I Scream on the Beach! (2019)

Directors: Alexander Churchyard, Michael Holiday

Writers: Alexander Churchyard, Michael Holiday,

Stars: Lloyd Kaufman, Reis Daniel, Dani Thompson, Martin W. Payne, Leigh Trifari, Ross Howard, Hannah Patterson

In the small seaside town of Mellow Coast, Emily (Hannah Paterson) is trying to discover what has happened to her father, but as she searches for answers her friends start getting picked off one-by-one by an unknown killer.

I Scream on the Beach is a new 80’s style slasher horror from co-writer/directors Alexander Churchyard and Michael Holiday. During filming I got a chance to speak with some of the cast on set and in my new interview I got an opportunity to ask British Scream Queen Dani Thompson a few questions about the film.

Q. How did you first get into acting originally

I came from modelling and I did a couple of tiny roles in films that people asked me to do and I just loved being on set. I then went to drama school to do a week crash course and ended up auditioning for full time and did a year. The horror thing I never set out to do just horror, but I love its my favourite thing anyway. I met a few people done a few films and a lot of it has been word of mouth. I wouldn’t really want to change it now; I love doing horror. I wouldn’t mind doing the odd something else but its mainly horror.

Q. I guess you are suited to the genre and are drawn to it?

I hardly ever watch any other films that’s not horror. If I watch a film I am like, does anyone die? If they don’t probably not for me. There are a couple of chick flicks I can cope with, but I can’t think of anything worse. If someone made me watch Bridget Jones that would literally be the worst thing that could happen to me, I don’t think I could sit through something like that.

Q. We are here for I Scream on the Beach, what can we expect from the film?

You are going to get lots of gore because obviously it’s a horror and its set in Southend-on-Sea, so you have the seaside setting, so I think it’s really cool that they set it there.  I don’t really want to give too much away, but it’s a really good horror film and it’s got an 80’s style. It’s a lot of fun making a horror movie which is like the ones from the 80’s and get dressed.

Q. Can you tell me a little bit about your character?

Originally, I was only meant to do a cameo. I filmed a tiny cameo which was a film within a film before they got the budget to make the whole film about two years ago. They then asked me to come back to play one of the main characters. She basically wants to be an actress. She’s got money, her daddy’s rich, he owns the pub where a lot of this set, and she is a bit of a pre-Madonna. She has gone off to LA, made a movie and it’s really bad. But she doesn’t want anyone to know that and pretending that she is a bit of a big shot. She is a bit of a brat, really spoilt and really fun to play.

Q. Are there any elements of the character which you feel reflect some of your own personality?

What a brat? (Laughs)

Q. Not so much the brat but are there any other elements of your character that are similar to yourself or is she very different to you.

Not really no, I thinks she is very different to me, I am a bit more laid back and down to earth. She’s not very nice, but you kind of feel a bit sorry for her. She is a bit clueless and a bit delusional really. I think everyone else knows that, but she is not really willing to believe it. I do feel a bit sorry for her.

Q. What were some of your favourite moments filming so far?

We have had some cool scenes, and everyone is really good to work with. My character is a little bit bitchy which is fun to play, but all of it is good and everyone has been fun to work with.

Q. With the look itself being the 80’s you have built a lot of the costume yourself, haven’t you?

They have got some of the costume, but they sent a message saying what have you got, and I was like right let’s raid my wardrobe. I have got all sorts. 80’s is really fun, and realised I had hairbands, bows, I pick up stuff from photo shoots and other things. I have really not bought that much, all I bought especially was the denim shirt. Annoyingly I went through my wardrobe a few months ago and got rid of a lot of stuff. I got rid of a denim jacket which would have been perfect and this pink faux leather jacket which would have been perfect. But leopard print tights, I have lots of leopard print. I bought something in Berlin for about 5 Euros and it was this leopard print jumpsuit and I thought this is perfect. Is has been a lot of fun bringing together the costume.

Q. With the character itself did you change it at all from how it was originally written.

I think you can tell that she was a brat straight away from reading the script, so I kept her pretty much how she was.

Q. What do you think makes I Scream on the Beach! different from other horrors around at the moment?

I think this is very stylised and it has really got that 80’s vibe, so if you were a fan of the horrors then not only does it have that story, it also has style about it from then. Also, a lot of these films are very American, whereas this feels very British.

Q. Do you have any other projects which you are working on?

I do I have PandaMonium coming up which is with the Mycho team. I hadn’t work with them before so that is amazing. I have a paranormal investigation program which I am going to be presenting and a couple of films with Maria Metheringham later this year. I am quite busy at the moments with lots coming up. Lots of horror and a bit of paranormal.

Q. If someone was looking to get into acting themselves what advice would you give them?

You just have to work really hard and do everything. Not everybody trains but I felt coming straight from modelling that I wanted to train to be taken more seriously. It does give you a good basis, you kind of learn everything and kind of work out your own way. I think network, meet people, practise, write stuff and have fun with it. You just have to keep pushing yourself.

You can keep up to date about I Scream on the Beach! by following them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

You can also find out more about Dani Thompson by following her on Twitter, Instagram

Philip Rogers

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!