Mr. June: Kim Sonderholm

What is a Kim Sønderholm, you ask? What's that funny line through the "O"? Sønderholm is a Scandinavian God who would make Wotan himself cry in pain while valkyries drag painful lust from your very soul. I swear. Check out how hot he is!! This Danish demi-god recently released a horror anthology called The Horror Vault, in which he wrote, directed, edited, and stars in throughout the three segments. He's got Horrorvault parts 2 and 3 underway already, and you might also recall him from his acting in horror films The Board, Dead City, the upcoming HellBilly 58, and of course, the classic (and everyone's favorite) Selvmordseksperterne. He wrote and directed his own movie, Craig, coming out this year, and most of the rest of his time is spent being really really good looking. Check out Kim and learn why people from Scandinavia really are the hottest people ever...

Your resume says you are "flexible" and "trustworthy". Has anyone ever interpreted that sexually?

Not that I'm aware of, at least people should tell me directly if they do, haha... I'm not really bendy you know, I'm more the husky neighbor who stares at people! haha.. No seriously.. I call myself flexible and trustworthy cause when I dedicate myself to a job I follow through. Flexible cause I'm usually quite easy to make plans with and trustworthy because.... well, because I keep my word... Why, did you read it like that?

Kim, checking himself out in the mirror. Typical. (From HorrorVault)

Which Scandinavian country sucks more: Sweden or Norway?

I'm so glad you didn't mention Denmark there. I'd have to say Sweden - but only because there's always some (friendly) feud going on between or countries, haha.. I do it with a glimpse in the eye (considering the fact I'd like to work more in Sweden without having my head kicked in, but its just a matter of principle..Seriously, I like Sweden....and Swedes... 

As "Frank" in something called Tour de Force.

Tell us about The Horror Vault DVD... I hear you're already filming Part II?

True. The first one took two years to make, which was a bit more than necessary, but the reason was I was shooting my directing debut feature "Craig" at the same time, so I kept putting it in the background and when Craig was finally finished late last year I could concentrate fully on The Horror Vault. But it's been such a positive experience, so many people kept contacting me, wanted to get involved that I decided back off my back to do a second one as well - and in fact, also a third one. It's an interesting project, probably not for everyone, but I'm hoping it will have it's own certain little spot among indie horror fans. It's inspired by Creepshow and Tales from The Crypt, so maybe devotees of those films will like it, I hope so.

Kim, right after his third DUI conviction.

 
So, why are you in so many horror films now, huh?

 Most of the horror stuff I've been involved with was my own projects, as a matter of fact. I'm usually cast as a policeman, soldier, tough guy...or a suit... I guess in the end everybody is type cast, to an extend anyway. The only actor I can really think of who somehow manages to keep out of that box, doing something completely different every time, is Johnny Depp. Well after I started doing my own projects I got involved with a couple of horror flicks by other people as well, but I love the genre and I supposed somehow I'm looking to get involved in it more, personal interest.

For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by films. Genres changed through the years. As a kid in the early 80's I was hooked on Star Wars and the 007 films. Always wanted to be up there as a part of the action. Throughout my teenage years I turned very much towards horror films, such as the Friday the 13th series, the Freddy Krueger flicks, not forgetting the Halloween films. I still love these films to this day - I still watch any horror film I can get my hands on. I realize they are apart of the wave coming out in the late seventies and early eighties and that horror these days has a tendency to be a lot more explicit, violent and humour ridden, but that was my intentional base of inspiration anyway.

I suppose I've been hooked on horror ever since I saw The Exorcist one late night it was shown on the TV. I guess I was 12 or so, and my parents had forbidden me to watch. But, you know, as it is with kids, what you are not allowed to do is always the most exciting. So... I saw it... and it scared the living crap out of me. I didn't sleep properly for two weeks after that, haha. What scared me wasn't the possession as such, it was more the face of the demon you see in very short frames in a dream that Damian Karras is having, with his mother having to cross a highway. I mean, that fascinated me a lot. The fact that we have this whole film and what terrified me the most was what you hardly saw, I guess those glimpses you catch of the demons face is less than a second in the entire film, but it made quite an impression on me. No other film has ever been able to get to me like that one did. It actually took me several years and a lot of persuasion to see it a second time.

These days, obviously, it might not look like much - although to me it still does. As I got older I loved the slasher films such as Friday the 13th and the likes, and I guess I grew a bit tougher with age, haha

Kim's very messy.

What's your idea of a perfect date?

Oh wow.. I've been in a relationship for a long time, and I'm a monogamous kind of guy so obviously I haven't dated meanwhile. The relationship ended recently and I'm just considering getting back into the dating world. It's kinda scary, you know, haha.. But the perfect one - I don't know.. Obviously she'd have to be a super model, crazily in love with me and a sex addict! haha.. No really, It's quite urgent for me that a potential partner has a sense of humor - the darker the better. It's important for me that she is natural, down to earth and able to talk about deeper topics than what her girlfriends are up to and next time she'll get her nails done. I'm not into the superficial type in any way.

I suppose the perfect date involves a connection somehow. Doesn't need to end with anything dirty, haha.... But there definitely needs to be something you just know you have to explore deeper. She needs to be able to accept me for who I am and especially what I do - the acting and film making, that is. There's no room in my life for jealousy. Deep down I'm a very trusting guy and it's important to me that doesn't get abused. I'm not jealous myself so I don't want it the other way around either. Interest in each others work is fine - well, necessary even - but there are limits.

Obligatory "Stud with a Gun" picture!

 Which of the following is NOT a real name in Denmark:

    a) Ina
    b) Udo
    c) Emil
    d) Oatmeal

Oh dear.. Udo is a German name (Kier .ed) as far as I know. I've been in a film with a character named Ina but I never actually heard anyone being called by that name. Oatmeal I have no idea how you came up with but it made me hungry, so I'd have to go with Emil.

Kim ponders morosely in his spare time.

How many members are currently in Denmark's Folketinget?

179 members from different parties; 47+45+25+23+17+9+4+3+1+1+1+1+2=179

Kim gets a little tipsy after a few beers.

Is it true that all Danes wear helmets with horns on their heads all the time? If so, why?

Oh yes, we all do. It's a sort of trend which luckily is coming back in style now actually. Well, in fact when we did A Viking Saga we actually had to update our daily clothes in order to fit in, so it cost quite abit of money going to those fashion shops.. No really.. Trust me when I say we actually wear "normal" clothes. We're not all that weird over here in Denmark....and Denmark is NOT a city in Sweden, by the way. Nor is it somewhere in Holland or The Netherlands... You guys really should take a crash course in Scandinavian trivia.. I mean, we're not big, but we're here, haha.. I'm kidding of course.. We're not all that different..and can't we all just get along and so on? haha.. As to why the vikings DID wear horns and stuff back in the day - and this is actually several hundred years ago, mind you, haha - I have no idea. I wasn't really around back then and the history books say it's all just a cliche anyway and never happened, so who to believe... heh.. But it's ok, we still think Americans walk around with cowboy boots, robbing banks, have frequent shootouts with the sherif and of course chase the indians.. (Well, not really)

Kim makes a quick call to his dealer.

Finland- what's the deal?

I will let you know if I ever find out. They are like the only Scandinavian language where you can't understand a word even though if you're from one of the other countries. Odd way I explained that, right? What I meant was Danes, Norwegians and Swedes usually understand what each other are saying, but the Finnish is very different language. Nice people I'm sure.. (Don't wanna get crucified for racism here, haha)

Many people don't know that Kim is actually homeless.

You appear in the upcoming A Viking Saga as a viking. Don't you feel a little type-cast?

All actors in that film, well with exception of one, is Danish, so... No.. Not at all... I have been typecast earlier as a policeman and soldier though, but it doesn't bother me. Luckily many of those roles have been quite different in spite of the jobs they have in common. Besides I make an effort to make each role a bit different from the other which can be hard if it's the same sort of uniform over and over again, but at least in the acting style I try..... and sometimes it's comedy, other times action, other times drama...

Many people also don't know that Kim is very "hip hop" and "gangsta", as well

This question is about you and your stuff, etc. etc.

Oh this is my moment to shine, huh? hehe.. Cool.. The Horror Vault was just released, check www.thehorrorvault.net for the curious ones. It's a Creepshow/Tales From The Crypt inspired project with nine tales of human cruelty I've been working on, while working on Craig as well. And like mentioned earlier, number two and three are on their way. Also, I'm currently in the early stages of two other feature films as a director; Tour de Force, which is an action film about a policeman who due to a tragic loss has a breakdown and starts doing hits for the mafia. There is also Czech Mates about a guy who is quite alone and there hires two girls from the Czech Republic to come and live with him. Now sadly, these girls have quite sneaky plans and are not quite as sincere as he hopes for.

Finally, we in Cetus Productions are currently working on a supernatural thriller in Danish named Sølvtråd, English title will most likely be Silver Thread, which is being directed by Jan T. Jensen and I'm producing and playing a part on it too. As an actor, I just did some stuff for a Russian feature film by Andrey Iskanov named The Tourist and I'm really looking forward to seeing the film. Also, Operation Sunrise which is a Canadian film I was in Poland to shoot last year just had a couple of screenings and will hit the festival circuit soon, can't wait to see that one either. Same goes for a Swedish thriller named Dead on Arrival. I was in Stockholm to do last summer. Westbrick Murders starring Eric Roberts and Vernon Wells, in which I play the role as Officer Sam. What Nobody Knows by Søren Kragh-Jacobsen; a Danish political suspense thriller by the same people behind Mifune's Last Song, the third of the dogma films. Not a very big part I play in this, but I am very much looking forward to seeing that one as well. I have several other projects as well but as none of it is completely certain at this point I should probably shut up about them, hehe And FINALLY, recently, I played a supporting part in a feature film named Jon by Texan based director William Instone. Another part in Unlikely Prophets by director Cristian Cupertino based in Florida.

I love my job, so I always make space for new projects. I've done a lot of each, both indie films and studio films. Both definitely have their charm. I love the indie way of working, always so vibrant and alive. I hope the US will have a chance to see Craig in the near future as well, but time will show. I do however promise that it WILL be happen before the end of 2008.

Check out Kim at: www.sonderholm.net
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1330023/