DANIEL HOLZMAN REVISITS IT'S ALIVE

The iconic Larry Cohen horror classic IT'S ALIVE centers on a young suburban couple who have a baby from hell. The newborn goes on a killing spree, beginning in the hospital room and ending up in the sewers... 

DANIEL HOLZMAN played the twelve-year-old son of this very unlucky couple, who has to deal with the fact his little brother makes Linda Blair seem tame...

HOW DID YOU END UP WITH THE ROLE OF "CHRIS DAVIES"?

I was performing at a children's playhouse, one of the actors from the movie (I think he played a cop) came by to watch us work. He asked me to meet with Larry Cohen, and I did a couple of days later. The meeting seemed pretty informal, just read a few lines and that was it. Larry asked me to be in the movie, and I said yes.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN IT CAME OUT, AND WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE MOVIE?

I guess I was 12 when it came out. My family and I all went to the premiere, and I remember my brother and I laughing at how silly the movie was. We especially liked the milkman scene, and when the cops were throwing steaks under the cars.

HOW DID THEY SHOOT THE SCENE WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING HOME?

I was running behind a car. The camera was mounted on the back of it.

DID YOU EVER SEE RICK BAKER WORKING THE BABY PUPPET?

No, I don't remember meeting Rick Baker, but I remember the doll and Larry Cohen telling me how expensive it was.

DID YOU WITNESS ANY OF THE BLOODY SCENES BEING FILMED?

I don't think I saw any gory stuff, but I think that was just because I wasn't in those scenes.

HOW LONG DID YOU WORK ON THE SHOOT?

I'm guessing a week or two.

HOW WAS IT WORKING WITH DIRECTOR LARRY COHEN?

He seemed nice and patient with me. I remember for one scene he said "Throw some water on the kid's puss.” I never heard that expression for someone's face before and it stuck with me.

ANY MEMORIES OF WORKING WITH JOHN P. RYAN ("RUNAWAY TRAIN") OR SHARON FARRELL ("OUT OF THE BLUE")?

John Ryan seemed very fatherly and cool; Sharon Farrell seemed a little high strung. In one scene she slapped me a few times before we did it to try and get me to cry. Later she asked me to slap her, and I did, pretty hard too as I recall.

DID THIS FILM INCREASE YOUR POPULARITY AT THE TIME?

No. I don't remember anybody even mentioning it.

HAVE YOU KEPT IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE CAST OR CREW?

No.

THE CHARACTER "CHARLEY" SLAPS YOUR BUTT IN ONE SCENE, AND SEEMS VERY INTERSTED IN "CHRIS"... WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

He did seem a little over-friendly. Maybe if he had more time before the baby monster got killed he would have made his move. Perhaps a little hug to comfort me in my time of need, followed by a chance to see his special home movies in the basement.

DANIEL HOLZMAN INTERVIEW BY JAMES M. TATE CULTFILMFREAK.COM AND SPECIAL THANKS TO MY COUSIN DAVID DEEBLE FOR LANDING THIS INTERVIEW, ONE OF MY FIRST THAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON MY INTERVIEWS.