News

Sylvia Hoeks Talks Creating Queen Kane in ‘See’ on AppleTV+

Published

4 years ago

December 16, 2019

If you’ve had the pleasure of watching AppleTV+’s series See, and if you haven’t you really should, you will no doubt have become quite familiar by now with Queen Kane played by Dutch actress Sylvia Hoeks. Sometimes unbalanced but always intriguing, she is a character fit to rival Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones with her ecstatic belief in the rightness of her reign.

See is set in a dystopian future where sight is no longer the norm, and further, the ability to see is considered evil and the product of witchcraft. In the first episode, two children are born with sight, and their mother (Hera Hilmar) and adoptive father (Jason Momoa) soon find themselves on the run with their entire clan in an attempt to save the children from Queen Kane and her Witchfinder General Timacti Jun (Christian Camargo).

It is a brilliant story, as brutal as it is beautiful.

I had the opportunity to speak with Hoeks about how she became involved in the project, and the process she underwent for bringing Queen Kane to life.

**This interview contains some spoilers below this line**

As so often happens today, it began with a self-taped audition after Hoeks was contacted by series creator Steven Knight. As she began to dig into the sides that were sent to her, she felt an instant connection to the character.

“I really loved what I read of the queen and this intriguing new world,” Hoeks explained. “I had quite an idea already about how I wanted to pursue the role if I got it. I really wanted to make it weird and awkward and a bit crazy.”

That included going to director Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) and explaining that she wanted to shave her head. Lawrence agreed and slowly her inner thoughts and ideas began to form Queen Kane on set.

This also included developing a peculiar and intriguing cadence to her speech giving it a lilting sing-song type quality that, among other things, leaves the listener off-balance, unsure of what her motives or intentions are from time to time.

“I though of Lou Reed and some of his interviews that I had watched,” the actress said laughing. “He toyed with the journalists during those interviews. He was definitely under the influence of a lot of things but he does it in a way so that he sounds a bit crazy but in a way that’s very intriguing. It’s almost like a cat who is playing with a mouse so I tend to take it from there. Queen Kane uses her voice to play with her mice.”

That is, essentially, one of things so fascinating about Queen Kane. You’re really never sure what she is thinking, but you know, without doubt, that she is the Queen. Moreover, she says it was an amazing experience to play a role written for a woman in power who didn’t depend on her body or sex to hold onto her throne.

“She handles herself in different ways. She doesn’t rely on sex or her charm but instead her wits,” Hoeks said. “She believes in what she believes in and she does what she does and she doesn’t care what you think. If she were wrong, her whole world would fall apart. She stands on a cliff and she needs to keep standing.”

This especially became important when, late in the season, it was revealed that Hilmar’s character Maghra was actually her sister and had a claim to the throne. It brought an unexpected but exciting dynamic to the series finale, but also gave fans something to look forward to in the second season.

It’s something that Hoeks is looking forward to, as well.

“I think that we both, as strong women, can be in each other’s way a lot which will be funny,” she aid. “But they can also learn from each other. I’m already excited about playing it.”

I must admit I’m looking forward to seeing that play out myself.

You can watch all of season one of See on AppleTV+. Be sure to check out the series and Sylvia Hoeks brilliant performance as Queen Kane!

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

17 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.