Day of Reckoning Interview with Jackson Hurst
Staci Layne Wilson
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This SyFy movie from Epic Pictures starts off with the dawning of the so-called “day of reckoning.” Fifteen years ago, evil creatures from the underworld plagued the Earth with the intent of eliminating mankind… and now, they are back. Survivors of the hellish holocaust, warriors of mankind again must battle the forces of darkness.
Jackson Hurst plays David, one of those brave men – as he gathers up his family in search of shelter, he must fight a slew of scary monsters bent on destruction.
Dread Central: How did this project come to you, and what was it about the character that made you choose this role?
Jackson Hurst: My agent called me to let me know an offer came in. That’s all I knew. I then read up, checked out the people involved, watched a few of Joel’s films, then got pumped. I liked the depth of character, and relationships surrounding him. And having Epic behind it, with Joel at the helm, I was in.
DC: Unlike a lot of genre movies, this one has some good dynamics between family – David’s ex-wife, her new boyfriend, and David’s son. Can you give us a glimpse inside your process of rehearsing for this, and perhaps a story about a day on set?
JH: Truth is, I spent a lot of time by myself. My character was a loner who was thrust into something incredibly heavy. I worked in my garage, building things. That was my meditation. And then working up the material, it all came back to one thing, love. This guy clearly made some mistakes, which led him to the point he is now. Alone. But he loves his ex-wife and he loves his son. That drives everything. One of the heavier days was in/outside Ted’s bunker. Incredibly intense, emotional stuff. Loved it.
DC: What was it like shooting with monsters that are not really there? Did you have storyboards, or did Joel has concept art to show you?
JH: Joel showed me the concepts early on, plus explained each creature’s character/purpose. The added bonus was a few of our crew members squeezing in the ‘monster suit.’ It started out as Wesley carrying the load, but we started offering up 20 bucks to anyone willing to don the spandex. Arguably as scary as the monster itself. In the bunker, there’s a scene where a creature is rushing at me – that was our 2nd AD. And yes, a fire extinguisher was involved. Ten takes.
DC: Tell us a little bit about what the “day of reckoning” is – what’s it all about?
JH: It’s pure hell and pure evil. And we’re nearly helpless. Terrifying because we know exactly what will transpire because it happened 15 years ago, and we’re at its mercy.
DC: What kinds of monsters and mayhem can horror fans expect to see?
JH: Oh, all kinds. All gruesome. Some slow, some quick, but all hellbent on fucking shit up. And we get up close and personal on numerous occasions.
DC: What is it about the genre in particular that keeps you interested as an actor, and what do you hope fans will discover when they see the movie?
JH: I just want something that connects with me and connects with the viewer. This movie does that – it pulls you in, you feel for the characters, with the added bonus of getting scared shitless.
Day of Reckoning is AVAILABLE NOW on VOD and digital download via Epic Pictures.
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