Interview
Interview: Dwayne Johnson and the cast of Black Adam; “We wanted to usher in a new era in the DC universe”
The world needed a hero… It got Black Adam! A passion project for Dwayne Johnson over a decade in the making, Black Adam is the first-ever feature film to explore the DC Universe anti-hero – an ancient God freed from his tomb of 5,000 years ready to unleash his power on an unsuspecting modern world….
Interview: Andi Matichak on Halloween Ends: “This is the final conclusion. Let’s not be precious about it.”
After skewering the narrative of the Halloween films with the direct name-same sequel in 2018, David Gordon Green took a massive kitchen knife to all that had come before and created a brand new series within the horror franchise. After reviving the iconic Michael Myers for Halloween and Halloween Kills, the epic conclusion to his…
Interview: Director Tommy Wirkola on mixing humour and gore for Violent Night and casting David Harbour as a killer Santa Claus
Santa Claus: Action hero? The jolly man in red is getting a violent, twisted makeover in Violent Night, and whilst it may seem like an odd premise, when you realise it comes from the brains behind Nobody, Bullet Train, and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters it makes perfect sense! As the trailer for the film…
Interview: Casting director Jill Anthony Thomas on assembling Apple TV+ series Loot; “My favourite thing is finding and fostering new talent”
As casting director Jill Anthony Thomas states herself, those involved in the casting process are “the unsung heroes of the industry”. Actors aren’t always handed a role. And two performers on paper doesn’t equate to them working well in person. So, thank the movie and television Gods that we have people like Jill to steer…
Interview: Queer For Fear producer Bryan Fuller on uncovering the history of queer subtext within the horror genre
From its literary origins with queer authors Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde to the pansy craze of the 1920s that influenced Universal Monsters and Hitchcock; from the “lavender scare” alien invasion films of the mid-20th century to the AIDS obsessed bloodletting of 80s vampire films; through genre-bending horrors from a new generation of queer creators; Queer for Fear re-examines genre stories through a queer lens, seeing them not as violent, murderous…
Interview: Melanie Zanetti on Raven’s Hollow, exploring psychological horror and the increased prominence of strong female roles
There’s always a certain joy in seeing someone you know personally excel in their chosen field of expertise. And for Peter Gray it was chatting with Queensland actress (and long-historied friend) Melanie Zanetti in conjunction with the release of Raven’s Hollow. After catching up and filling more than a few interview minutes on celebrating each…
Interview: Raven’s Hollow director Christopher Hatton on navigating gothic horror and upsetting genre purists
As the Edgar Allan Poe-inspired Raven’s Hollow begins to haunt horror streaming service Shudder just in time for the spooky season (you can read our review here), Peter Gray spoke with writer/director Christopher Hatton about navigating gothic horror, what he hopes Poe purists will take away from the film, and their own personal connection to each…
Interview: Annie Mumolo on Confess, Fletch, choreographing comedy and if she’d ever write her own classic remake
If you’re one of the many that have laughed on repeated viewings of Bridesmaids (and hopefully the underrated Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) then it’s because of Annie Mumolo. A writer and actress who has long been a reliable staple in the comedy genre, she’s once again making her presence undeniably known…
Interview: Kaitlyn Dever on Ticket To Paradise, working in Australia and what she learned from George Clooney and Julia Roberts
At only 25 years old, Kaitlyn Dever is already over a decade into her career. From Bad Teacher(‘s pet) to Booksmart by way of Beautiful Boy, the Golden Globe-nominated actress is now navigating a genre she has yet to tackle; the romantic comedy. Starring alongside Julia Roberts and George Clooney in Ticket To Paradise, where…
Interview: George Clooney, Julia Roberts and the cast of Ticket To Paradise
Putting together two of the biggest movie stars is always going to come with a certain electric dynamic. When it’s George Clooney and Julia Roberts? Chaos! And that’s meant in the best possible way. Ahead of the release of their anticipated romantic comedy reunion Ticket To Paradise, where they play a duo of exes who…
Interview: Director Brett Morgen on his David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream; “Chaos and fragmentation were his through line”
Moonage Daydream is not a documentary. It is a genre-defying cinematic experience based on one of the most iconic and global rock stars of all time: David Bowie. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Brett Morgen, director of Cobain: Montage of Heck, and featuring never-before-seen concert footage, Moonage Daydream is an immersive cinematic experience; an audio-visual space…
Interview: Director Daniel Roher on controversial political documentary Navalny; “It’s really important that the world remembers that not all Russians are evil”
In August 2020, Alexei Navalny, the leader of the Russian opposition was poisoned with a lethal nerve agent in an assassination attempt. In the months following, the shocking revelations about the attempt on his life came to light during his road to recovery, a process that was captured by award-winning director Daniel Roher in his…
Interview: Jena Malone on the real-life awareness behind adult adoption in new film Adopting Audrey
Fired from her seventh job in two years and estranged from her family, Audrey (Jena Malone) is restless and dwells in a distinctly modern solitude, relying on YouTube for companionship. After falling down a video rabbit hole, she discovers the world of adult adoption and decides to try it herself in hopes of finding a…
Interview: Australian director Samuel Gay on his decade-long passion project A Guide to Dating at the End of the World
Brisbane, 3.15am, Sunday March 28th, 2010; A single woman survives the apocalypse only to be reacquainted with her blind date from hell. Based on true events. Kind of. A Guide To Dating At The End Of The World tells the story of a single woman who survives the apocalypse only to be reacquainted with her…
Interview: Orphan: First Kill director William Brent Bell on “brutal” horror fans, specific casting and executing the perfect plot twist
When you talk of iconic horror characters, we usually think of Halloween‘s Michael Myers, Friday the 13th‘s Jason Vorhees or Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street. But what about a demented little orphan who goes by the name of Esther? In 2009’s Orphan, Isabelle Fuhrman and director Jaume Collet-Sera created a new age…
Interview: Idris Elba and the cast and crew of Beast on calibrating fear and shooting in South Africa
As their nail-biting thriller Beast gears up to roar into Australian cinemas this week (you can read our review here), Idris Elba, co-stars Sharlto Copley, Leah Jeffries and Iyana Halley, director Baltasur Kormákur, and producer Will Packer spoke with our own Peter Gray about creating a familial bond on set, working on location in South…
Interview: Director Rebekah McKendry on her philosophical scarer Glorious
The pandemic gave many a creative time to think as so much of the entertainment industry faced an uncertain future. For director Rebekah McKendry through, it played into her favour. Presented with a unique, near-singular-set horror film that mused on philosophy and existentialism, Glorious seemed like an idea born from a world that was unsure…
Interview: Tyler Atkins on writing and directing Bosch & Rockit; “I wanted it to be a raw piece of Australian cinema.”
When you meet Tyler Atkins you’re immediately aware you’re in the presence of someone calm, intelligent, and confident in their own surroundings. But, as Peter Gray learned, it took some time to get to that place for the Australian filmmaker, especially within the crafting of his feature debut, Bosch & Rockit. After first meeting earlier…
Director Sophie Hyde on Good Luck To You, Leo Grande; “I think we’ve seen really limited stuff on sex work.”
An award-winning director, producer, writer, and founding member of the film collective Closer Productions, Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde is a force to be reckoned with. She’s also incredibly delightful, as our own Peter Gray discovered when chatting with her for the forthcoming release of her latest feature, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. An intimate…
Interview: Kat Graham on her intense role in ensemble thriller Collide; “It is therapeutic to see a character fight back”
Chronicling three couples over the course of one fateful night in an LA restaurant, Collide is a gripping new thriller from writer/director Mukunda Michael Dewil. Ahead of the film’s On Demand release in the United States, Peter Gray spoke with one of the film’s stars, actress and singer Kat Graham, about her intense turn as…
Interview: Brandon Perea on Jordan Peele altering the script of Nope for him; “I’m glad I was able to inspire enough”
Not every actor can claim that a script was re-written to tailor to their talents. Especially not one from an Academy Award winning scribe like Jordan Peele. And not for an actor that is yet to be a household name. But this was the case for rising talent Brandon Perea (Netflix’s The OA), whose breakthrough…
Interview: Director Jordan Peele and the cast of Nope – Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun
Following the commercial and critical success of both Get Out and Us, audiences have now come to expect genre greatness from comedian-turned-horror-auteur Jordan Peele. Adopting his own fresh spin on the classic UFO subgenre of science-fiction-leaning horror, Peele’s latest opus Nope is looking to soar into Australian cinemas this week, but, to be expected, all…
Interview: Director David Leitch on fusing the action and broad comedy of Bullet Train; “Bigger doesn’t always mean bad”
Having cut his teeth as a stunt performer for stars such as Jean Claude Van Damme and Brad Pitt over the years, David Leitch knew what it took to perfect the action stakes when he took on the role as genre director. Following a co-directing stint on the first John Wick film, before graduating to…
Interview: Robert Patrick on respecting the acting process when making What Josiah Saw
One of the most recognisable presences within film, Robert Patrick has been dominating the screen with his oft-villainous and authoritative roles for nearly four decades now. Best known for his turn as T-2 in the groundbreaking Terminator 2: Judgement Day, as well as such films as Cop Land, Charlies Angels: Full Throttle, Walk the Line,…
Interview: Brianne Tju on making Gone in the Night, the comfort of the horror genre, and the “beautiful experience” of working with Winona Ryder
Quickly earning the title of “new generation scream queen” is something that Brianne Tju seems to be wholeheartedly embracing, and her continued foray into the darker subsects of the genre are only further cementing her status. Having slashed and screamed her way through the streaming series’ of both Scream and I Know What You Did…
Interview: Australian filmmaker Kriv Stenders on directing Lee Kernaghan’s concert film Boy From The Bush; “His story is still being told”
Part concert film and part road movie celebrating the life and music of multi-award winning and much loved Australian country music artist Lee Kernaghan, Boy From The Bush is a unique and personal insight into one of the country’s most celebrated artists. Ahead of the film’s local release, Peter Gray spoke with its director, Kriv…
Interview: Director Andrew Traucki on changing the expected narrative of his shark thriller The Reef: Stalked
Having directed the landmark 2010 shark thriller The Reef and the similarly themed Blackwater and Blackwater: Abyss, Andrew Traucki is no stranger when it comes to navigating the murky waters of the creature feature. However, for the upcoming sequel The Reef: Stalked, the acclaimed director wanted to do more than just retread similar water, instead…
Interview: Ethan Hawke on embracing his horrific character in The Black Phone; “The unknown is where a lot of the fear lives”
It would seem in Hollywood, the nicer you are, the more evil you’re able to play. So, it would make sense that Ethan Hawke, continually referred to as one of the industry’s nicest guys, would excel so at portraying the embodiment of terror. Reuniting with his Sinister director Scott Derrickson, Hawke’s portrayal of child abductor…
Interview: The Black Phone stars Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw on navigating emotion and levity on a horror set
Are you ready to answer the call? Arriving in Australian cinemas this week (you can read our review here), The Black Phone is the latest horror outing from acclaimed genre director Scott Derrickson, a supernaturally inclined chiller about a sadistic child killer (dubbed “The Grabber”) whose latest victim turns the tables on him when the…
Interview: Craig Roberts on directing The Phantom of the Open: “I didn’t want to make a little British kitchen-sink drama”
For the past decade-or-so, Welsh actor/writer/director Craig Roberts has made sure that his career could never be pigeonholed. The darker aspects of comedy have often been his exploration as a filmmaker, having penned and directed the acclaimed duo of 2015’s Just Jim and 2019’s Eternal Beauty, whilst as an actor he’s just as likely to…