Adapted from a short film by the same name, The Cleansing Hour is a new Shudder original that will make audiences think twice about their social media use. Directed by Damien LeVeck, the film follows Max (Ryan Guzman) and Drew (Kyle Gallner), childhood friends who developed a successful web show featuring staged exorcisms; however, things take a terrifying turn during a livestream, and the crew must contend with a real possession being broadcast to millions of viewers.
Guzman talks with CBR, breaking down his complicated character and what it was like facing off with a demon. He also explains his attraction to the role, even though he's not the biggest fan of horror movies.
CRB: I heard you're not the biggest fan of horror movies. Is that true?
Ryan Guzman: One thousand percent true. I do not understand why people like to get scared. I never understood it. That being said, I will continue to make movies that scare people if they like it that much.
If that's the case, what was it that attracted you to The Cleansing Hour because it's some pretty scary stuff?
More so, the character, Father Max. He is an audacious, egotistical, narcissistic person who was going through all these different things. There were so many unanswered questions when I first read the script. I wanted to work with Damien and dive deeper into who this man is and what he's really lacking and why he's going after all these different things to fulfill him when nothing is really going to fulfill him. That was the enticing part. It was more so the humanity aspect of it.
The demon and all the craziness, the effects and everything, that's just like playing in a playground. That was the fun part. So, I loved showing up to work, and I loved working with everybody. That was the part I didn't really wrap my head around, but I was so appreciative of it happening before my eyes.
Let's talk about your character Father Max. If you had to describe him with just three words, what would they be?
Very, very lonely. Really, because he searches for people to like him and people to validate him, and he's got to be this big thing. In the confession he does, he even says it himself, that he's trying to be something for other people so he can get some money or some credit out of it.
What did preparing for the role look like? Did you watch any films or do any research beforehand, given the exorcism theme?
Not so much on the topic of exorcism. I think Damien and I were in agreeance that we did not want to create something that's already happened in other films. In doing exorcism films, damn near everything has happened. Now, it's kind of just reiterations of what an exorcism is.
It was more like how do we make these characters pop? How do we make Alix this demon that everybody kind of roots for a little bit, whether they like to acknowledge it or not, because it's a fun character to watch. And with Kyle's character, he's my favorite part of the movie, to be honest. He's an incredible actor, but he brings this levity, this humanity to the character, and he's the best friend we all want.
So, it was those aspects that made the actual movie and set the whole foundation. That way, we can add the demon, we can add the effects, and we can add all this suspense and really amplify it.
Would you talk a little about what it was like working with Alix Angelis, who plays Lane, considering she is your main enemy in the film?
She is an angel in real life, so the fact that she plays the demon is insane to me. When I first met her, I was like, "How is this girl going to play it. She is so freaking nice." She is so quiet, and she doesn't speak over anybody. She is a beautiful person in general, but when she turned it on, it was a complete 180.
I remember doing rehearsals with her, and she tried this voice out. I looked at her and was like, "Who the hell is this girl? This girl is incredible. I don't know why she's not signed. I don't know why she's not doing more movies. This girl's awesome." Yeah, so it was an incredible experience to watch her do her performance in front of me.
The practical effects were great. Was there one that you really enjoyed working with as an actor?
Again, Damien and I were in agreement that practical effects in these kinds of films read better than CGI because CGI can pull you out. We all grow up on practical effects, and that was the best part as a kid. Whether it was Alix's transformation with her own face that I saw unfold in front of me or the actual lighting of the computers or the popping of the lights when they come down and surround me, all of it was overwhelmingly extreme. It doesn't take much to live in those kinds of worlds because it's happening around you whether you like it or not.
Without spoiling too much, is there a scene you are most excited for the audience to see?
As far as an actor goes, there's a confession of Father Max's that I was very proud of because it was a 10 page, 11 page scene that I had to memorize by myself. There were a lot of cut points in it, but it was one long scene, and there were so many little layers to it. The way they cut it up, it's really a kind of an eerie scene. Other than that, I don't know. It's all very fun to watch. I like that it's a fun movie.
Yeah, one of my favorite parts of the film were the comical moments in such an intense storyline.
Yeah, the balance is everything. So, too much intensity can overwhelm the whole audience. At the end of the day, Father Max is kind of a fucking idiot [laughs]. You know, he's talking about all these stupid little things like hiring some lady. The things he says are ridiculous, and the reaction of Kyle's character kind of embodies the whole audience being like, "Oh, god, you're an idiot."
Is there a message you hope audiences take away from the film?
Yeah, one thousand percent. We rely too much on social sites to validate us. I think that's the end all be all message of the whole movie. This thing that's supposed to connect us all and make us feel better about each other and help each other out — we are not using it in that way. We are using it to escape the way we use movies, and we don't distinguish the line between those two. So, I feel like these social sites can be very harmful if not used as the tools they are.
I really like the symbolism of the verification mark. Were you happy with how the film tied things up?
I thought that was a beautiful cap to the movie. I thought it needed to happen because, after all these things that happened in the movie, it was what mattered most to Father Max, and that explains exactly why I answered the way I did in the previous questions.
The Boy Next Door was kind of a creepy movie, but now that you've done a horror film, would you consider doing another movie in the genre?
Yeah, I would like to do it in different ways each time. I do think that this genre, whether it's thriller or horror, they offer something that other movies can't. Now that I've touched base with the audience, like yourself, that likes these types of films, I really want to become more of a part of these films.
The people that like these films are incredible. I love hearing feedback from them. They are very appreciative of everything. Granted, if you do something wrong, like if you do a Freddy or Jason type thing, then they'll let you know. But when you hit right, which I think The Cleansing Hour hit just right, it's an awesome feeling to actually connect with that audience.
So, have you been converted then? Will you be watching more scary movies going forward?
I'm going to let my kids dictate that. If they want to watch scary movies, then I guess we're watching scary movies [laughs].
Directed by Damien LeVeck, The Cleansing Hour stars Ryan Guzman, Kyle Gallner and Alix Angelis. The film is now streaming on Shudder and will be available on VOD, Digital HD and DVD Jan. 19.