Earlier this month, Saban Films dropped a brand new horror from director Alejandro Hidalgo, ‘The Exorcism of God‘ which starred veteran actor Will Beinbrink in the lead role of Father Peter Williams, and I had a chance to speak with Will about the film, the horror genre, and his approach to taking on the role in an exclusive interview with Fright Nerd.
“For me it all starts with the script, the character and then the filmmaker” Beinbrink said of what drew him to the role of Peter. “I read the script and was totally blown away by the scenes. Even the small scenes Peter is in have a moment that is very important.
That needs to be personal and lived. I don’t want to reveal anything, but there are scary twists in this movie that have never been seen before.
To me, that is so exciting” he says. “When you can be a part of a project that adds to the catalog of films, especially horror films, in particular exorcism films, that is a big deal! Then, with Peter, besides all the crazy scenes, having to do these exorcism scenes in Spanish, and the several sections in Latin, were also exciting challenges.
Beinbrink also discusses the other aspects of taking on the role.
“In addition, how physically demanding the role was because of the exorcism scenes, shooting at 6000-9000 feet elevation for 6 weeks straight” he explains.
“But what really interested me was Peter’s inner life and the journey he goes on. From a naive young priest filled with idealism to something much much darker. I won’t tell you, you need to watch the film! And the road to get there is filled with surprises and difficult choices Peter needs to make yet all the while the sin of his past is still haunting him. For all these reasons and more!”
Beinbrink isn’t new to horror, from roles in ‘IT: Chapter 2‘ all the way to ‘The Exorcism of God’ he has carved out a name for himself in the world of horror. Beinbrink is also a fan of horror, and has an appreciation for the horror content creators making some of the most talked about films over the past decade.
“The creativity of the worlds, how far the stories and characters can be pushed, how these stories can be told” said Beinbrink. “There’s’ so much freedom in this genre to use our imaginations, to create these incredible stories with terrifying characters like Pennywise. And we get to take these characters to places that more realism based films just cant go. I love pushing the boundaries. I love how horror taps into our imaginations.
“Oh, there’s also a very interesting film I did called “Sheperd.” Its a unique film in that its not any one genre but a mix of genres including horror, thriller, and coming of age. I also play the title character. A serial killer who plays by his own rules” he explains.
He also is quick to list some of his favorite horror movies.
“Ah man, there are so many! The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining, IT, Rocky Horror Picture Show, La Casa De Los Fin del Tiempos”
With ‘The Exorcism of God’ currently available, Beinbrink now explores what is next, and that includes continuing to work within the horror genre.
“During the pandemic, it was the first time I can remember where I had time to reflect, to really think about what I loved/liked/disliked about my life” he explains. “And one of the thoughts that kept recurring was the desire to work with friends. I have had enough experiences now to see that the best times I’ve had on set have been when working with friends or people I highly admire. So I began reaching out to friends discussing projects and now several of them are really taking shape”.
“At this time I cant discuss them but I’m very excited. And several of them are horror films!”
With an ever-changing world, the way people create and watch content has drastically changed, especially with the popularity of content platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, and Beinbrink is a fan of these new mediums of creation.
“I think that’s great! Especially for people who have limited budgets” Beinbrink says. “I think if you can tell something compelling on those platforms, that’s a testament to someone’s talent. And then they can use these platforms to develop something that then can be made into a longer film. I haven’t utilized these platforms for content creation.
To me, I always go back to the story. And that story is most important. Now, being able to break down pieces or moments and being able to film them and post them can build you an audience and that’s exciting! That can be a great way to build a fanbase that then you can leverage that into maybe a seed and spark campaign and then you are making your movie. Easier said then done, but its possible!”
The Exorcism of God is currently available On Demand, and on digital platforms, including YouTube.
