At 36, his son Gilbert's current age, Mexican-American actor Danny Trejo was in prison. Watching him behind the camera while filming "Seven Cemeteries," his latest movie, fills Trejo with indescribable pride—not only because he has managed to create a life for his family that's a 180-degree turn from his own.
"At his age, I was in prison. But he has truly built a life. I mean, he's a DJ, he's a director. So, it was amazing to watch him work. Plus, he loves what I do!" said the iconic artist in an interview with The Latin Times.
The experience is even sweeter because, for years, he saw him follow a path similar to his own. "We thought we were going to lose him, but he's been sober for 10 years. Plus, he loves what I do. We both talk about how the good Lord has blessed us with what we do, you know? And, well, it's incredible."
Their latest collaboration was in "Seven Cemeteries," the newest film by John Gulager ("Children of the Corn, Runaway - 2018"), ("Piranha 3DD - 2017"), and ("Feast," 2005, 2007, 2009).
The movie tells the tale of Bravo (Trejo), an ex-con ready to turn his life around until he meets a widow who needs his assistance, which results in disaster. It draws inspiration from the legendary productions "Seven Samurai" and "The Magnificent Seven." In the end, to do so, he has to summon his old gang—who are all dead.
"It's crazy because when I get out of prison, I die. The Witch resurrects me, and I bring my gang back. They're all zombies, but we're the good guys," explained Trejo.
For Gulager, it was essential to keep exploring his world of horror, but "in these times, I also wanted to say something. It's no coincidence that the heroes of this movie are Latinos. It's an important message with everything we've been hearing in these elections," he expressed to ENSTARZ ¡Latino!.
The director, who also produced and wrote the film, created Bravo's character with Trejo in mind. The actor didn't hesitate to accept the role for a second, as the message was clear.
The Line Danny Trejo Would Never Cross
Trejo thoroughly enjoyed acting as a zombie, moving his head around and watching his son Gilbert behind the camera. He loves his work so much that he has no intention of stopping. "There aren't enough cars to fix, and there's always time to fish," he laughed. "If I don't work, I get bored, so we keep going," he affirmed.
Besides, he feels great. "I never thought my 80s would look like this," he confessed.
His career boundary is the message in the movie. "For me, it's a yes, as long as the villain dies, you know? I don't want to send the message that you can get away with dealing drugs because you can't," he explained.
"I remember speaking at a school, talking about drug and alcohol addiction, and I said: there's no such thing as a successful drug dealer. And one of the kids said: 'What about El Chapo?' I told him: 'Kid, El Chapo is buried alive. Do you understand? He will never see the sun or daylight again. He's in one of those underground prisons. And if that's the life you want, well, that's the peak you can reach in the drug world. Nobody stays on top. You end up right here,' he said.
Danny Trejo's schedule is beyond packed. He has seven completed films awaiting release dates, starting with a space version of "Machete Kills," and of course, now is the time of "Seven Cemeteries," where he shares the screen with Efrén Martínez and María Canals-Barrera.
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