PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Satanic Panic (read our review here) is a horror comedy directed by Chelsea Stardust that comes out this month. One of the film’s stars, Hayley Griffith, took some time to chat with us about her new film!
PopHorror: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today! You have Satanic Panic coming out really soon. How did you manage to land your first big role?
Hayley Griffith: Well, I saw the casting call and was like, “I just have to do this movie!” I love dark humor, and it was just the perfect fit for me. I sent in a self-tape. Then, a couple of weeks later, Chelsea got attached to it. I met her and then a few weeks after that, I got the role! It was a great experience!
PopHorror: Being a horror-comedy, is Satanic Panic what you thought it would be?
Hayley Griffith: It was much more than what I thought it would be. It has some great gore moments, but the comedy also comes through. It was just really great.
PopHorror: How was it getting the opportunity to work with Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell?
Hayley Griffith: It was like a DREAM. It was so fun watching them work and be hilarious. They are both just so talented and helpful. Everything about working with them was just amazing!
PopHorror: Did you find it hard not to get too starry-eyed around them?
Hayley Griffith: Oh God, yes! The first time I saw Rebecca in the red dress that you see in the trailer, I… I yelled. I think I scared her. It was so funny! I turned around and she was there and I just… yeah. She was good about it, though. I wasn’t trying to freak out, but something just expelled from me, and I lost it. But yeah, it was funny.
PopHorror: Our country is going through a very interesting time right now, a very religious time, I’d say. How has the reception to the film been with the title and the themes?
Hayley Griffith: It’s been honestly kind of shocking. I guess I didn’t think that part through. Or at least, I just didn’t think anything of it. But I’ve gotten some really strange tweets. Usually, it’s people telling me that I’m in the Illuminati. I’m like, “Um, I live in a small one-bedroom apartment, folks.” So, some weird comments like that. Or someone told me I was being controlled by Satan. And I’m like, “No, it’s a comedy. You know, comedy?” And yeah, some of it has been a little weird. But it’s also entertaining, and a little educating, I suppose. I love reading the weird tweets. It’s very different.
PopHorror: As long as it’s just kinda weird and not scary.
Hayley Griffith: Yeah. At first, it was kinda scary. But now I’m just like, “These people are just some weirdos behind a keyboard,” so I just try to have fun with it.
PopHorror: What kind of projects had you done leading up to this?
Hayley Griffith: I’d been doing theater and had done some small spots on TV shows and stuff. But this was my first real big opportunity, and I’m very grateful.
PopHorror: What kind of projects do you have coming up?
Hayley Griffith: I have some auditions lined up. I think after this movie comes out, I’ll see a lot more new opportunities. I just did one film that wrapped in May. It’s totally the opposite of Satanic Panic. It’s a dramatic period piece.
PopHorror: Now, with this film and new opportunities that will come from it, who is someone that you dream of working with?
Hayley Griffith: Oh, my God! CHRIS EVANS. I love his work, but I also love him, love him. I’ve been thinking of ways to work his name into interviews, hoping to get his attention. So thank you for giving me the chance to mention him!
PopHorror: Thank you so much, Hayley, for taking the time to chat with me!
Satanic Panic opens on September 6th on VOD and in theaters.
