On concept alone, The Human Centipede (First Sequence) was destined to be one of the most talked-about films of last year. When your film involves a mad scientist who attempts to connect the gastric systems of three unwitting test subjects by stitching them together mouth-to-anus, it’s hard to keep curious, iron-stomached moviegoers away. But while the series’ bizarro subject matter and continued claims of complete medical accuracy are the stuff that memes are made of, they achieved cult immortality via the performances at their core. German actor Dieter Laser played the role of Dr. Heiter with a deliciously unhinged intensity, while his victims—played by Akihiro Kitamura, Ashley C. Williams, and Ashlynn Yennie—overcome their limited mobility to wring the terror from their degrading fate.
The members of the original film’s titular monstrosity have seen their profiles rise, particularly on the horror and comic convention circuits. With the blessedly late-night Philly premiere of The Human Centipede II: (Full Sequence) at the Ritz at the Bourse this Friday, The A.V. Club spoke with Williams and Yennie, who also stars in (Second Sequence), about their inquisitive fans, learning to move in sync with the co-star they affectionately refer to as Aki, and why the actors involved in the longer centipede that’s the center of the film’s sequel probably have it worse, but knew what they were getting into.
The A.V. Club: What has it been like to interact with fans of the movie?
Ashlynn Yennie: There’s some people who come and they’re like, “I’ve never seen this movie, I don’t want to watch this movie, it’s so gross,” and they can’t get past the concept of it. It’s more at the horror conventions that we meet people who are the die-hard fans of the film. They make their own human centipede costume; they’re obsessed with Dr. Heiter. They’re biggest question is, “Oh my God, how did you guys stay down on all fours for so long?” and we have to break it to them that it was only minutes at a time.
Ashley C. Williams: We get the same questions over and over again, which is funny. But we’re all used to answering the same thing.
AVC: What’s the strangest thing you’ve been asked to sign at a convention?
ACW: We weren’t asked to sign it, but somebody gave us a doll—three Barbie dolls that are linked together. The work that went into it was meticulous and very well done. They were three girl Barbie dolls, and he cut open the plastic and open the mouths and attached them to the other doll’s butts. And it has the gauze, and the blood—it’s really, really creepy looking. And on the subway ride home, my boyfriend took it out of my bag, and people’s mouths dropped open. They were like, “What the heck is that?”
AVC: Generally, how do people react when they find out you were in the movie?
AY: I was at a Halloween party with my sister, and my sister was like, “Oh yeah, my sister’s an actress, she was in this movie—I don’t know if you’ve heard of it—The Human Centipede?” And this guy started freaking out. He was like, “Oh my God. Oh my God. I can’t believe you’re in that movie.” Then they’re interested, and they just want to keep talking to you. And I get it—when we first signed on to this film, we all had a million questions. My first audition with Ilona [Six], the producer, was an hour long, because I just sat there and asked question after question after question. Because it’s a weird concept. “Yes, I had my face sewn to this girl’s butt.” I’ll meet with casting directors in L.A. and they’ll be like, “Tell me about The Human Centipede,” and I’ll be like, “But I’m here to audition for you.”