Film Name: Bannister Doll Heist
Director: MJ Dixon
Writers: MJ Dixon
Starring: Angelique Taylor, Philip Andrew Rogers, Petrina Richardson, Jack Granville, Christopher Morley, William Marshall, Tiana Rogers
The Bannister Doll has spent years locked away in an old evidence locker, tonight 4 thieves are about to find they just stole the wrong package.
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds I got a chance to ask actor Christopher Morley a few questions about the film ‘Bannister Doll Heist ‘ which will have its World Premiere at Horror-on-Sea on Saturday 24th January at 15:00hrs.
Q. You play Kenneth Bannister in the upcoming horror ‘Bannister Doll Heist’ which has been selected to play at Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. What can we expect from the film?
A. Ooh, where to start! You can expect thrills, spills, chills, blood, guts and gore galore. You can also expect a cast of colourful characters and a solid storyline, all culminating in a shocking finale that will leave you desperate for the next chapter!
Q. How did you get involved in the film and what first attracted you to the character of Kenneth Bannister?
A. I saw a casting call, got in touch with MJ the producer and sent him my headshots and showreel. He came back to me fairly quickly to say that I’d be good for the role. He let me know the shoot dates and, at first, I actually had to turn down the role as the dates clashed with a trip abroad.
As luck would have it though, there were other last minute changes to the schedule that meant that I could make it… just… As I recall, we wrapped at 4am on the last day, after which I jumped straight in my car, drove four hours home from location to where I live in South Wales, picked my family up and drove straight to the airport! It was close, but definitely worth it to be part of the Mycho Universe!
Q. What sort of preparation did you to do for the role?
A. Whenever I get a script for a new project, the first thing I do is read it through a few times without any preconceptions (as far as possible) and without focussing on my own character. That gets me familiar with the storyline, characters and themes. Then I learn the lines, and then I start working on the character – for me, that’s the fun bit, getting to build and know your character, working out their super-objective, objectives and intentions and then playing around with movement and delivery. Of course, a lot of it changes when you get on location and start adapting to the set, your scene partners and adjustments from the director. That’s all part of the process though, and I find that it brings a sense of spontaneity and helps everything look so much more natural… hopefully!
Q. Are there any elements of the character which you feel reflect some of your own personality?
A. I definitely identify with Kenny’s determination (stubbornness) when his back’s against the wall. I also identify with him as a father; I found it very easy to empathise with his situation, imagining what it would be like to not just lose your family so horrifically, and then to be blamed and wrongly imprisoned for it. I mean, you’ll see a much tougher, less naïve and less predictable Kenny on your screen this time around, hellbent on revenge and driven by a powerful cocktail of grief, loss, despair, rage and just a scintilla of hope.
Q. Did you make any changes to the character from how it was originally written?
A. I definitely made the character my own. I mean, when I first got the part, I watched and re-watched the original film, in which Kenny B was played by a different actor, to see if I could not replicate but maintain some sense of continuity. But I struggled because our acting styles and appearance are really quite different, so my performance would have lacked authenticity and looked awkward. As I said, the character as written made a lot of sense to me, so I didn’t make any conscious changes to it, but I suspect my performance probably drew out some of his subtler traits and probably also brought a few (hopefully pleasant) surprises for the director!
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. There was a late-night fight scene that you may well remember, Phil! I think we’d reached the final scene of the night and dawn was fast approaching. We were tired and we were against the clock, but charged with that slightly disoriented nervous energy that comes with a night shoot, we managed to choreograph it, practice it, shoot it and (perhaps our greatest triumph) not injure ourselves in the process. Another moment I enjoyed… kind of… was Kenny’s showdown with the doll, which got very, very messy, and took a full team effort to get right. I reckon we smashed it and can’t wait to see the end result!
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. These days – as the rest of the cast and crew might remember – all I really need is coffee, and I’m good to go. We almost ran out of milk on set at one point, but we never ran out of coffee, so no, no issues.
Q. What makes Bannister Doll Heist stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. For me it’s the quality of the puppetry and special effects. I didn’t know what to expect from either, but MJ really knocked it out of the park with the former, and Alex, Moray and others poured the right amount of blood, sweat and tears into the prosthetics, ensuring that the whole package looks terrifyingly realistic!
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. Any left-over popcorn buckets, drinks containers and soiled underwear please… Oh, and the sense that they’ve just witnessed something really special – a true diamond in the blood-soaked Mycho crown.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Yeah, it’s been an unexpectedly busy start to 2026 acting-wise. I have a feature and three short films lined up, I’m pencilled in for a commercial and I’ve recently auditioned for another very exciting project, which I’m fingers firmly crossed for as it would be a dream come true. Of course, I’d drop it all to resurrect Kenny B!
Q. If someone was looking to get into acting what advice would you give them?
A. My advice would be to start by reading about what acting actually involves, as it’s an industry steeped in misconception. If that hasn’t put you off, then I’d suggest practicing; memorise a script/monologue or two, film yourself performing it and watch it back with a critical eye. If watching your own face doesn’t put you off, then join some casting call groups on social media, and start applying for volunteer roles in student films and passion projects. In my opinion, that’s where you’ll really start to learn the practicalities and craft of acting. Perhaps supplement it with some courses (there are plenty of credible options online these days), build up your contacts list, and see where the exciting, challenging and wonderfully rewarding industry takes you. Top tip: make it your own…
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
