Scary projects can seem very emotionally draining on the outside. From the spooky, ghostly moments to the psychological torment and the constant suspense, audiences can only imagine that actors are stuck in those dark feelings during the shoot.
However, Patrick Wilson says that’s not the case at all.
Why Patrick Wilson Refuses To Stay In Character On Horror Sets
In the process of marketing the new thriller ‘Cape Fear’ for Apple TV+ to audiences, Wilson has said one of the best things he’s learned over the years in horror is when to turn off. It’s a straightforward concept, yet one that has enabled him to handle some of the most extreme productions in the genre, like ‘Insidious’ and ‘The Conjuring’ franchise.
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In ‘Cape Fear’, Wilson stars as Tom Bowden, a lawyer whose life goes off the rails when a deadly former convict threatens his family. The series is full of tension, paranoia, and emotional stress, and it is one of the more disturbing TV releases of the year.
However, Wilson says, the cast had plenty of fun behind the scenes and kept things light. “We screw around a lot … I think that ends up just being the balance. Maybe that’s just how we’re used to working, but we had a lot of fun for sure,” he shared.
The actors took to humor to recharge between takes, rather than being stuck in the show’s dark atmosphere. It was a mixture of banter, laughter, and just chatting about anything, all of which helped to ease the emotional load of the content.
Patrick Wilson Thinks Stepping Away Makes Horror Better
Wilson feels that it is better not to be in character all the time during a horror show. Allowing themselves to unwind helps actors to fully engage when the cameras begin rolling again. This lesson has stuck with him all his life.
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Wilson has been a cast member in some of the most successful horror movie franchises of modern times. He has also been studying the mechanics of fear on screen for years. He doesn’t want to live in that darkness all day long; he wants a healthy balance.
The strategy also reveals a little-known secret of the horror film industry. The viewers are getting to see the monsters, haunted houses, and heart-wrenching moments, and the people making them are still working together to make the best of it.
The jokes and funny moments between the takes can be as significant as the screams on camera. For Patrick Wilson, it’s not simply a survival strategy; it’s one of the things that makes horror work so well.
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