The sequel to the first SILENT HILL film, SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D, hits theaters worldwide on Halloween (October 31st).
I had the chance to meet up with the stars of the film, Adelaide Clemens and Kit Harrington, in New York City this past weekend and you can check out what they had to say about horror movies, Malcolm McDowell, GAME OF THRONES and THE GREAT GATSBY below.
How did the filmmakers pitch the story to you?
KH: I met Michael (Bassett) years ago now when we first started it, and he was – he kind of pitched it. At first I thought he was very enthusiastic about it, about the whole project, and had to explain it to me quite a lot because it’s a quite complex story. But once you saw the kind of enthusiasm he had for it, he sort of sold it by himself.
AC: Yea, myself, I was approached initially by Sammy – Sammy Hadida the producer. He, yea he just hunted me down at the Sundance Film Festival! He literally hunted me down, and followed me through various interviews with my mom. It’s very bizarre, but then you know at the festival he said “I WANT YOU TO BE IN MY FILM” and he’s showing me a picture of Heather. I said “yea okay, we’re blonde; I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I was very familiar with the games you know, I have two younger brothers. So you know, SILENT HILL games were always on my living room floor. I had an idea, but I thought it was too pie in the sky. Then, the script itself and the project itself… I got sent the script and read it from page one. I thought it was really intriguing and had a lot of substance, especially for a video game.
Do both of you have a desire to do more action-heavy films or do you want to do other types of projects now?
AC: You know a lot of people ask me personally this question, and I find I never choose a film by the genre. If I relate to a character, that’s the thing that makes me want it, and usually makes those decisions for me. I have a huge respect for the horror genre and I love the physical challenge of being a protagonist or antagonist in a horror film and action films. I think an action film would be really fun.
KH: I kind of, when the script comes through the door, I don’t look at the genre of it whether it’s an action film or not. I love the physical aspect of doing action sequences. I love fight scenes, or anything like that really appeals to me. So you know, big explosions and fighting with monsters kind of comes from a basic boyish kind of wonder. I like wielding a sword or tackling a monster – it’s quite fun.
What was it like working with heavy hitters like Carrie-Anne Moss, Sean Bean and Malcolm McDowell?
KH: Yea I was about to say Carrie Anne-Moss, Malcolm MacDowell, Sean Bean – It’s sort of like you bump into a new actor or actress you’ve wanted to work with for a long time so it’s kind of crazy. Yea and Malcolm McDowell especially, I think, for me… I didn’t get to work with him unfortunately, but – I hope I’m not giving anything away. But Malcolm McDowell, we went to dinner with him and I’m like, THE BIGGEST fan of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and IF. Those are my two – if you’ve ever seen a film called IF, I love it. So I was probably more starstruck with Malcolm McDowell than I have been with anybody. He’s got “crazy eyes”.
AC: He’s such a – I mean A CLOCKWORK ORANGE – I still have the poster in my room! It was really amazing that we had, but not surprising, these amazing actors come to the floor. I was in many of the scenes. It was wonderful having all these experiences with all these different actors and I can’t say anything more than I was just completely inspired and so privileged to be there.
Adelaide I know you have THE GREAT GATSBY coming up and Kit you have GAME OF THRONES coming back, so what was the GATSBY experience like and what is in store for Jon Snow?
AC: Oh god, GATSBY was just completely, completely outrageous. Working with Baz Luhrmann was literally my all-time, clear dream come true. ROMEO AND JULIET, that first film is the epitome of the perfect film to me. So, it was just amazing and I was so privileged and couldn’t believe I was really there. I played an extraordinary character called Katherine who is the sister of Myrtle in the book, who is played by Isla Fisher. I was only in one scene with Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher and Kate Mulvany. Yea it was just, outrageous. The license to be “very cheeky”. (laughs)
KH: Yea I’m filming THRONES at the moment, so we’re doing the third season. It’s got a bigger budget this year. Someone on the set said the first season was a kind of high impact season, the second season was more kind of storytelling, and the third season will be another impact season. They’re really throwing caution to the wind with this season. I think it’s going to be something special. I genuinely do. I’m enjoying it a huge amount. My part of the story is a bit more eventful than it was last year.
A lot of fans I’ve spoken with are really interested in the arc of Jon Snow.
I love the character so much, and I love his part of the story so much, that it’s a big kind of pressure to try and do it justice. The writers have written such good stuff in this season, that I think it will continue – I hope it will continue to be as intriguing. There is pressure though because we’re on such a good thing with this show, and it’s been so carefully written and so carefully cradled that we don’t want it to lose it’s impact. I think – I’m not going to give anything away, but it’s definitely my favorite season, this season. I think it’s very important for a third season – it’s a very important season to try and nail it.
