Cute Little Buggers (2017)
Directors: Tony Jopia
Writers: Garry Charles, Andy Davie, Kristofer Dayne, Tony Jopia
Stars: Caroline Munro, Honey Holmes, Dani Thompson, Gary Martin, Kumud Pant
From the Director of DEAD TIME (2012) and Cry Wolf (2015) comes Cute Little Buggers! Will you let them take our women? Its Gremlins (1984) meets Hot Fuzz (2007) set in the English countryside. When hostile aliens crash land on local farmland the villagers at the summer ball get suspicious when young women start going missing. The villagers soon band together around our hero Melchoir (Kristofer Dayne) to fend off the invaders and bring back peace to the sleepy English countryside! B-movie laughs in this creature feature from Director Tony Jopia.
Date & Venue: 19th January 2019 at 20:00pm
Park Inn by Radisson Palace Southend-on-, Church Rd, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2AL, UK
Cute Little Buggers is a new horror-comedy writer-director Tony Jopia will have its UK premier at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. I got a chance to ask actors Tim Hope and Lee Ravitz a few questions about what we can expect from the film.
Cute Little Buggers Interview: Tim Hope
Q. Cute Little Buggers has been selected to play at Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, what can people expect from the film?
From a totally biased point of view Cute Little Buggers is awesome. It’s funny, it’s gory and sexy. It has a wicked 80’s feel to it. Kinda corny and very tongue in cheek. The acting’s pretty good too. The zany characters are played by pretty crazy actors.
Q. You play Burt in the film. Can you tell us a little bit about you character?
Burt’s a tough cookie and a loner. He’s had a few problems and kept it all bottled up. He’s quiet and thoughtful but underneath that rugged exterior there is a heart. In a way he reminded me of Shane or maybe that’s just the glue.
Q. What sort of preparation did you do for the role?
As for preparation. Non-whatsoever. An old agent that I hadn’t seen in seven years got in touch with me at 5pm the day before and asked if I wanted the part and could I be in Oxfordshire the next day by two o’clock. We’d just arrived in London in our new narrow boat that very minute having taken three drunken weeks to sail from near there. I looked at the Misses who was down the weed hatch. She looked up with drunken eyes and says Do it.
Q. Did you make any changes to the character from how it was written in the original script?
Apart from a few lines here and there I didn’t change anything as I was learning the script as we went along. Tony Jopia was excellent. He guided and encouraged just enough to let the character develop
Q. Did you experience any issues whist filming Cute Little Buggers?
No issues really. Apart from a fire in the barn and all the cast and crew legging it backwards and forwards with buckets of water.
Well I suppose one issue was in the first two days. Tony Jopia (director) sacked two leading ladies as they weren’t up to scratch. I thought this cheeky money’s not just a big smile
Q. What was one of your favourite moments during filming?
My personal favourite moments (without giving anything away) was getting a round of applause from the crew when I delivered a particular line and after another scene Tony said to me “That was brilliant.”
Q. What do you think makes Cute Little Buggers stand out in the horror genre?
Cute Little Buggers stands out because of the line it’s taken. They don’t make me like this anymore! There’s gore but it’s fun. It’s been likened to Critters (1986) and Gremlins (1984). I can’t see it myself. More like Watership Down (1978) on crack.
There was so much energy and comradeship. Everyone was glad to be there, and it shows.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
Next up is Cute Little Buggers 2: Hogs of War. Tremendous script and some of the Cute Little Buggers cast will be returning for what should be the Tony Jopia’s first Oscar. And get me on Loraine Kelly’s couch.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to get into acting?
Seriously though. If it’s what your heart tells you don’t ever listen to your head just go for it 100% no horsing around.
You can find out more about the feature films playing at Horror-on-Sea Film Festival and details of tickets on the website.
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
