In the very cleverSeven Psychopaths, a refreshingly original dark comedy written and directed by In Bruges filmmaker Martin McDonagh, Christopher Walken stars as Hans, a Los Angeles eccentric whose chief moneymaking scheme involves stealing dogs, boarding them, and then returning them once their owners have offered a reward. He is the most senior (although not the most psychopathic) of the main characters—the other two being a wiseass, played by Sam Rockwell, and an alcoholic screenwriter, played by Colin Farrell. All three are unlikely friends, and while on the hunt for inspiration for Farrell’s character’s latest script, also titled Seven Psychopaths (expect self-reflexive humor), the trio find themselves in some surprisingly wild scenarios, including a peyote party, a lengthy dream sequence explaining why Walken’s character came to wear an ascot, and a graveyard shoot-out.

To promote their sharp indie, the cast—including the Shih Tzu who plays Bonnie, the trio’s favorite kidnapped canine—visited the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend. On Sunday, Christopher Walken sat down with VF.com to discuss his latest role, how he developed his trademark, oft parodied delivery, and the one type of character he hasn’t played in his six decades as an actor.

Julie Miller: Hans is such a brilliant character, and you are so good in the role. Did Martin McDonagh create him with you in mind?

Christopher Walken: I don’t think so. I heard about [the role] about a year ago. And Martin said the other night that he had written [the script] before he did In Bruges, which I didn’t know. But I’ve done a play [A Behanding in Spokane] with him and Sam [Rockwell] before, so we knew each other.

He has so many eccentricities—the way he dresses, the way he interacts with the dogs, his mannerisms, the way he pronounces “hallucinogenic.” Which aspects of this character were informed by you?

Well, the character was written, and when they cast you, it’s because, in their mind’s eye, you’re what they were looking for. Usually they don’t talk to you about that, though. And when you shoot a scene, you never know if it’s going to work. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. With me, it’s always a little lucky. How it turns out. How they cut it together.

Bonnie’s handler, who is in the press suite, told me that you developed a really special relationship with the dog on set even though you are actually a cat person.

Yeah, well, that is the sweetest dog. What a good-natured dog. But you know, I had a lot to do with her [in the movie] and the dog was just kind of an angel.

Speaking of animals, is it true that you once worked as a lion tamer?

Yeah, when I was a kid, I worked in the circus. It was a touring circus that was owned by a man named Terrell Jacobs. It was just one big tent, and he was a lion tamer. He didn’t have any kids, but the bit was that I would dress up as his son in an identical outfit. When he would finish his act, there would be one lion left, and I used to go in and have this lion do tricks. It was a female named Sheba, and she was very sweet. Like a dog, really. I would wave the whip, and she would run and sit up and roll over and do things.

Playing this lion tamer’s son each night, was that when you realized that you wanted to act, or perform, for a living?