As a horror film actor, it can be very difficult to place yourself into certain situations. For example, do you think it was easy for the lead character in “House of 1000 Corpses” to create a realistic performance when being chased by a psychotic family? Horror acting is one of my favorites as you are truly able to delve into emotions and actions that you will hopefully never have to experience in real life. How many times are we faced with the truth of our mortality due to the crazed, blood hungry, hands of a serial killer? How often are we chased by monsters from the great deep? For most, the answer is never.
What makes acting in a horror film so exciting is also what makes it difficult. I’ve been asked by many actors, “How can you create a believable performance if the situation is so detached from real life?”
Although there are many different acting techniques to try and bring yourself into the situation, I’ve found the best way to transport yourself from the safety of a film set to the danger found in the script is to close your eyes and meditate on what is about to happen to you.
After you’ve memorized your lines, rehearsed the scene and are waiting for the crew to ready the scene, find a quiet corner of the set and close your eyes. Take several deep breaths. With each breath imagine the reality of your world melting away, and your very person being transported to this world where you are encountering a horrific experience. Will you be working alongside a monster from storybooks? Or are you going to have a face-to-face encounter with a serial killer?
While breathing deeply, run over the scene in your head. Imagine the atmosphere of the room. What is the temperature? What does the air smell like? Are you battered and bruised? What muscles are sore? Is your throat dry from running and breathing heavily? What are you about to see in the scene? Think about your character. Empathize with your character. Mediate on the words and actions that are about to take place. Transport yourself into this world, and don’t retreat from this world until the scene has been filmed.
Some of the greatest actors use this method to fully transport themselves. Once you’ve entered, instruct others to not bother you. I find it helpful if the crew and fellow cast members refer to me as the actual character. This helps thicken the realism of an often unrealistic situation.