Interview With Lin Shaye, Star Of ‘House Of Abraham’

’m going to start this with a trigger warning, which I hate to do because it limits who’s going to read this and learn more about this movie, but I feel that it’s important and the right thing to do given the plot and subject matter and also what happens in the film. So here it is: trigger warning for suicide. Suicide is also discussed in this interview.

Honestly, I was intrigued about House of Abraham, written by Lukas Hassel (Slapface) and directed by Lisa Belcher (read our interview with them HERE), because it stars Lin Shaye (read our other interview with her HERE). I mean, come on. She’s horror royalty. But I’m also a big fan of Natasha Henstridge (read our interview with here HERE) and according to IMDB, House of Abraham is a movie about a cult AND promised to be an isolation thriller/horror so my interest by piqued beyond what it’s been piqued in quite a long time. I don’t think that made sense but what I’m saying is, I had to see this movie.

A woman looking for an end to her suffering, checks in to the House of Abraham, home to a mysterious cult that promises a way out. She soon discovers all is not what it seems and must plan an escape before it’s too late.

To celebrate the release of the film, I chatted with Lin about the taboo subject of the film, crafting her character, Beatrice, horror movies, and more!

PopHorror: I loved House of Abraham so much and Beatrice is such a great and fun character. I thought she was perfect for you so I’m excited to talk to you about it today.

Lin Shaye: Oh, thank you so much. It’s all good.

PopHorror: What intrigued you about the script and made you want to be a part of the project?

Lin Shaye: Because it’s a taboo subject. Right away, that was very appealing to me. It’s something people… I pretty much think everybody on the planet has one time thought about it. Not to do it necessarily, but it’s such a riveting thing to even consider in so many ways. It’s not something you discuss, really. If someone did think about it and really think about it, you really don’t discuss it, which is what’s so scary and why they’ve even thought about it because they don’t think anybody would care. It had its nails in so many taboo thoughts that I thought it would be really incredible to play this role and to find what her need is, who Beatrice is. That’s what drew me to it. And Lukas too, because I’ve known him for years.

PopHorror: I went into this completely blind, thinking it was about a cult. Not really knowing what to expect so I was really surprised when it came out what the subject matter is and why they’re at this house. I think that’s the best way to go into this movie, to know nothing about it and then just go along with it as it goes on because I feel like I would have gone into it with a different frame of mind, and I feel like that would ruin it a little bit.

Lin Shaye: You know what? That was a discussion we had because I said, “You should call it House of Suicide,” and Lisa said “No,” because she said exactly your point of view. People will not want to go see it. I thought House of Abraham sounded religious, which it kind of does, so I thought, well who’s going to go? Everyone has their own thing about religion but that’s exactly… So she did make the right choice with that. Thank you for confirming! I’ll let her know.

PopHorror: It’s funny that you say that it sounds religious because I did an interview with Lukas and Lisa and I was googling for pictures and there’s either a movie with a similar title or the same title or something, but photos a religious movie came and I was like, that is not the same thing!

Lin Shaye: Right, exactly! Abraham was one of the first religious leaders, that’s the first thing. I don’t think of Abraham Lincoln, I think of Abraham and his flocks. Lukas could play Abraham and his flocks. That could be his next role! Charlton Heston and Lukas Hassel.

PopHorror: Yes! Was there anything that you were adamant about bringing to your character?

Lin Shaye: Yes, probably everything I did. She was not really defined at all. There was no definition to who she was and it’s crazy. I never quite know or even track where my ideas come from and I’ve said this before, I try to stay just really open with the material. Some of it was generated by the size difference between me and Lukas, that I’m 5’3” and he’s like 6’ or something, and that sort of dog feeling I would get standing next to him like I was a small dog. So, I thought, there it is! Wear flat shoes and more or less, that’s not what she’s doing but that is sort of what she’s doing. Like, “Whatever you want. How do you want it this way? Would you like me to try it that way? I’ll do it this way if you want it that way.” She has a panic about his appreciation and she needs his appreciation or she will commit suicide. That definitely generated the body language and the outfit and that she was a good girl. I’m a good girl; will you love me?

PopHorror: I was going to ask, was her hair and barrette and everything your idea? 

Lin Shaye: Yes!

PopHorror: I love it!

Lin Shaye: That’s what the whole thing was. I’m very grateful for them for taking my notes or my ideas. It was so in the story that that’s who she had to be to have the switch happen, that she’ll do anything that he asks her. She’s capable of murder, capable of hurting a body. She would rip you apart if she could. The point is, she’s capable of anything and everything.

PopHorror: Yes, absolutely. She definitely was very scary by the end of the movie. You are horror royalty. We love you in the horror community. Someone mentions your name and people are like, “Oh my God! I love Lin Shaye.” 

Lin Shaye: Oh, geeze!

PopHorror: We love seeing you in horror. Over the years, horror has become a box office powerhouse. It’s growing and I love it so much. Why do you feel that some people resonate more with the genre?

Lin Shaye: I think probably everybody does, but people don’t want to face it. Sometimes it’s done for entertainment value. Like you don’t want to go see a spooky… People being spooky, that’s not necessary. I think real horror, we’re all fearful of it. There’s something about the giddy feeling of going to a movie with a bunch of people in the dark and yet you’re solo by yourself, yet you’re supported by this community that you’re sitting in the middle of and being scared together. It’s just delicious. It’s wonderful. You can squeal and be scared but be supported and enjoy the experience. I think that’s what is so appealing about horror films, that you’re in a community of everybody screaming together, for all kinds of reasons.

PopHorror: Yes! I love watching horror movies with like-minded people. That makes it so much more fun. While I like to watch them with people who get scared and who don’t really like them, I prefer to watch them with my people. That’s the best, when we’re cheering for those great kills. I jump at every jump scare. I’m not gonna lie.

Lin Shaye: You’re a bad girl!

PopHorror: Watching with like-minded people is the best.

Lin Shaye: I agree.

PopHorror: Just one last question for you today. What is your favorite scary movie?

Lin Shaye: There’s so many, but I always come up with The Shining. I don’t know, I always think of Jack Nicholson and The Shining, and some of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, like The Birds and Psycho. Those are really, still for me, maybe because I’m from the old school too, literally the old school, but there’s something about those old films that still remain in my consciousness and were super, super scary when I saw them. I’m not a blood and guts fan at all. Jordan Peele makes some pretty scary movies. I think his sense of horror is really upsetting and primitive and it goes right through you, kind of. You don’t even know you’re being scared a little bit until it’s over, which is an amazing task and an amazing talent. He’s one of my favorite directors for horror films right now. As well as James Wan, of course.

Thank you so much to Lin for taking the time to chat with us. House of Abraham is in select theaters now!