We had the fantastic opportunity to speak with David Clennon, who, throughout a 50-year career in Hollywood, has appeared in many incredible movies and TV shows. In the horror community, Clennon is most known for his role as Palmer in John Carpenter’s 1982 cult sci-fi horror classic, The Thing.
In this Horror Geek Life exclusive, Clennon discusses his career and his appearance in Brendan Devane’s new horror film, The Sound.
Horror Geek Life: Hi David! Thanks for taking the time to meet today.
David Clennon: Hi Steve! I see you have a Jaws poster on your wall.
HGL: Yes! It’s my favorite movie of all time.
David Clennon: It’s a horrifying film, and we’re talking about horror films today. I don’t know about you, but I’m a horror film sissy. I don’t willingly watch horror films because I get too stirred up. It’s more anxiety than I can handle, and here’s an example:
I went and saw Jaws when it was released, or maybe even a little before, because I belong to a film club, the Screen Actors Guild Film Club, which sometimes screened films even before they opened. I went to see Jaws, and I got there late, about seven or eight minutes late.
So, I missed the opening scene where you see this beautiful girl swimming and treading water, and you see the horrifying thing that happens to her. I missed that moment! It didn’t matter, because from the moment I sat down late in that theater to when the end credits ran, I was too horrified. It was too much for me.
When the film was over, my muscles ached, and I felt as though I had been kicked around and punched out. It was such a traumatizing experience for me, that, for most of my life, I have avoided horror films. Because if they’re really good, I’m going to feel like I’ve been beaten up when it ends. And if they’re not good, why bother?
It’s a masterful film. Spielberg was possessed by the devil when he made that film. It’s so smart, so well put-together, so fiendishly clever. I don’t think I’m ready to see it again. I may have to wait a few more years.
HGL: It’s a good time! Jaws just turned 50 years old last week!
David Clennon: 50!… and another film just turned 43…
Related: John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ Still Stands Among Isolation Horror’s Best
HGL: Oh yes… one of my favorites as well. Over the course of your career, you’ve gotten to work with some all-time iconic directors. What are some of the differences between working with someone like John Carpenter (The Thing) and David Fincher (Gone Girl), and a newer director like Brendan Devane on The Sound?
David Clennon: You know, I don’t have the head for directing. It’s hard for me to compare working with one director with another, but here’s something interesting to me. I worked with Brendan Devane for the first time on The Sound, and I didn’t know how skilled and talented he was. I didn’t know, because I had never seen anything that he’d done. I read the script and I thought, “This is really good, he’s offering me a small part in this film. I’ll do it!”
Then, I worked with him as a director, and he was very good to work with. This is something I like about directors. If they accept what the actor does, and work with it, and shape it, that, to my mind, is a great quality in directing. Brendan has that quality. I enjoyed working with him as a director, and I enjoyed reading his script, but I had no idea what this was going to look like when it was finished.
First time director for me, and I think he’s only done one other picture, and it was low budget, and I don’t think it was very well known, so this is his first film that I’m aware of, so I don’t know what to expect when I finally see the film. So, I saw it on a small screen on Vimeo, and I was impressed with the production value. The cinematography, the locations, the sets, the editing, I was really impressed. But I was even more impressed two nights ago, when I saw the film on a big screen at a nice theater in Las Vegas.
That’s what I have to say about directors. You never know what the end result is going to be, and with Brendan, I think he’s a remarkable talent and a very promising director. He really captures the reality of rock-climbing on one of the most imposing mountain cliffs I’ve ever seen in my life, and then he adds this element of horror.
So, yes. Costa-Gavras, Hal Ashby, John Carpenter, I’ve worked with a lot of interesting directors, but to me, this was especially interesting because I didn’t know where we were going. He proved to be a first-rate director, and this is a real achievement in my mind. Second-time director, low-budget film, he really hit the ball out of the park.
Related: ‘The Sound’ Review: A Decent Folklore Premise That Doesn’t Get to the Top
HGL: I caught your “It’s not like it’s Antarctica” reference to The Thing in The Sound. How impactful has being in The Thing been for your acting career overall?
David Clennon: That’s really a good question! I think for people who like films in the horror genre – your favorite film is Jaws; a lot of other people say it’s The Thing. The Thing has this amazing history. You know, I’m sure, that it tanked when it first came out. It was a box office failure! It was only later that people discovered the film on television, VHS tape, then DVD, and streaming.
There are now three generations of fans of this film. Sometimes, the parents who saw it in the ‘80s have shown it to their kids, and their kids have become devoted fans of the film, and passed that devotion onto their kids. I meet people at conventions who are third-generation fans of The Thing, and it just means so much to them. I don’t know if you have this same feeling about Jaws, but it’s like a touchstone. It’s a meaningful experience, and they will watch it again, and again, and again.
But how did it affect my career? I don’t know if it affected my career at all! It’s just one of those great experiences that I was really lucky to have. But as far as how it affected my career? That’s a great question, but I don’t have an answer to it. But your thought process is good, because that’s something for me to really think about.
HGL: Has there been an actor whom you’ve worked with whose advice or way of doing things has stuck with you throughout your career?
David Clennon: First answer, no. There are actors I’ve enjoyed working with, Sissy Spacek, for example, but I’m sure there are actors who have given me some kind of advice on a set that I took with me and said, “Oh yeah, that’s good!”
HGL: How did you get involved with making an appearance in The Sound?
David Clennon: Great question! Brendan Devane is a devoted fan of The Thing. He finished shooting the entire movie except for the appearance of a character on a computer screen. He contacted my agent and said, “I’m a huge fan of The Thing; I want David Clennon to be in my movie.” My agent said yes, I talked to him, and Brendan said, “My movie is a combination of the horrors of rock-climbing and some supernatural atmosphere.”
That sense of the supernatural, or the weird, or the out of the ordinary, is something that I feel happens in The Thing. So, rock-climbing, and The Thing, will you do it? I said yes, I read the script, and I’m glad I did, because The Sound is coming out today (June 27th, 2025) in theaters and at home. I just feel lucky that Brendan Devane invited me to be a part of the picture.
HGL: As we wrap things up, is there anything on the horizon that you want our readers to be aware of?
David Clennon: I did two really wonderful, independent, low-budget films, but I’m still waiting. This happens to actors like me: you make a project that you love, and you’re not getting paid big bucks to do it, but you love the project, and sometimes it never sees the light of day. The Sound came from that world of low-budget films, and I feel lucky that it’s out there.
We would like to thank David Clennon for his time and wonderful insight. The Sound is now available in select theaters and to purchase and rent on VOD.
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