Why do you believe we enjoy being terrified in a movie theatre?
Because we don’t get to experience that kind of curiosity in real life. And these movies talk about questions we don’t have a clear answer for, like: Are ghosts real? Can a girl be possessed? What is that thing out there in the dark? I think that in a way – due to the access we now have to all kinds of information through the Internet – curiosity is dying, but horror films are still keeping it alive.
And it’s a genre that has been very popular, and still is, since the dawn of cinema.
I think one of the reasons the genre stays strong is because it still is great to have that movie-going experience of seeing a film like this in the theatre on its opening weekend surrounded by horror fans.
But are you curious about the supernatural?
I wonder about it and want to preserve my curiosity about it too. I am drawn to questions that don’t have a simple black-and-white answer, like: How am I going to survive this? And what’s great about being in a creative business like this is that there is no defining element in acting.
Speaking of surviving, what is Sean Brenner’s relationship like with his daughter Quinn, who is the central character of the story?
They have a good relationship that is at that turning point between a father and a teenager where he has to accept that she is making her own decisions.
I can definitely relate to that, and I know that it is a characteristic that other people can relate to also. I like that before anything goes haywire you are drawn into this family drama and concerned not just about their well being but also about their interpersonal relationships.
What do you think Stefanie Scott brought to the role of Quinn Brenner?
Stefanie brought her whole heart and soul into that character! She really gave everything she had to the role. There is a good portion of the movie where she is in two casts over her legs due to an accident her character suffers, but she never complained about it. And she did all her own stunts too! Stefanie Scott really turned in a great performance.
And what is her younger brother Alex’s role as the horror unfolds?
He takes it pretty well and even does his best to defend his sister and stand up to what’s going on, which is when you see the whole Brenner family working together to try to explain this thing and vanquish the daemon.
What future do you see for Leigh Whannell as a filmmaker?
I was really struck by his confidence in dealing with actors and with the effects that come with a horror movie like this; but he was also great with the comedy, which he has a good instinct for too. And you can see that when he plays the role of Specs.
It was so interesting to see the writer directing and playing one of the roles he wrote that advances the story but also brings in humour. To do all of those things at the same time is very impressive! Leigh and I came out of this experience as good friends and with the desire of working together again.
And I believe that from now on he can do anything he wants.
