Ricky Greenwood Interview – The Bargain

You better not shout. You better not cry. The Krampus is coming to town, and if you’re naughty… this very well may be your last Christmas. In this soon-to-be Yuletide classic, Santa and elves are nowhere in sight. Instead, the great monster in Central and Eastern Alpine folklore, the horrifying Krampus, takes center stage. But unlike any Krampus you’ve ever seen, this one has hunger not only for flesh, but also cock.

We sat down with fan-favorite writer-director Ricky Greenwood to talk about this exclusive holiday treat starring Tommy Pistol and Ashley Lane! 

The film will be released on December 25th in the Adult Time members area. 

Hello! How are you doing? 

I’m very good. Thank you. 

Are you excited for the release of your new film The Bargain?

I’m really excited we made that movie with no studio attached, meaning that I had total freedom and creative input. Normally when I work for a studio, even if the studio gives me freedom (like Adult Time does), I have to respect some boundaries or make some compromises to appeal to their audience. For this one, we created everything we wanted, with no compromise or limits. It’s exactly what I had in mind.  

Where did you get the idea for that project? 

I was writing a Christmas movie, and I was looking for something original and different. The idea of a female Krampus comes to mind. Visually it was interesting, and I don’t think anybody has ever done that. So, it was appealing to my crew and I.  

Can you tell us a bit more about the Krampus? What is it? Why did you want to bring it in as an adult-oriented feature?

The Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Central and Eastern Alpine folklore who, during the Christmas season, scares children who have misbehaved. That’s the internet definition of it. Other people will say it is Santa Claus’ shadow.  For me, like a lot of Americans, I discovered Krampus in 2015 with the Hollywood horror movie “Krampus.”

I also have to mention that I love Christmas movies especially the ones that are set in Christmas like Die Hard, Invasion USA and Lethal Weapon. 

Adult Time members might not know this, but you were close to horror realms in a previous life? How did it impact the way you approached the creation and shooting of The Bargain?

My previous job was programming movies for an international movie festival, so I had the opportunity to watch a lot of horror movies from all around the world. I’m also a huge horror fan and many of my friends work in that field. And I directed a few interesting horror short films when I started, so they helped me a lot in finding what’s working and how to create tension. 

Can you tell us more about the special make-up effects process?

It was a long and challenging process, not everyone can stay in the make-up chair for 5 to 6 hours, and, on top of that, act. It’s also very physical, you have to move like a beast. The mental process is also very challenging. Imagine having something glued to your face for long hours, contact lenses, extremely long fingers that prevent you from grabbing anything properly, super-sharp teeth and goats feet that makes you walk on the tips of your toes without the back heel. Ashley Lane goes through all of this without complaining and with a smile. That’s one of the reasons she’s a pro and an amazing performer. Having a full creature made with prosthetic it’s very rare in mainstream film and it’s even rare in the adult world. I’m glad we did it, and I hope we do more in the future. 

Do you have an anecdote you would like to share with us?

My favorite moment was the blowjob scene. Tommy was super scared of getting a blowjob with the Krampus teeth. The teeth are very sharp, and we didn’t want to hurt the model. I was ready to remove the teeth for the blowjob, but Tommy decided to try once with the teeth. Both performers were extremely careful and slowly we found a way to do the blowjob with the teeth on. I was very happy and walked away. The second I turn my back, I hear Tommy whispering to Ashley: “Try to put your teeth in my pee hole…” That’s what happens when you work with tommy.  

Silent Night, Deadly Night or Black Christmas?

I have to go with the amazing Bob Clark’s Black Christmas. I’m also a huge fan of Chris Peckover’s “Watch Out (2016).

What are you looking forward to in 2022? Any upcoming projects you would like to discuss?

I have a lot of exciting projects for 2022. I’m directing my first feature film for Adult Time in March, and I’m also directing 5 horror features for Wicked. Yes, the final result of all my horror work in 2021 has led me to creating a Wicked horror line produced by Axel Braun. I’m very excited for all those great projects. Get ready to be scared in 2022. 

Thank you for this amazing interview and we look forward to watching The Bargain in the Adult Time members area on December 25th! 

Check out some stills from The Bargain …

For more from Ricky Greenwood, follow him on Twitter!

Along with the film’s release, Ricky also created a GoFundMe for the Sidewalk Project, which is a lived-experience mobile harm reduction project and needs-based syringe service provider (SSP). It aids unhoused, drug-using, and sex worker populations, providing residents of Los Angeles with case management, including medical care and housing linkages and system navigation services. The Sidewalk Project street team provides direct services, including crisis response, system advocacy, wound care, job placement, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), as well as creative community resources for mental health. The Sidewalk Project has chapters in five other cities, including San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. You can support the initiative here.