Q: How challenging was it to play opposite him in some of those scenes in the garage where’s he’s stuck in the car’s windshield?

Mena: It was very intense. I remember saying to Stuart once… I got really frustrated because it was a particular kind of filmmaking. You didn’t really have time. There was like one camera and he’s like “Okay! Go!” Like one or two takes and I said I can’t go from 0 to 90 in one second. But I was trying to use that. I was just trying to use the intensity and what’s available to me to draw from because it’s very, very intense. It’s the emotional experience. It was like losing my mind. I hadn’t really gone to that before and I just had to go for it.

Q: The material also steeps itself in some vicious black comedy too. There are some very intense emotions between you and the boyfriend where you just had to laugh.

Mena: When I say “Why are you doing this to me?,” you know, watching it with an audience and people reacting to that and laughing. It was such a sick and twisted humor. That was a concern of mine too because this film is based on a true story but the real man – his name was Gregory Biggs, he was 37 years old and he died. I battled with that while making this movie, like what we were really doing. I didn’t want it to be so kind of weirdly humorous. To me, there was a reality to this story and I didn’t want to lose sight of that or disrespect anyone. We had a screening in Texas and I heard that the son came with his wife.

Q: Did you hear what his reaction was?

Mena: I think he had asked a question about how much we knew about the characters. We had a DVD commentary several days ago and John (screenwriter John Strysik) was talking about this story. I wasn’t there. I couldn’t go but I guess Stuart saw them and they were having a conversation afterwards, talking about it, comforting one another.

Q: Can you talk about the fight you had with the naked girl?

Mena: She was awesome and her name escapes me. I wish I could remember, but she’s so amazing. She actually worked as Halle Berry’s stuntwoman for years. She was great. Talk about just fearless and full throttle. She was encouraging me to just go for it. I’d be interested in wanting to do something and then I felt like I’d hold back a little bit and she’d go, “No, just hit me. Just do this. Grab me here.” I was like, “Okay!” So it was exciting. I’d never been in a fight before so I just kind of had to go for it. I appreciated that. I think ultimately that’s what I would want because as an actor, that’s freeing. You don’t want to have too many limitations on things. Sometimes it’s like “Okay. Now you want to do exactly this.” And it’ll take away from the performance. Yeah, I’m sure Stuart was just like “Look at them go!” The cat fight, you know.

Q: So there’s no chance you could have taken her in real life?

Mena: Wow! I don’t know about that now that I’ve learned the moves. [laughs] I was like, “The frying pan? Really?” She was great. Russell Hornsby, who plays my boyfriend, Rashid, really enjoyed it. He really enjoyed that move.

Q: What is your biggest fear?

Mena: My biggest fear? Oh God, I try not to think about it too much with these kinds of questions. I’m not sure. I think I’ve really worked towards not being afraid. That’s why I’ve pushed myself and challenged myself especially in the material that I’ve done. I set myself on fire in this movie. It was like “Why not?!” I’m not sure. That’s a good question. I have a phobia of the ocean sometimes, what’s underneath anyway. (laughs)

Q: What else do you have coming up?

Mena: I did a film last year called “Garden of Eden” that should be coming out later this year. It’s based on a Hemingway novel. It’s a great book by the way. And then I’m about to start a project with Peter Medic called “Sex and Lies in Sin City.” It’s based on a book by Jeff German called “Murder in Sin City.” It’s about the Ted Binion murder in 1998. Ted Binion was the son of Benny Binion who owned the Horseshoe Club Casino and Ted was a heroin addict. He was found dead in his home. I play his girlfriend, Sandy. She was convicted of his murder in 2000. It’s a comedy. [laughs] It’s a family movie. It’s for Lifetime. I’m really excited about it. It’s a really interesting story. With this (“Stuck”) and that movie, I’m a little concerned that somebody may come after me like I’m addressing too many things that are real dangerous. Sandy was acquitted so…

Q: What else can you tell us about “Day of the Dead”?

Mena: Apparently it’s gone to DVD now. Frown…

Q: Oh, it’s not going to be released?

Mena: I don’t know. There’s a lot of behind the scenes [stuff] that they don’t tell me about. Steve Miner is a great director. He was involved in creating “Friday the 13th” and that guy is just awesome.

Q: How close is it to the original?

Mena: It’s very different. It’s like when they did the “Dawn of the Dead” remake. But it was great. For me, it was a lot of fun. I played a Corporal in the Army and I did all my own stunts. It was like 2-1/2 months in Bulgaria. It was intense, carrying guns and shooting. It was fun.

Q: Do you have a favorite zombie film?

Mena: I’m trying to think. I don’t know.

Q: Did you watch certain ones or were you told to watch certain ones for getting ready for the part?

Mena: I did watch the originals like “Dawn of the Dead” and “Day of the Dead.” Actually I really liked the remake of “Dawn of the Dead.” I thought it was really awesome, all the effects. I was reading one that they’re going to do soon. It played more on the …I don’t know if you know the Bodies exhibit. It was more like that. It was Ken’s zombie. That was cool.

Q: Are you a fan of the zombies that walk or run?

Mena: A: That run, that run and fly and jump and bite into jugulars. Yeah, back in the day. Now you watch them and you’re like, “C’mon!”

Q: There’s a big debate about which is better: a walking or running zombie. It’s a big thing.

Mena: You’ve got to love the girl that’s running and she trips and she’s (panting) You’re like “Get up!” It’s always like that. So I guess when the zombies can pose more of a threat than a challenge, then yeah, it’s more realistic.

Q: Had you ever seen any of Stuart’s earlier films like “Re-Animator” or “From Beyond”?

Mena: I hadn’t when I had worked with him. No.