Hold Your Breath Star Sarah Paulson on Bringing a Thriller to Life in the Dust Bowl

As a fan of gripping dramas set against historical backdrops, I am absolutely thrilled about Sarah Paulson’s upcoming film, “Hold Your Breath.” The 1930s Oklahoma setting, coupled with the ominous presence of an unknown force, promises to deliver a chilling tale that will undoubtedly leave me on the edge of my seat.

Movies often glamorize past eras, making even the harshest historical periods appear appealing through their unique characteristics that distinguish them from modern struggles. However, the upcoming thriller Hold Your Breath, starring Sarah Paulson, takes a different approach by setting its story in the 1930s Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. The film doesn’t shy away from showing the hardships faced by those living through these ecological disasters, but also introduces an ominous presence that may prove to be more dangerous than the dust storms plaguing homes daily. Hold Your Breath will be available on Hulu starting October 3rd.

In the dust-ridden 1930s Oklahoma, a woman named Sarah Paulson (let’s call her Mrs. Paulson for clarity) believes an ominous force poses a danger to her family amid the terrifying dust storms that plague the region.

In his conversation with ComicBook, Paulson revealed an unconventional approach to preparing for his role. Rather than delving deeply into research as one might expect, he intentionally limited his studies so as not to surpass the character’s lived experiences and maintain a genuine connection with the role. He felt immersing himself in the character’s reality would yield a more authentic performance, as opposed to a future understanding of events. Interestingly, much of what he knew about the subject was from school years ago. To refresh his knowledge, he watched Ken Burns’ documentary, “The Dust Bowl,” which proved incredibly informative. The emotional accounts of those who lived through it were particularly useful for capturing the raw emotion and fear in their eyes. This firsthand insight was a powerful tool during filming, he added.

She added, “The most unexpected realization for me is that a significant portion of these relentless droughts we experienced might have been man-made. It was shocking to understand that the excessive farming leading to wind erosion and other human activities contributed to creating an environment conducive for such events to occur, something I hadn’t fully grasped earlier.

In addition to the main cast, you’ll find Amiah Miller from “My Best Friend’s Exorcism”, Ebon Moss-Bachrach known for “The Bear”, and Annaleigh Ashford who has been in “Kinky Boots” and “Impeachment: American Crime Story”. The film is a joint effort by screenwriter/co-director Karrie Crouse, also known for “Westworld”, and co-director Will Joines.

Just as dust permeated every household back then, Paulson found herself deeply connected to her character Margaret, feeling an intimate bond akin to having the role seep into her very being.

In truth, when I’m being open, there are more similarities between me and Margaret than differences. To put it simply, I can be quite a controlled person, dealing with numerous controlling tendencies and issues which I’m fully conscious of, whereas perhaps Margaret isn’t as self-aware in this regard. This actor confessed that they deeply understood the concept of striving to keep everything under control so it doesn’t fall apart. They admitted that they identified strongly with this aspect of her character because it resonates with who they fundamentally are.

Hold Your Breath lands on Hulu on October 3rd.

Are you planning to watch the latest film? Connect with Patrick Cavanaugh via Twitter or Instagram for a chat about Star Wars and horror topics!

2024-09-27 21:09

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