The serious side of comedy, according to Idle Hands (1999) star, Devon Sawa
"The violence is so big and so wacky that it becomes acceptable," said the actor.
While plenty of entertainers earn the laughter of fans everywhere, working in comedy is a serious business. Just ask Devon Sawa, who starred in the 1999 horror comedy film Idle Hands. Though gory and hair-raising, the film is home to some incredibly humorous moments.
However, during an interview with the Ottawa Citizen, Sawa explained his own personal philosophy: Playing his character seriously was a surefire way to gain more laughs.
“My character had to be absolutely serious in what he was doing,” said Sawa. “In fact, playing the lines seriously made it work that much better and made the hand that much funnier than if I’d played the scenes all big and exaggerated.”
Two characters, played by Elden Henson and Seth Green, return from the dead after being violently murdered. “I liked the idea of these two friends of mine walking around,” said Sawa. “One with his head tucked underneath his arm, the other with this fragment bottle stuck in his skull.”
Of course, while the violence may seem superfluous to some at times, Sawa felt that it only aided the project. An excess of violence, common in horror, helped the audience suspend their disbelief while watching the film.
“The violence is so big and so wacky - like the bottle in the head - that it becomes acceptable,” said the actor. “It’s funny stuff.”
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