The Horror Revolution: First off, what’s your favorite horror movie? What movie scared you the most?
Joshua Malekos: The most recent favorite on my horror list has to be: Talk to Me. The vibes of the movie are just awesome and I have been gravitating towards arthouse horror movies recently. The soundtrack had such a vibe and the shot design/cinematography was so unique and enticing. If you haven’t seen it I definitely recommend it, but don’t go in expecting a classic horror movie, because this one shakes up the genre. The most terrifying movie I have seen has to be Sinister. I don’t know why, but the notion of kids murdering their parents was just so nerve-wracking. The way that the story played out, through old tapes, created an ominous experience that gave me nightmares. Granted I was fifteen when I saw it, but I think the movie would hold up to this day.
THR: Lyvia’s House was an excellent psychological horror. What inspired the way that you played your character?
JM: Johnny was such a fun character to develop. He is so intricate and has so much going on under his cool-guy facade. He is inspired by a mix of famous performances, feelings/emotions that I have experienced in my past, and an intense amount of research on emotional abuse, trauma, and gaslighting. This movie definitely was the most intensive prep work I have done, and I hope that comes across on the big screen.
THR: What drew you to this project?
JM: Aside from the incredible team and a very solid script, filming in the Sacramento area drew me to Lyvia’s House. I grew up in Sacramento and that’s where I fell in love with acting and filmmaking. So of course, anything I can do to help grow the film market there, I try! Even as we have moved to Los Angeles, and now New York, I continue to look for projects working in the region with Sacramento artists.
THR: What inspired you to become an actor? Were there any particular movies that made you know this is what you wanted to do?
JM: I have always loved it. I know that’s the cliché answer, but it’s the truth. I have an old Sony film camera with home movies that we used to make when I was eight or so. I would play James Bond or an army man and we would write a little script. I just never lost the drive, and I work very hard trying to get gigs in a tough industry because of it. I grew up on the 007 box set and Mamma Mia, so that would be my inspiration at a young age. Moana made a huge impact on me when it came out. The whole thing is about chasing your destiny, because otherwise it will nag you for the rest of your life, and that really resonated with me.
THR: If you could work with anyone in the industry, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
JM: Hands down, my answer has to be Wes Anderson. His movies have brought so much joy to my life and have inspired me along my acting journey. I would die to go behind the scenes of one of his fantastical sets and bring to life a character that can inspire in the way only his characters do. The writing is so quippy and sarcastic and no character is too big or too small; they all leave their mark, and I love that.
THR: Is horror your preferred genre to work within? Are there other genres that you find appealing as an actor?
JM: I LOVE horror and thriller. There is usually a good emotional range to showcase and the stories are pretty juicy, but my favorite genre to play in has to be comedy. Creating situations that make not only the audience laugh but also myself and my fellow actors is truly the greatest experience. I also love improv; trying to throw something new in that catches people off guard in order to create genuine reactions. That being said, I have loved almost everything I’ve been a part of and welcome the challenge of a good character in a great story, regardless of the genre.
THR: What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects that you’re excited to talk about?
JM: My partner, our two dogs and I just moved across the country to the New York area and I am excited to be taking on the lead role in a slasher-horror titled, Gravity Hill. Production for this feature film begins at the end of September in the New Jersey area. A young man and his friends go into a haunted attraction on the same day that someone decides to go on a killing spree! It should be a fun one.
We are also in the development phase of an arthouse creature-feature titled Isle of Boar: A team of archaeology students led by their professor, receives a university grant to survey a mysterious island. The crew members begin to go missing after uncovering a demonic relic and they soon realize some history should remain buried. You’ll be happy to know that quite a few Lyvia’s House team members are partnering with us on this one. We can’t wait to get more information out there for everyone.
THR: Finally, if you were to be banned from your local library, what would be the reason?
JM: If I were to be kicked out of my local library, it would be because of my tardiness. I work very hard, but I am tardy far more often than I should be. I think I would return my books late one too many times, and the leader of the librarians would give me the old BANNED stamp.
