Focus on Lauren LaVera, the heroine of Terrify 3
Until recently, the names Damien Leone and Lauren LaVera meant nothing to me. And even less in France. But by fall 2022, things started to change for the director and actress. It was during this period that the first viewers discovered him Terrify 2 in the United States, and a surprising publicity campaign has emerged around this gory horror film. Some spectators reportedly left the room to vomit, while others fainted.
So, what was this very low budget production that caused so much talk? We were able to find out thanks to the French distributor ESC Films, who released it in France at the beginning of 2023. A successful bet, given that the niche audience responded, and it could still be there. Terrify 3Despite an exceptional ban for children under 18. In this third work, Lauren LaVera plays for the second time the heroine Sienna from whom she tries to escape Art the Clowna terrifying and burlesque character who massacres those he encounters. Taking advantage of her coming to Paris to promote the film, we wanted to know something more about her.
Considered a career as an optician
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lauren LaVera was raised by a single mother and spent much of her childhood with her grandparents. If his mother has it introduced to horror cinema at a young agehis grandmother took the trouble to introduce him to old films or one of his favorite series, I love Lucia. But from there to imagining herself as an actress, Lauren LaVera was still far from it. Furthermore, during his youth, his great passion was practice martial arts.
My mother and grandmother truly made me the person I am. But also the environment in Philadelphia, which is very tough. We are very tough people.
The future heroine of Terrorize she eventually began studying law, before realizing she wasn’t cut out for the field. It was finally with a diploma in English and Italian in hand that Lauren LaVera began her career… Optical! What could have continued without a revelation when his grandmother died.
My grandmother had always wanted to be an actress and singer, but she ended up having many children and was a housewife. It’s a little macabre and sad what I’m about to say, but I remember sitting next to her, on her deathbed, surrounded by her six children. I looked at her and thought this is not the life I want. So I decided right then and there that I would make both of our dreams come true by becoming an actress.
Double bodysuit for Anya Taylor-Joy at M. Night Shyamalan
Without a doubt, Lauren LaVera quit her job to take her first acting class. A decision that in hindsight seems stupid to her, given that she didn’t have a precise plan. Luckily for her, it didn’t take long for her to get closer to film sets. One of his first cinematic experiences was underway Divided by M. Night Shyamalan. For this film, the actress was content to be double bodysuit (a stunt double) for Anya Taylor-Joy, Jessica Sula and Haley Lu Richardson, who play the teenage girls kidnapped by James McAvoy in the thriller.
A stunt double is used when it is necessary to take close-ups of the actor’s or actress’s body. For example, there is a scene where James Mcavoy points a knife towards the stomach of one of the girls. It’s actually my stomach. We do this when an actor is not available. It was a good experience because I was able to play with my body, which is something I like to do.
Even if his face doesn’t appear DividedLauren LaVera was able to learn alongside M. Night Shyamalan. The latter gave her advice, showed her what was being filmed on the monitor and encouraged her in this direction.
I really wanted to learn. I think I have stars in my eyes seeing everyone work so hard. So Shyamalan was very supportive and would call me to watch the monitor while he was shooting. It was a wonderful experience that made me want to pursue this career even more.
The buzz of Terrify 2 gives birth to a new one shouts queen
We still had to wait Terrify 2 to truly experience Lauren LaVera on screen. A bloody dive into the world of Damien Leoneand surprising to say the least for her, who after reading part of the script didn’t expect a film like this at all. For her audition, the actress only discovered a few dramatic scenes in which her character chats with her family members. Even though he knew it was a horror movie, his audition felt more like it a family drama. This is how she approached this project and how she continues to think about her role. Only after the confirmation did the actress take a look at the first chapter of the saga.
I watched Terrifier when I got home and saw the jigsaw scene and everything. It was, wow! I knew it was going to be a horror movie, that it was going to be horrible, but I didn’t know it would be so horrible! Also, even though I’ve always liked horror, gory horror films didn’t appeal to me when I was younger. But now I’m a real fan. And I was really impressed with what Damien was able to accomplish with so little.
Surprise at first TerrorizeLauren LaVera was the next time Damien Leone introduced her character as a Batman-style heroine who takes on the Joker. Then seeing the reception of Terrify 2the welcome in the world, the birth of a fan base and learn that it is now considered such A shouts queen.
It’s a title I gladly accept. It’s really exciting to be a woman in horror because there are some of the most interesting characters you can play. And that’s not always the case in other genres.
Siena, a more complex heroine in Terrify 3
The complexity of Siena in the saga Terrorize evolves in the third work. Less subject to danger before the last part of the film, the heroine must above all rebuild yourself after trauma events of the past. Damien Leone wrote this character by putting a part of himself into it, but also putting a part of his mother, who raised him alone, and of his sisters. Multiple inspirations that make Sienna this strong and not very sexualized woman.
Being sexualized in a film can be challenging for women if it helps tell a story. But sometimes you feel limited to that and think that that’s your only interest, which obviously isn’t true. Here, I really enjoyed having it a character seen as a human being. She’s not so much a woman, she’s just a person going through traumatic events.
Thanks to the saga TerrorizeLauren LaVera is now well established in horror cinema. But there’s no doubt that it remains stuck in this genre. With her background in comedy and her studies in improvisation, the actress hopes to be working soon in lighter productions. If only for his sanity, a break from the horror would be welcome. She would like to wear one too movie friend action playing Jackie Chan Rush hourwhich she loves.
Before we get there, we’ll only see his face in Art the Clown Terrify 3in theaters October 9, 2024.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
