Interview: Talking Horror with Mac (Vocals) and Maria (Vocals) of Cartoons Can’t Die
Rising UK heavyweights Cartoons Can’t Die are set to unleash their highly anticipated new album, ‘Rebirth’, on February 6th. The single/video for ‘Kinslayer’ is out now. In this interview, we talk all things horror with vocalists Mac and Maria.
1. What’s some of your earliest memories surrounding horror films and at what age do you think you experienced your first one?
Mac: For me I very much remember the Thomas the Tank Engine Halloween special and the Ghost train boulder thing scares the life out of me, didn’t watch Thomas for about 2 weeks! I must have been 5?
Maria: Staying up with my sister when dad thought we were asleep and watching Nightmare on Elm Street and then being too scared to go to bed, so we slept on the sofa thinking we were safe there, I must have been 9 or 10, making my sister 7 or 8.
2. What effect do you think it had on you, either positive or negative?
Mac: I mean that’s a quarter century ago! I think I didn’t like Thomas for a while but my love for trains beat that fear so not too scared.
Maria: I couldn’t sleep in my own bed… Parents couldn’t know why we stayed on their bed.
3. Do you have a particular moment in horror, be it a specific film or even a scene, that defined your childhood?
Mac: Yeah, my mother gave me Hellraiser to teach me not to mess with things you don’t know about!
Maria: I watched Chucky and we had a doll that crawled on all fours and we took batteries out, and it kept moving!
4. What used to scare you?
Mac: The dark but now my night vision is great so I’m all good!
Maria: The dark also!
5. How did your early experiences blossom into a love of all things horror?
Mac: I think honestly my first dip into horror was when I worked at CeX and borrowed every horror movie for the thrills, and then I just loved how darker and darker they became. I’m much more of a sci fi or psychological horror now. Loved Event Horizon, Color Out of Space and Alien movies!
Maria: Realised that not all things that go bump in the night are things to be scared of. They’re to be enjoyed!
6. Do you have a particular era or style of horror that you deem the best? If so, which one, why, and what are some examples of the best of that era/style?
Mac: Not gonna lie, the past couple of years have had some great releases. Heretic, Alien Romulus, Weapons, Together! The sound design for these is amazing.
Maria: Gotta go classic 80s/90s for the nostalgia!
7. How about genres – are you a slasher fan, paranormal lover, gorefest enjoyer, etc, or is a little bit of everything ok with you?
Mac: Sci-fi and psychological mostly but I enjoy most if the stories are good. Love anything original too.
Maria: Paranormal, sci-fi and psychological!
8. What’s the best horror film to watch alone and why?
Mac: I don’t really find them fun to watch alone, maybe a Friday 13th?
Maria: Evil dead (any of them).
9. Likewise, what’s the best horror film to watch with a group (beers and popcorn included) and why?
Mac: Right, so for comedy horror Tokyo Gore Police! As a group, there’s so many, Weapons was great! Or if you have a black out room and good surround Romulus.
Maria: I think the Conjuring films as a marathon would be a great night!
10. What is an overrated film or franchise? Please explain.
Mac: Amityville Horror, why? Why was this everyone’s favourite?
Maria: I think the Scream movies are the biggest pile of wank.
11. What is a modern horror film (the last ten years) that you just loved and why?
Mac: Color Out of Space, I know everyone hates it but I love it, I love anything mildy lovecraftisn!
Maria: Weapons for me!
12. What scares you now?
Mac: I’d we’re being honest, abandonment.
Maria: Heights, no ladders for me!
Links
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
