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Interview: Scout Taylor-Compton on ‘Ghost House’ Hauntings and ‘Feral’ Characters

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Scout Taylor-Compton has made a huge name for herself in the horror community. She broke into the scene as Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie’s Halloween, but her recent performances in Ghost House and Feral have brought her back into the genre limelight in a big way.

I spoke with Scout about her experiences in each film and what makes these intense roles so enjoyable.

via IMDb

Kelly McNeely: I know Ghost House was filmed in Thailand, but it feels very international as a film – not quite American, not quite Thai, it kind of bridges both. What was your experience like, working on the film in Thailand?

Scout Taylor-Compton: It was honestly probably one of the greatest experiences, to be honest. It wasn’t my first time going to Thailand – I went for the Bangkok Film Festival – and I became such a fan of the culture in Thailand and, I mean, it’s just such a beautiful place. So I had such a great time being able to film there. Everyone’s so open to production happening there. It was definitely a different experience than filming in Los Angeles, per se.

via Vertical Entertainment

KM: Being fond of the culture beforehand, were you familiar with the lore of ghost houses before the film?

STC: I knew of them, but I didn’t know, like, in detail what they were all about. So it was pretty interesting to find out what they actually believe with these ghost houses and how much the film is kind of – I mean – kind of a reality that there’s the belief that it can actually happen.

via IMDb

KM: Now, we’ve seen a traumatic emotional transition from you before with your role as Laurie Strode in Halloween and Halloween II, but Ghost House kind of cranked up that intensity with a shorter transition time. What was that like for you as an actress, and how did you keep that high-level intensity going throughout the shoot?

STC: I don’t know! I mean, it’s so crazy, people always ask me how I’m able to do these intense roles, and I don’t know, I find them very easy for me. I guess maybe I have a lot of energy anyways, so when I put it into something else creatively, it kind of helps me. It’s kind of like a therapy release, to me, when I film, you know, you can get out all this… stuff in every take. I love doing these intense roles, they’re just really fun.

via IMDb

KM: Of course, and there was just so much cool stuff with the practical effects and the whole possession scene was.. all over the place and so intense. It looks like it would have been both a lot of fun and a big challenge as well.

STC: Yeah, when you have a cool crew to work with and director and cast, I think it just makes that experience so much more fun than being a method actor and taking it super serious. It’s like a playground, for me, acting.

KM: I wanted to talk about Feral, because I just saw it the other day and I really liked that it could have been poised as a zombie film, but it doesn’t really feel like a zombie story at all. It feels like a whole different sub-genre. Your character, Alice, mentions the z-word, but it breezes right past it. Was Feral ever presented or intended as a zombie movie? Or was it always kind of a blended sub-genre?

STC: I think they wanted to create something different but something that people would feel familiar with as well. I take it as more of a disease kind of film, and they’re just trying to create this new kind of creature. We’ve seen so many zombie movies, we’ve seen so many werewolf movies, so I think they were just trying to shine a new light on something people were familiar with.

via YouTube

KM: Absolutely. That’s one of the things I really loved about it; until Alice mentions zombies specifically, that had never even crossed my mind because it does feel like something so totally new and different.

STC: I love that! I love that.

KM: Feral has such an incredible female focus, which is awesome. Alice, your character, says she’s not strong, but she is fiercely capable. She’s kind of been low-key training for this scenario her whole life. She’s a life-saver by nature, but she does have that killer instinct. What was it like to inhabit her character, and did you have any personal experiences that you pulled in to the role?

STC: It’s interesting, because in my earlier career playing different roles… I’ve learned that acting is very much my therapy and growth in my own life with how I choose my roles. Like in my earlier career, I would play vulnerable characters, kind of like victims, because I was going through insecurities and growth and all that stuff. Now that I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown into a strong individual and a strong woman, as I like to say myself, so I do go for roles now where the women are strong.

Alice I could relate to, especially when it comes to anyone that I love. Instantly, I would do anything for the person that I love, with no hesitation. And she’s the same way. She doesn’t hesitate, she’ll just take over a situation at the drop of a dime. And I’m very much like that in my own life. So it was interesting to play her. And it wasn’t hard playing her – I just felt that strength in myself and in her. So it was cool, it was cool to see that resemblance between myself and the character.

KM: And it really comes across on-screen. You seemed so comfortable and natural and confident. The character sounds like she’s not feeling very self-confident, but again she’s so capable and strong despite how often she’ll say “I’m not strong”. She really inhabits that strength, she’s a powerhouse.

STC: Yeah, I digged her. It was my first role that’s been like that, so I definitely want to play more roles like Alice. I had so much fun playing her. It’s fun playing a confident woman rather than a woman that’s hesitant all the time.

As women, we’re so strong and some people just forget that. Especially in this industry. We’re capable of doing things ourselves, you know?

KM: Absolutely! I think one of the things that I love about the horror genre, personally, is that I feel like there are so many of those really, really strong female roles and characters out there. They can come from that position of starting off insecure or unsure of yourself, but they find that inner strength through the challenges that they go through. There’s so much strength in those roles.

STC: Yeah, we’re seeing a lot more roles for women now, lately. I was actually just talking about this last night on a podcast – women used to be bait in the horror genre. That’s all women were. So now, the fact that that’s changed and women are the ones that can actually save lives… I think it’s just so cool. We’re evolving. I think it just makes for a more interesting movie, having that strength in a female character.

KM: With Feral, you mentioned that those type of intense roles have a kind of therapeutic quality. As far as making the movie itself and everything that may have come up, what was the biggest challenge of the overall process with that film?

STC: Honestly, it was such a smooth ride, everyone just got along really well. I love doing action, so anything that involves me doing a fight scene or shooting a gun is just my favorite, so I really enjoy doing those. There wasn’t anything that was really tough, we just had such a great time.

via MovieBeasts

KM: I understand that you’re a horror fan, so do you hope to or aim to keep working in the genre more – especially since you’ve mentioned these are the kind of roles you’re gravitating towards? Do you have any upcoming projects you can share?

STC: I definitely would. I love doing horror. I think – the only thing with horror movies is I definitely have to be very selective with the characters. Like I said, I’m only going to choose the roles that are kind of like Alice. Kind of going in the realm of Resident Evil or Alien. Those are the roles that I’m wanting to play now, because that where I’m at internally.

But yeah, I do. Feral is one of them, Ghost House is one of them, I just wrapped on a movie called Starlight which was so much fun. I got to work with my buddy [Mitchell Altieri] who directed me in April Fool’s Day, so that was rad. I’m working on a podcast and am about to go start doing another movie next month called The Grooming. So I’m just working all over the place, here and there. So it’s fun. I’m just being very selective with the type of women that I play now.

 

For more exclusive content, check out our recent interview with writer/director Christopher Landon on Fatherhood, Happy Death Day, and more!

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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