Azrael Star Samara Weaving Explains Why She Wanted to Get “Weird and Gross” for Revenge Thriller

Azrael Star Samara Weaving Explains Why She Wanted to Get "Weird and Gross" for Revenge Thriller

As I reflect on my journey with the movie production, it’s clear that the most significant challenge was dealing with unpredictable factors during location shoots. It’s like dancing with a partner who keeps changing steps unexpectedly! But just as I had anticipated, the experience was far from what I expected – in a pleasantly surprising way. The forests were breathtaking, the crew was exceptional, and even the spooky hotels turned out to be more amusing than frightening.


Actress Samara Weaving has built an impressive resume, starring in films like “Ash vs. Evil Dead”, “Mayhem”, “The Babysitter”, and “Ready or Not”. These roles often involved her getting drenched in blood while delivering quick-witted dialogue. In her latest film, “Azrael“, Weaving switches gears, opting for a purely physical performance as the plot demands that she and most other characters remain silent. The challenge of conveying intricate emotions solely through physicality might have deterred other actors, but it was this unique aspect, coupled with the dirt, grime, and gore she’d be immersed in, that attracted Weaving to the project. “Azrael” is set to hit select theaters on September 27th.

The movie is described, “In a world in which no one speaks, a mysterious, devout community hunts down a young woman named Azrael (Samara Weaving) who has escaped their imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, she is to be sacrificed to pacify an evil which resides deep within the surrounding wilderness – but Azrael will stop at nothing to ensure her own freedom and survival. From the seeds of this gritty, relentless parable of sacrifice and salvation, comes an immersive, real-time, action horror tale from the visionary minds of Simon Barrett and E.L. Katz.”

I managed to chat with Weaving about her passion for the venture, obstacles she faced during production, and upcoming endeavors.

Azrael Star Samara Weaving Explains Why She Wanted to Get "Weird and Gross" for Revenge Thriller

As a gamer, here’s my take on paraphrasing your question: Hey there! I’ve been following your work closely, and let me tell you, I absolutely love the projects you’ve been involved in. They’re some of my all-time favorites! So, when a new project comes up, what’s the key factor that draws you in and makes you think this is the one for you? And more importantly, how does the character of Azrael resonate with those aspects that you value most in a role?

Samara Weaving explains: Earlier, I thought I knew what roles I wanted, but now it’s about a great script, a strong director, decent pay, possibly all three. However, these factors can be overshadowed when you come across a project that intrigues you and makes you say, “I’ll take a chance on this.” In this case, the appeal was novelty – I hadn’t done anything like it before. The idea of making a film without dialogue, relying solely on physicality to convey emotions, was daunting. It terrified me.

Instead of saying “I was like, ‘This isn’t going to come along again. Why not?'”, you could rephrase it as: “I thought to myself, ‘This opportunity might not present itself again, so why not take it?’

I think so many audiences are just going to be curious about what a script for this movie looks like. What was your process of hearing about what this movie would entail and then literally reading what I assume is a constrained or limited script?

The text flowed beautifully. It was an exquisite piece, with no dialogues at all, yet the narrative and the plot were vividly portrayed, making it feel as if I were watching a movie. Simon’s performance was outstanding.

As a dedicated viewer, I find it fascinating that what we see on-screen only represents a fraction of the intricate thoughts, feelings, and rich history that are meticulously scripted behind the scenes. While we witness the beats, emotions, and key storylines, much of the deep backstory remains untold.

Regarding the development of your character’s background, were there parts that you created independently, sections that you learned from Simon and Evan, or aspects that you chose to overlook since you wanted to portray a particular phase in this character’s life during this specific timeframe?

In the beginning, I penned down a mix of my own actorly interpretation for the backstory, considering its significance for portraying emotional cues effectively. As it turns out, this knowledge is crucial. Later on, while interacting with Simon and Evan on set, we each had somewhat comparable yet distinct ideas, which I find intriguing.

What I find remarkable about it is that it leaves room for interpretation, enabling the viewers to create their own narratives based on what they perceive. The intrigue lies in its lack of clarity, which invites the audience to generate their own conclusions. It’s fascinating how the movie encourages us to think independently.

Could you share your thoughts about the major obstacle you encountered during the process, now that you have some distance from it? Also, was there an issue you anticipated would be difficult, but instead turned out to be surprisingly manageable for you?

It was particularly difficult for us since we were shooting at various locations, which meant we had no control over anything. We were at the mercy of the elements. Planning our shots and dealing with stunts was a complex task. We made every effort to be well-prepared, but unexpected issues arise on set, leaving you to think, “How are we going to manage this?

It turned out to be an incredibly challenging task and acquisition, given that everyone was determined to make it perfect. To my surprise, though, I had anticipated it would turn into a disaster. My thoughts were, “This is going to be a disaster. This is going to be awful. This is going to be chilling. I’ll be isolated in a forest, staying at the most eerie hotels near the road.

Initially, I didn’t have high hopes, but as it turned out, I found myself saying, “Let’s just dive in. Let’s get messy, let’s trudge through the mud, and let’s be a little crazy about it.” To my surprise, I had a fantastic time. It was like, “Wow, this is exhilarating! The woods are stunning. The team is remarkable. These hotels may be spooky, but in an amusing way – sort of a friendly ‘Boo!’ from the ghosts.” Overall, it was a delightful experience.

It strikes me that the task proved challenging, mainly due to my companion being present, who remarked it was difficult. However, despite feeling intense emotions inside, I managed to remain composed because venting my frustrations seemed like a more viable option, which I did by treating those around me harshly.

Previously, our conversation took place several years back, centered around the movie Ready or Not. I recall that I shared my thoughts about your character post-credits, suggesting she might end up in a mental institution or face arrest. Interestingly, it appears that a sequel to Ready or Not is indeed underway.

Did I say that? What did I say? What did I tell you?

You said, “Is she gonna get the money? Are the authorities going to find her and not believe her?”

Interesting.

Are you confirmed for the sequel? Are you definitely involved? Have you gotten a script?

I’m fully committed to this. I believe everyone else is as well, though I can’t say for certain if we’ve made a formal agreement or not. However, we’ve reached an understanding, like the old tradition of shaking hands, but without going as far as exchanging blood.

So we’re at spit handshake, not blood handshake levels just yet.

As far as I can tell, that’s correct. However, if we’re talking about blood levels, I’m not sure. Speaking of which, I’ve just arrived home and I have some phone calls to make.

It has been hinted recently that a live-action crossover featuring Transformers and G.I. Joe is planned for the future.

Okay.

Is this news to you?

I had no idea. I don’t know what that means.

I’m hoping it means you might need to make some room in your schedule after this.

Okay, great. I’ve got so many calls to make now.

I’m not saying I need a percentage, because I’m not your agent, but the least I can do is to let you know to carve out a good six months or so to bring Scarlett back to fight some giant robots.

Perfect, I’m there. I’m down.

Azrael lands in select theaters on September 27th.

This conversation has been shortened and simplified for better understanding. Feel free to reach out to Patrick Cavanaugh personally on Twitter.

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2024-09-25 01:41