Interview: Laura Vandervoort On Her Upcoming Jigsaw Role
Jonathan Barkan
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Jigsaw, the upcoming eighth entry in the Saw franchise, will be coming out just in time for Halloween and we can’t wait to return to the world of John Kramer! While the first seven films all took place in a world directly related to Kramer and his dark activities, Jigsaw will break that mold by taking us out of his direct sphere of influence and into a world where a copycat killer has taken up his mantle.
To tell us more about the film, we interviewed Laura Vandervoort, who plays “Anna” in the film. She tells us not only about her character but what we might expect from the film.
You can follow Laura on Instagram and Twitter.
Tobin Bell, Mandela Van Peebles, Laura Vandervoort, Brittany Allen, Callum Keith Rennie, Matt Passmore, Hannah Emily Anderson, Josiah Black, Shaquan Lewis, Michael Boisvert, and James Gomez star.
Brothers Peter and Michael Spierig (Daybreakers, Predestination) direct from a script by Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfiner (Piranha 3D, Piranha 3DD, Sorority Row).
Jigsaw has been rated R for “grisly bloody violence and torture” and will be coming out October 27th.
Synopsis:
Bodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one man: John Kramer. But how can this be? The man known as Jigsaw has been dead for over a decade. Or has an apprentice picked up the mantle of Jigsaw, perhaps even someone inside the investigation?
Dread Central: Jigsaw may not be your first foray into the horror world but it certainly seems like the most intense! Can you tell me a bit about what it was like starring in a movie whose franchise is so well known for its gore and violence?
Laura Vandervoort: I’ve always been a fan of the horror and psychological drama genre. And I’ve always wanted to be a part of that classic scary movie. Growing up and even today I’m a huge fan of Hitchcock. As well as the original horror movies like the exorcist and the shining. Having the opportunity to be a part of the saw franchise was exciting. I knew Michael and Peter (our directors) would make a film that not only the fans of the films would love but also make it their own. In my first meeting with Peter and Michael they asked if if want to be in the traps or on the other side and I replied “the traps!”
DC: The Saw films were a Halloween staple for many years but had an absence for a while. How do you feel being part of what many are assuming will be a new resurgence for the franchise?
LV: Fantastic. I know many of the fans of this franchise have been awaiting the next installment. As a fan myself I was thrilled when I heard they were doing it.
DC: Your first credited roles on IMDb were in the “Goosebumps” TV series and you also had a role in “Are You Afraid of the Dark”. Can you talk about your relationship with horror and how you’ve seen it evolve over the years not just as someone who watches it but also as someone who acts in it?
LV: Yes, I suppose in a way I started out in that sort of genre. However shows like ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’ and ‘Goosebumps’ were a very tame version. I was only about 14 when I did those shows. I think at that point in my career (just starting out), I was determined to not just play the girl-next-door. The scarier genres seems to allow me to play stronger characters as a young girl. Later on as a teenager I did a movie called ‘Mom’s Got A Date With A Vampire.’ Again this movie was a darker Halloween take on a Disney film. Growing up I always loved Tim Burton’s films and as mentioned before, Hitchcock. Today I think we are more desensitized to seeing gore in television and film, so filmmakers are pushing the boundaries.
Photographer: Robert Sebree
DC: What can you tell us about “Anna”, your Jigsaw character, and the role she plays in the greater game?
LV: I really don’t want to give much away. You first meet my character Anna in a trap. Anna is a smart, methodical character who you often find taking charge of the group. She’s a character I hope you root for. However, any fan of the Saw franchise knows that if I character is in one of the traps then it’s likely that they deserve to be there. Anna believes herself to be innocent but there may be more to it and she may have to confess her sins. What’s worse is her sin might be the worst of all.
DC: Pretty much every character in the Saw series has some sort of dark secret. What should we be looking out for when it comes to “Anna”?
LV: Haha! I’m not going to give that one away! But I will say this… Denial can be rather strong.
DC: When looking at the other Saw films, how do you think Jigsaw measures up?
LV: I actually haven’t seen the finished film yet. But I do know that with Peter and Michael directing, the film will go above and beyond fans’ expectations. Peter and Michael are very visual and I know created a fantastic looking film. We dive into characters lives backstories. The audience will get to put together pieces of the puzzle themselves.
What else is coming up for you? What’s next on your plate?
LV: I’m shooting two TV shows. One show in Vancouver called ‘Ice.’ I play a ‘firebrand’ attorney in this drama that takes place in the diamond business. We head to South Africa soon to finish shooting the season. The other is a new series called ‘Frankie Drake’ in Toronto. The show takes place in the 1920’s. I recently finished shooting and had a wonderful time. I’m also in the beginning stages of developing a film that I’m rather excited about.
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