Placed on a cheerful face.
Dennis Quaid, finest identified for taking part in pleasant patriarch roles in films like “The Parent Trap,” takes a darker flip as a serial killer dad in “Happy Face,” premiering March 20 on Paramount+.
“Serial killers are very easy to play,” Quaid 70, solely advised The Put up, whereas selling his “True To Texas” advert marketing campaign.
“Because they really kind of don’t have any emotion,” the “Substance” actor defined. “They have to be a little bit removed.”
“Happy Face” is impressed by the true story of Keith Hunter Jesperson (performed by Quaid), aka The Joyful Face Killer.
Jesperson, 69, is at present incarcerated, serving life sentences at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. Between 1990 and 1995, he admitted to killing at the very least eight girls throughout California, Florida, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. After his 1995 arrest, he claimed to have killed over 100 folks, however he’s solely been charged with eight so far. His eighth sufferer was IDed in 2023, 29 years after her dying.
He despatched letters to authorities bragging about his crimes signed with smiley faces, which gave him his moniker.
The present is predicated on his daughter Melissa Moore’s 2018 podcast “Happy Face” and her 2009 guide, “Shattered Silence: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer’s Daughter.”
Within the present, Melissa (Annaleigh Asford) has a husband, Ben (James Wolk) and two youngsters, who do not know that their grandfather is a serial killer. She’s a make-up artist on a Dr. Phil-esque present, “Dr. Greg,” however her quiet life turns into sophisticated when her incarcerated father makes contact, and claims to have details about a ninth sufferer that he’ll solely share if Melissa agrees to fulfill with him.
Melissa hasn’t talked to her father in years, however an harmless man is on dying row for against the law her father dedicated, so she should resolve if it’s value it to make her connection to the Joyful Face killer publicly identified.
“What made it interesting to me — because just playing a serial killer that doesn’t do much – but it’s really about the relationship between him and his daughter,” Quaid advised The Put up.
“That was what was interesting about the family dynamic. She had a very loving, sweet relationship with him as a little girl. And then when she was a teenager, that’s when he got caught,” he added. “And so how do you reconcile this kind of almost ‘parent trap’ that you have, for lack of a better word, to the serial killer who did all these things?”
In his personal life, Quaid has three youngsters, together with “The Boys” actor Jack Quaid, 32, whom he shares with ex-wife Meg Ryan. He’s additionally dad to twins Thomas and Zoe, 17, with ex Kimberly Buffington.
Jack’s additionally appeared in “Oppenheimer,” “Scream” and his newest, “Novocaine.”
“Maybe way back when he was a kid, but really he’s done it all on his own,” Dennis stated of whether or not Jack’s requested for appearing recommendation. “His career is really blowing up this year. It’s perfect. He’s right on track. He’s got such a great head on his shoulders.”
