The Portrait, which holds a Fresh 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes, recently premiered on VOD and Digital platforms. An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller/horror, the movie stars Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Ryan Kwanten, Isidora Goreshter, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Virginia Madsen.
Before the holidays, we caught up with Cordova-Buckley to discuss her lead role as Sofia in Simon Ross' debut feature. We cover several topics in the video below, including what drew the actress to this project, her collaboration with Kwanten, and how she handled the fear which engulfs her character as the story progresses.
We also wondered whether starring in The Portrait has given Cordova-Buckley a taste to explore more horror projects moving forward.
"I mean, look, if Ari Astar calls, I’m in," she said. "Who doesn’t want to be in one of his movies? He’s a brilliant director. I’m not a huge fan of torture porn. I probably would not do the stuff that’s extremely torturous as I have a very hard time putting that out into the world. Who knows?"
As for whether she'd return to continue Sofia's story (if, indeed, she survives this encounter), Cordova-Buckley added. "In terms of a sequel, I hope that [it happens]. I don’t think I would be part of it. It needs to be a new story. The portrait needs to find a new home and a new woman to torture."
"I will always be there to support it…a lot like Virginia [Madsen], she did Candyman and the let it go. You’ve got to go on to new horizons, new characters, and new explorations."
You can watch the full interview, which includes some Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. talk, in the player below.
0:13 - What drew her to the project and The Portrait not being a typical horror movie
3:07 - Working with Ryan Kwanten to figure out Sofia and Alex’s past
4:44 - The challenge of working with Ryan’s quiet yet explosive character
6:23 - Whether it was harrowing to tap into Sofia’s increased level of fear as the story continues
9:02 - What she enjoyed about delving into Sofia’s relationship with The Portrait’s sinister supporting characters
11:06 - The experience of working with first-time movie director Simon Ross
13:49 - Would she return as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Yo-Yo in the MCU?
15:37 - Could Natalia return for a sequel or another horror project down the line?
In the wake of her husband's devastating accident, a devoted wife becomes consumed by a mysterious portrait that resembles him in his happier days. However, as her obsession intensifies, the painting starts to unleash terror upon her life, leading her to question whether it is possessed by a malevolent force or if she is losing her sanity. Caught between the haunting unknown and her own fears, she must confront her deepest fears and unravel the unsettling truth before it's too late.
The Portrait is now available on VOD and Digital platforms.