek into his world.”
On the nature of working on AHS: “I think you know what you’re stepping into; when you see just four minutes of the show, you understand that this is a very dark, twisted world. When you come on the show, whether you’re a guest star or a regular, you do know what you’re getting into.”
On which other characters he’s been following this season, as a viewer: “It’s funny because I was actually following Zach (Quinto)’s character and Sara (Paulson)’s character (Oliver Thredson and Lana Winters). It’s funny that they would end up being my parents. I had no idea. And then all of a sudden, I’m their son. So, it’s funny that it would all work out in such a way.”
On why American Horror Story resonates so deeply with audiences: “You know, it’s a funny thing. I think that people, as much as they deny it, they want to be scared. And it’s sort of a phenomenon, really, why people want to be scared when there is so much violence in the world and so much craziness in the world. People still really enjoy being scared. It’s a conundrum to me, it’s hard to explain; it’s an unconscious thing, really, why people like that so much. I don’t like the slasher stuff, myself, but I do like psychological horror of Roman Polanski and that world. But it’s curious to me why people do like to be afraid.”
On which shocking moment stands out for him in his history with both seasons of AHS: “Well, I think for everyone it’s got to be the ‘cry-bating’. People still talk about that, I think that’s going to be with me for a while. And that’s okay, because that was Ben Harmon. People were afraid to play Ben Harmon because of that scene; they just couldn’t do it. And I always picture myself as the guy running into the burning building, not running out, and that was certainly evidence of that moment right there.”
On how he views the subject of the horror genre being underrated: “I think that sometimes people are afraid of the genre and maybe they’ll judge it. It’s almost like (AMC’s) The Walking Dead; I think (it) deserves to have more nominations and deserves to have more awards. And I think the genre maybe gets in the way of that, that people dismiss it a little bit more because of the genre. But if you look at American Horror Story and you look at The Walking Dead, these are two phenomenal shows. And I think, maybe, other shows might get more nominations or awards because they fit the notion of what a drama should be. These are groundbreaking shows, American Horror is a groundbreaking show, and ahead of its time…Sometimes this idea of horror is hard for people. It’s not for everybody, but I think it’s hard for people to wrap their head around in terms of awards.”
On paranormal horror versus human-driven psychological horror, and the evolution of American Horror Story: “I like the psychological, personally. I think the show is erratically different from what it was last year, and whatever it is this year, will be again next year. And that’s what American Horror Story is, it’s an anthology series. And I think it’s always going to be changing, however many seasons it’s on.”
On whose performances stand out for him, personally: “Obviously, Jessica (Lange) is always doing incredible work. It never ceases to amaze me, the performances she turns in week in and week out. But I also think Sarah Paulson is doing terrific work, I think Lily Rabe is doing terrific work, and Zach Quinto, and Evan Peters, James Cromwell. Everyone is doing remarkable work, it’s on a very high level. And last season as well. Ryan (Murphy) obviously is casting some of the best actors in the world to be on this show, and there’s a reason for it.”
On what it was like to wear the infamous Bloody Face mask: “Obviously, when you put that mask on you can hear your own breath. It’s like a mini-horror show inside your own head. So that’s frightening in itself, when that thing goes on.”
On whether or not he’d come back for the third season: “If I wasn’t on the show, I’d be watching it; I’m a fan of the show, not just an actor on the show. I really trust Ryan…and if he asked me to come back on, of course.”
On how this season will end: “Without giving anything away, I think it satisfies in terms of what happens…you’ll have closure with all the characters. It’s hard to wrap up the season in one show, but I think, having read it and now performing it, you’re going to be satisfied, for sure.”
In case you missed it, please check out our interview features with American Horror Story: Asylum stars Zachary Quinto and Jessica Lange, and stay tuned for our weekly coverage of the show by our very own contributing writer Sarabeth Pollock.
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