Popeye the Slayer Man captured the eye of horror followers world wide after its trailer went viral late final yr, and now the movie is about to “sail into theaters and VOD” by way of Vantage Media on March twenty first. We caught up with Sarah Nicklin, who informed us all about her expertise making Popeye the Slayer Man, her love of starring in horror motion pictures, and what she has developing subsequent:
How did you get entangled in Popeye the Slayer Man and why was this a mission you needed to be part of?
Sarah Nicklin: This was a fortunate case the place it was provided to me. I’ve been buddies with the producers and director for 15 years now in some circumstances and we at all times needed to work collectively, but it surely simply hadn’t labored out but.
I used to be text-chatting with Cuyle and he talked about that they have been going to be doing one other movie in upstate New York. Coincidentally, I used to be additionally already going to be doing a special movie in New England across the identical time, so Cuyle floated the thought to Jeff and Robert about casting me in one of many obtainable roles. Everybody was on board with casting me, they despatched over the script, which I assumed was actually enjoyable, it was a special character sort than I normally get to play which was interesting, the schedules for each movies labored out, and that was it.
This follows the current, profitable development of placing a horror spin on standard public area characters. Has it been thrilling to see the excitement the movie has generated for the reason that trailer’s launch?
Sarah Nicklin: Completely, it is nuts! It’s getting extra consideration than anybody anticipated I feel, me for positive. I’ve been working in horror for a very long time and I’ve had a few movies which have gotten a superb quantity of press consideration, however I feel that is the primary horror movie that I’ve been a part of that has damaged by way of to the mainstream media.
One factor I’ve discovered over time is that it’s actually laborious to foretell how effectively a film goes to do earlier than signing onto it. Nice scripts can crumble through the filming course of and issues that did not appear to be a lot on paper will be given an entire completely different life simply in the way it’s directed. There are some initiatives and even auditions that I turned down and really a lot regretted later. For this one, I truthfully wasn’t even enthusiastic about how it will be obtained or even when it will be any good – I simply needed to work with my buddies.
However folks appear to be actually into it simply from the trailer. I feel this was a superb mixture of timing, having a superb publicist, and a brilliant catchy title – even CBS Good Morning stated they assume that the title goes to stay round for some time.
[Sarah Nicklin in Popeye the Slayer Man]
I perceive this movie is heavy on sensible results, together with the film’s gore scenes. Are you able to speak about your expertise on set?
Sarah Nicklin: Blood, blood, and extra blood! I actually am nonetheless discovering blood on the sneakers that I wore on this one haha.
All of my scenes have been shot at evening in a working animal feed manufacturing unit, which was a very cool, genuinely scary location. There’s a number of genuine grit, grime, and mud simply because of the location. I don’t need to give away any of the kills, however I’ll say that – sure the results are sensible, Popeye is a beast and kills characters in artistic methods usually with the power of his naked fingers and large forearms, and there was additionally a blood and guts cannon concerned throughout my shoot – it’s every thing you need in a gory slasher film.
You additionally star within the upcoming horror movie, Backyard of Eden, which appears to be a really completely different sort of horror movie than Popeye the Slayer Man. What are you able to inform us about your function within the movie?
Sarah Nicklin: It’s each completely different and related in that Backyard of Eden can also be very gory and in addition makes use of sensible results. However Backyard of Eden is extra of a superbly twisted morality story whereas Popeye is a straight slasher.
The tones of the movies are very completely different – Popeye is aware of precisely what it’s; very tongue and cheek, not taking itself too significantly, supplying you with precisely what you’ll need and count on in a enjoyable good-time slasher. Backyard of Eden may be very critical, very darkish, there isn’t any levity within the movie. It is like the author and director try to see simply how far they’ll push the viewers’s consolation ranges to see if they will maintain watching. It is not torture porn, however there’s some very graphic gore, uncomfortable nudity, and disturbing themes.
However I play very completely different characters in every. In Popeye I am a drug addict caught up within the mistaken place on the mistaken time, and in Backyard of Eden I am a grieving mom who units out to get revenge for the dying of my daughter.
Backyard of Eden was a really emotional function and I spent a number of time exploring completely different elements of grief, anger, blame, and guilt as a way to create what’s hopefully a posh multi-layered efficiency that can resonate with the viewers. The suggestions from the trade screening was very constructive and I am actually pleased with my work on that one. I hope that after it is launched that it’ll resonate with audiences in the identical approach.
With over 100 appearing, producing, and stunt credit, together with many horror movies, what do you take pleasure in most about working within the horror style?
Sarah Nicklin: I actually love the onset expertise. I really feel like horror movies are essentially the most enjoyable movies to make. I’ve labored on a number of non-horror initiatives too, which I additionally actually take pleasure in, however they usually do not have the sense of camaraderie that comes with a horror movie.
Horror folks simply have a sure humorousness and understanding and appreciation for the style, which makes these units actually enjoyable. It is generally laborious once I’m on a non-horror set and am attempting to narrate to folks and make a reference to a horror film and nobody has no thought what I am speaking about. There’s only a frequent floor that you just already know you are on with horror folks.
There’s additionally usually a way of “ridiculousness”, particularly when filming the blood and gore – how a lot blood are you able to hit an actor within the face with or how gross are you able to make the prosthetic look. The “worse” it’s, the higher, and the extra enjoyable it’s on set to make it. Comedy units save all of the jokes and good instances for when the cameras are rolling, however with horror movies it is the alternative – all of the jokes and good instances occur off digicam, I feel to counterbalance the horrible issues which can be occurring on display.
[Sarah Nicklin in Garden of Eden]
What are a few of your favourite horror movies and actors that impressed you to turn out to be an actor?
Sarah Nicklin: I truly wasn’t impressed by horror movies to start out appearing as a result of I wasn’t actually allowed to look at them as a child. The primary horror movies I noticed have been Halloween and The Exorcist, again to again at a buddy’s sleepover social gathering as a result of she had a cool older brother who was capable of hire them for us. They completely terrified me on the time and uncovered me to so many issues I used to be fully unaware of – particularly The Exorcist and watching her with the cross as a younger woman.
However my affinity for horror did not actually begin till later, after I had began appearing, as soon as I used to be out by myself and was capable of watch no matter I needed. I did not got down to particularly work in horror, but it surely’s a really loyal style, and when you begin working in it, every thing simply kinda snowballs. So many horror folks know one another, know one another’s work and so forth., so when you begin to get acknowledged within the style, different style people need to rent and work with you, after which it simply takes off from there.
I began appearing as a result of I used to be completely obsessive about Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a pre-teen and was satisfied that if I might simply turn out to be a well-known actor that we’d meet and be married. So I began doing college performs as quickly as I might, though I used to be terribly shy and actually did not prefer it at first. However the extra I did it, the extra I favored it, and finally my love for JTT was changed with a love for the craft of appearing.
Are there every other upcoming initiatives you’d wish to share with our readers?
Sarah Nicklin: I am additionally in one other movie that is set to return out within the first quarter of the yr too referred to as The Lengthy Sport. It is not a horror movie, extra of a neo-noir thriller, and it stars Kathleen Turner and Jackie Earl Haley. I solely have a small function on this one, but it surely’s a very good movie directed by Jace Anderson and is her directorial debut, so I actually hope that folks exit and see it because it’s supposedly getting a restricted theatrical launch.
I am additionally a part of an all-female ghost searching present referred to as Ghost Women, which has allowed me to have some enjoyable with my interest of ghost searching, and new episodes of which can be coming to Tubi quickly.
And If It Bleeds is a cool horror anthology the place I obtained to play extra of a comedic function as Doug Jones’ completely obnoxious receptionist, which is at present in put up and can hopefully be launched later this yr.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. The place can our readers discover you on-line?
Sarah Nicklin: Thanks a lot for the interview! Finest place to seek out me is on Instagram @sarahnicklin
—
To be taught extra concerning the movie, try the primary 5 minutes and trailer beneath, and go to VMI Worldwide.
