Bloodline Killer is the new horror thriller starring Drew Moerlein, Taryn Manning, Shawnee Smith and James Gaudioso.
It tells the story of Moira Cole’s life which was shattered by the slaying of her loved ones by her unhinged and fixated cousin, Lee Morris. She now lives a simple and quiet suburban life with her two grown sons who were also scarred by the tragedy. They are brutally reminded of the murders every October by the successful horror film series based on them.
In the movie Drew Moerlein plays Michael Cole and he stopped by to chat with me about the film.
Hi Drew, thanks for taking the time to chat with me.
Today we’re discussing your new horror thriller Bloodline Killer where you play Michael Cole. What appealed about the script?
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. I appreciate it. Now, on to the meat and potatoes:
Like me, horror fans everywhere are craving a new masked killer to fill the shoes of horror franchises of the past. The first time I read Bloodline Killer I thought, ‘this has it all: the satisfaction of a classic slasher combined with three-dimensional, deeply flawed human beings and relationships.’ This combo allows the viewer to invest in the world of the film/franchise while getting their horror kicks. And the character-driven nature of the script is an actor’s dream.
I also jumped at the opportunity to work with Shawnee Smith. The Saw franchise is a staple of the horror community and I have indelible memories of seeing Shawnee on the big screen over the last two decades bringing the role of ‘Amanda’ to life.
Michael and his brother Connor have a complicated relationship; can you talk about that and did you spend any time with James Gaudioso or fellow cast members to try and create a family rapport?
Michael and Connor do indeed have a complicated relationship. I feel they both suffer from a similar affliction: an inability to get unstuck and move on from their current state of existence. Although it manifests in different ways for each of them.
James Gaudioso (‘Connor’) and I met up on many occasions over the summer leading up to start of principle photography. He flew into New York for pre-production, so we would rent a studio in NYC and rehearse until we were blue in the face. I must say, watching our scenes (especially the basement scene) back in the final cut, it was wonderful to see the foundation we laid in rehearsals deepen the history between us.
And Shawnee Smith (‘Moira’) embodied her role as Michael and Connor’s mother with ease and confidence. Our family dynamic was genuine, comfortable and seamless throughout the shoot.
The film is all about trauma; did you do any research into the subject to prepare?
I listened to and watched an exorbitant amount of true crime survivor stories to understand what the journey is on the other side of such violence, trauma and loss of loved ones. From my understanding, for those who have experienced trauma, it’s a journey of ‘how do I learn to live with / hold this grief in my life’ versus ‘how do I forget / get over this grief.’ This seemingly subtle distinction was incredibly informative for my evolution as ‘Michael Cole’ throughout the film.
How did you find working with director Ante Novakovic?
Ante is a director who does his homework. He has a vision, hires the cast he knows are capable of executing that vision and then trusting them to do their jobs. His instincts are strong and sharp, but he is always open to following down any impulse the cast or other creatives have. I am grateful for that as an actor: A strong vision, but the flexibility to find the gold when it happens organically in the moment on set. 5 stars – Would ride in the Ante Uber again for sure.
What do you look for in a script to be interested?
It varies significantly based on the style / genre of the script, but some criteria I often use are: the script has a message that effects change and makes you think critically, it has complex and flawed characters, it’s unexpected and original, or there’s something incredibly fun/scary/exciting I get to film. And above all, the team – I’m at a place in my life where I enjoy surrounding myself with / embarking on journeys with good people who want to have fun and create a story worth telling.
What was the most emotionally challenging scene for your character, and how did you approach it?
There’s a particularly difficult loss in the film that I had to experience as ‘Michael.’ And as difficult as it is, as an actor, I am tasked with imagining myself in those set of circumstances. I can of course, replace or substitute that circumstance with another experience that evokes a similar response for me, but often imagining the scripted incident happening to me and my loves ones is the most honest and profound performance. That is what I did in this scene. It was a challenge, but I’m happy I explored it.
Were there any improvisational moments during filming or rehearsals that helped shape or define your character?
Shawnee and I ended up workshopping a couple of our scenes with the blessing of the Gaudioso twins (writers). She and I had built such a strong on-screen mother-son bond that, using the brilliant structure of the scene in place, we were able to play with spontaneity and impulses when director, Ante Novakovich called ‘Action.’
Additionally, the Halloween skating rink scene was almost entirely improvised. We knew the goals, objectives and framework we had to work within, so experiencing the joy of being with family and the huge Halloween-costumed crowd was an absolute blast.
What have you taken away from working on this film?
It has reinforced my love for the horror genre. And has also affirmed my conviction that films in this genre can lead with heart and humanity. They can be relationship and character-driven while still delivering the jump scares, gore and suspense.
I’ve also experienced first-hand that with the right team, cast and passion, an indie horror film can find it’s place in the global film market.
How would you like the film to resonate with audiences?
Cinema is often a form of escapism, so first off, I hope audiences are transported into the world of Bloodline Killer and crave to know what happens next…
And I hope audiences can relate to the ‘Coles.’ They are everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, trying to survive another day. I hope that captures the hearts of horror fans and beyond and we can share this story for years to come.