Eric Bana (Lone Survivor, Hanna, Star Trek) tackles the lead role of a New York police officer who over the course of his investigations into a series of disturbing crimes begins to believe the cause could be of demonic origin in the upcoming Screen Gems supernatural thriller Deliver Us From Evil. The horror film’s based on the book Beware the Night by NYPD Sergeant Ralph Sarchie (the character Bana plays in the movie), and at the 2014 WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, Bana discussed what it is that makes Deliver Us From Evil different than other films of the genre.
Deliver Us From Evil opens in theaters on July 2, 2014.
Eric Bana Exclusive Interview
What sets Deliver Us From Evil apart from other horror movies and other films about demons and exorcism?
Eric Bana: “I think anytime we loosely base something on reality, it sort of – I don’t know about you but it immediately makes it slightly scarier. Ralph’s a real guy and we’re dealing with some story elements that are based on his life and his past. It just kind of feels spookier. Scott [Derrickson] is such an adept director at this genre, it’s really the reason I wanted to get involved. I love his previous work and he knows more about the subject matter and the genre than any of us ever will so I felt in really great hands. It was just an awesome character.”
How did Scott help you? He does know this genre so well.
Eric Bana: “Yeah, he’s literally a walking encyclopedia. He helped me as a director should with an actor and we became great friends. But beyond that, his level of intellect to do with religion and his history and all this sort of stuff is just never-ending. So we were able to have great, broad philosophical conversations that had nothing to do with the specifics of the film that just really helped. It makes things interesting on the set. It opens your mind to a lot of things. Working on a film like this exposes you to some things that otherwise wouldn’t have. That’s great. That’s the beauty of the job.”
Did you go in believing that this could actually be a true story?
Eric Bana: “I had to be careful. I had to approach this just as I would any other film and be completely open. I think whichever character you’re playing, whatever world you’re entering, you have to be open to everything because otherwise I don’t think you can do your job as well as an actor. This was another one where you go in…and I don’t want to go through pre-production again. I saw some stuff I’ve got no interest in revisiting, let me tell you. Absolutely.”
It stuck with you?
Eric Bana: “Oh, for sure. For sure. It definitely educated me on how much room there is within the subject. It’s not just black and white. It’s not just someone’s not possessed or they’re possessed. There’s a million shades in between that are intriguing and interesting and scary.”
Watch the interview:
