Public domain horror is a relatively new genre that typically takes innocent characters from beloved childhood stories and turns them into ghastly creatures who have been wronged and will stop at nothing for revenge. Most notably, these characters have included Winnie-the-Pooh (and friends), Steamboat Willie, Bambi, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Mary’s Little Lamb, Popeye, and many, many others. But one character, a playful and flirtatious little “flapper” mouse, has been sorely overlooked.
Until now.
Minnie’s Midnight Massacre began when the distributor of B22 Films asked Bret Bentman (executive at B22 Films) why there were so many Steamboat Willie movies being made, but no Minnie films. This inspired the prolific creative to team up with Derrick Redford (executive producer) to come up with a straightforward but entertaining concept for a Minnie slasher movie.
The top choice to play Minnie was the equally prolific Tiffany McDonald (producer at B22 Films). Even though she isn’t the biggest fan of bloody horror films, she does like scary films that could actually happen to someone. Some of her favorites are the old-school Poltergeist movie and The Amityville Horror. However, Tiffany admitted that she still hasn’t fully watched The Exorcist because demonic possession is a little too real and it scares her.
Tiffany’s portrayal of an eerily playful slasher with a flair for horrific kills gave Minnie’s Midnight Massacre a wonderfully twisted vibe — Minnie enjoys tormenting her victims in a coquettish manner before exacting her brutal revenge. The film is a cathartic romp that expunges childhood trauma via unsettlingly violent therapy.
Entertaining Options was curious what it was like playing such a delightfully vengeful character. We asked Tiffany about the role… and the possibility of a sequel! Keep reading to learn about how she felt about wearing the mask, the most memorable behind-the-scenes moment, and more.
When did you decide you would play Minnie? What was your initial reaction?
I think the idea of me playing Minnie came from Brett and Derrick. I mean, why cast someone? I’m available? So I thought, “Wow, okay, I guess I’m playing a slasher. Let me watch a few of these old cartoons to see how she is, how she moves.” You know, all the boring stuff.
This was a rare time when you were in front of the camera in a large role (the main antagonist). Usually, you are part of the crew, and only take on smaller roles. Did you enjoy the larger role, or are you more comfortable spending the majority of your time behind the scenes?
This role required a lot of mental preparation without memorizing lines. I still balanced both, and it was doable for me. I’m comfortable either way.
So many actors I interview love to play the villain. They say it’s cathartic and fun. Did you enjoy it?
I had fun playing Minnie. Looking back, I would’ve done things a tad bit rougher.
Was it harder or easier than you initially thought? Were there any surprises?
This role was exactly like I thought it would be. The only surprise is that I didn’t expect the mask to be so hot! So every time I was in it, I would suffer and pray that we could get through the scene so I could rip that thing off and take a breather. I was covered in sweat all the time. I also didn’t wash my hair for a few weeks — I had to have “shelter hair.”
How did it feel to be behind a mask? Was it confining or liberating?
It sucked. I couldn’t get past how hot the damn thing was!
Did you see Minnie as the villain? Were there any childhood traumas that this helped you face? Was it like therapy?
The question is, how did I make her a villain? Minnie is so cute and innocent, and sweet. I thought, never judge a book by its cover, right? People are evil who don’t look like it anyway. As for the whole “trauma” question, come on, I’m Gen X, we don’t harp on our unfortunate past.
How did you get into character? Was there a process to turn into Minnie?
I would just put the outfit on and get into character. I wouldn’t speak to anyone or be nice. When the mask is on, it’s showtime.
What did you use as inspiration? Did you draw from any characters, real or fictional, to create Minnie’s body language and gestures?
I watched Steamboat Willie and a few other old cartoons to draw from.
When Minnie attacked, she was brutal. But there were also times when she was a little bit sexy. The tight black costume really showed off your lithe form and fluid movements. Was that by design?
Minnie is skinny, and to stick to her look without getting sued, we could only portray the Steamboat Willie version of her. She was head-to-toe, skin-tight black, minimal white. Everything had to fit and look somewhat attractive with a mask. We couldn’t even use the flower on her head, so it’s on her shoes. Everything was thought out.
Speaking of your physique and movement skills, were you ever a dancer? How did you learn to communicate so well without speaking?
Yes. I took 10 years of dance as a kid. Can’t everyone communicate through body language?
What was your favorite scene in this film?
Oh, boy! I actually enjoyed the kills. My favorite was the sh*t diaper scene!
Did you have any bonding moments with the cast that you’d like to share?
There weren’t any bonding moments, but there was an “Oh, sh*t!” moment I’d love to share. On the first kill in the movie, we planned a neck squirting slice. Makeup was set on our actress, our SFX guy had the compressor ready, and everything was a go. The pressure built up, the hose disconnected, and it exploded all over the back portion of the garage. We all had to stop production and pitch in to clean off what we could, but ended up painting a few days later. It was a mess.
Why will people love this movie? Who is it for?
This question, oh boy! People will love this movie because it is the first female domain character movie that nobody even thought about making. It’s for anyone who has a love-hate relationship with these characters. These domain movies are trash, really, yet there is some sort of cult following to them.
How can people watch Minnie’s Midnight Massacre?
Right now, you can purchase or rent this movie on Amazon Prime Video. There is a premiere countdown on Cinenet for a free version sometime in March. So if you wanna watch it for free on YouTube, you’ll have to wait. Most want to see it right now, though.
Do you think there will be a sequel?
Possibly.
Is there anything I didn’t cover that’s important to you?
We have this Instagram page that pretty much makes fun of the whole AI community called B22_luxeshorts, starring myself and Brett. I kept getting messages about how funny they are, so we kept making them. It’s toilet humor.
What are the key B22 movies that people should watch?
Any of our westerns seem to be a hit. 90 Feet From Home is also a good watch, and it is based on actual events.
What do you have coming up that fans need to know about?
We have Aladdin, Aladdin’s Revenge, and Betty’s Revenge. We’ve been producing more verticals lately. You can see Rented a Billionaire Husband for Christmas on the ReelShort app. Also, Baby Wants Her Hockey Daddy on Drama Box in March. I know, who comes up with these titles, right?!
How can fans follow and support you and your company?
Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. Look for the B22 logo. Also, if you see one of our movies, give it a good/excellent star rating on IMDb.
All artwork and stills courtesy of B22 Films.
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