Dieter Laser is known best for his role of Dr. Heiter in “The Human Centipede”. Dieter portrayal of that characters ranks as one of the best/creepiest villains that I have ever seen. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Dieter about his role and what else he has planned.
Mike Gencarelli: What did you like most about playing Dr. Heiter in “The Human Centipede”?
Dieter Laser: I loved the pitch black humor in it – funny and scary at the same time. I loved the downfall from an insane German “Demigod” with a spotless white doctor’s coat to a bloody snakelike “Subhuman” crawling across the tiles like a centipede.
MG: How did you prepare for such a demented & dark character?
DL: When you read a novel you gradually start to “see” and even “feel” the characters on your mind’s screen – same thing with a script. I’m reading a script every day, very early in the morning and very slowly up to a hundred times, thereby enhancing this common effect of visualization. Discovering under the entertaining surface the different layers of diverse combinations and rich possibilities to interpret the stuff. Trusting my guts, waiting patiently for the character to come alive on my mind’s “silver screen”. Watching “Him” carefully when He shyly shows up… and finally, when He seems to feel quite comfortable I slowly start to mimic what He’s doing.
MG: How was it working with Tom Six, did he give you creative freedom for the role?
DL: Tom Six and his sister, the wonderful producer Ilona Six, gave me every thinkable creative freedom, support and trust, and if you are treated like this, you only can try to pay back, and that explains the splendid chemistry we had every day at the set. Tom knows precisely what he wants to do and has the rare talent to provide you with generous freedom and leadership at the same time.
MG: We interviewed Akihiro Kitamura and his first impression of the script was that it was hilarious, what was your first impression?
DL: I got my first impression through a meeting with Tom and Ilona. Tom told me very defined and detailed the whole movie in real time. After 90 minutes I was so fascinated by his vision, precision and obsession that we came to a deal even during this meeting. Later on when the script arrived I got scared. I hadn’t in fact realized the whole consequences of the premise (“Feed her!”) – and I was afraid. Then in my early morning sessions with the script I discovered under the plain surface “The Nazi-Doctor”! – and that led me to the “Angel of Death”, to the Nazi concentration camp physician Dr. Josef Mengele, who gruesomely experimented with twins. Therefore Tom and I decided to baptize Dr. Heiter with his first name “Joseph”. – Now I had found my “vehicle” and how to drive my character through the whole story no matter how disgusting things would become. So I got a lot of fun out of it, to kick my criminal German ancestors in their balls, making dark jokes about their twisted anal retentive Nazi-Psyche! Assholes like Dr. Heiter, who divided mankind in “Supermen” (themselves) and “Subhumans” (all the others) treating Human Beings like insects, like poor centipedes.
MG: You played villians in both the TV series “Lexx” and “The Human Centipede”, Do you enjoying playing the bad guy?
DL: Despite of these villains I always have preferred to be a “character actor” playing complicated and broken guys. If I can choose between a part with a candy bar or a part with a gun, I always will take the gun.
MG: How can you reflect on the banning of “The Human Centipede II (The Full Sequence) in the UK?
DL: It’s a pity for the UK audience and a big advertisement for the world market. I had the privilege to see some stills, they looked absolutely fascinating.
MG: Are you generally a fan of the horror genre?
DL: Not generally, but I love movies like “The Silence of the Lambs” or “The Shining” for example.
MG: What do you have planned next?
DL: I’m on stage tour with Shakespeare and Samuel Beckett – and I’m waiting for the right part in the right script for the right movie. I already had to turn down eight offers this year, so “The Right Movie” should be pretty close by now – hopefully taking place in the beloved United States of America! – Anyway there are new plans with Tom and Ilona Six for December/January – so let’s just wait and let us see!
