Sinister 2 star Shannyn Sossamon on why horror movies are emotionally draining, trusting her director and more.
Den of Geek: Youve done a few horror films.
They come to me.
I dont like them.
The music is amazing.
The pictures are amazing, and the acting.
Then Ill sit through one.
But Im not a passionate horror film fan.
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Have you watched this?
Do you intend to watch this?
I think so, yeah.
I think Ciaran wants James and me to really watch it.
I think hes very proud of it.
So what grabbed you about it?
What sold me on this one was the director and just meeting Ciaran.
Courtneys storyline was very grounded in something that I could maybe work with.
That was a nice start.
But the meeting with Ciaran was what made me feel excited.
Because when you trust, as an actor, you’re free to go anywhere.
And I trusted him.
Are there different levels of trust between an actor and a director?
Im doing my work and youre doing your work, but we dont have that kind of connection?
It almost feels like that more on TV.
That I find more with television.
Its like everyone is just doing their work, exactly like you just said.
And with movies, I dont know.
Its just got an intimate, magical feeling to it that I really love.
Some of the most intense stuff in this film were the scenes with the ex-husband.
Were those scenes very difficult to do?
Yeah, I think so.
Did it take you a while to establish a rapport with the boys?
It happened pretty quickly.
I got along with them great.
Theyre fun and they were just having a great time.
It wasnt an intense atmosphere on set at all.
It was a lot of laughing.
Is there anything different about working with twins, or in this case two triplets?
Do you sense any sort of unspoken bond between them?
Nothing thats interesting to say here.
They just felt like really close brothers.
There were, though, two other twins, these girls that were the stand-ins for them.
They cut their hair really short and they were just a little bit taller.
But they could work all hours, so they were there a lot.
They were an interesting set of twins.
They seemed like they almost could have been Siamese twins, but they werent.
Thats how connected they were.
So maybe when the boys get older theyll have that.
They also look different.
Maybe that has something to do with it.
These girls were really identical twins.
This was shot in Illinois.
Did you enjoy working out there?
Yeah, I really, really did.
I cant wait to go back.
I like the feeling.
Do you ever think, C. Robert Cargill is a really nice guy.
It doesnt freak me out that they come up with this stuff.
The things that have come out in my personal therapy sessions are…we all have it.
So I think its better that it gets out in a healthy way.
I dont…No.
It makes me uncomfortable.
I think video games are becoming a bit much and stuff.
Are our movies totally safe?
Its healthy for the maker, like, Great!
Got that all out into a piece of art.
But you get the wrong souls watching.
I read that you make your own short films.
Are you still doing it?
I havent made a short in a few years and I really, really miss it.
I hope to in the next few years for sure.
I think Im going to be more comfortable with that hat on.
Is directing a feature film something you might want to do?
I would love to do that, yeah.
[laughs] I would have so much fun doing that.
Have you written any scripts?
Its calledHow to Be a Lady.
Im now working on a feature that I know for sure is a feature calledThe Magic If.
But yeah, its definitely part of the plan.
How has the experience of working onSleepy Hollowbeen so far?
Everyone is really nice.
Im excited about the character.
Can you tell me a little bit about the character?
Im not allowed to say much, but it is not a worried mother.
[laughs] Its more mystical and playful.
We talked a little bit about the differences between film and television.
What about some of the other pros and cons of going back and forth?
What do you like about TV as opposed to film or vice versa?
I love film the most.
Its like summer camp you just disappear and you get to have fun and play pretend.
Its like the circus.
You all make something special together and thats the goal.
It just feels more magical.
I really love it.
It is true, though, that the writing is now becoming really, really great in television.
So thats always wonderful.
And you are always going to want meat to work with.
And it is nice sometimes how TV does move quickly.
Sometimes you are in the mood for that.
You are in the mood for like, Ah, great.
You know, youre working in and out, in and out.
That can feel nice.
You started as a dancer.
Did you ever want to do a full-blown musical one day?
I would love that, yes.
Yes, for sure.
So yeah, yeah.
Sinister 2is out in theaters now.