LATENCY: Actor Alexis Ren Talks About Her New Horror Film!

June 18, 2024

Introduction

In Latency, a gamer with agoraphobia is asked to test new gaming equipment that uses A.I. to read her mind, and the line between reality and the subconscious begins to blur. Is it helping her or serving a more sinister force?

Synopsis

When Hana (Sasha Luss), a professional gamer who suffers from acute agoraphobia, is asked to trial sophisticated new gaming equipment that uses AI to interpret the electrical activity of her brain, she sees an opportunity to enhance her game. As Hana and her best friend Jen (Alexis Ren) experiment with this new technology, the line between reality and Hana’s subconscious quickly begins to blur and she starts to wonder if the device is helping her or serving a more sinister force.

Alexis Ren as Jen

Alexis Ren is an American model, entrepreneur, actress, and internet celebrity. She is one of the most recognizable influencers in the world, and an advocate for mental health, and empowerment. Alexis Ren is the founder of a management company in Japan, Meissa Inc., and has worked with Brands like DVF, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Express, and Colorpop, and has starred in videos such as The Chainsmokers- Paris (2017), Love Advent by Love Magazine, Kygo Ft. Chelsea Cutler – Not Ok, and Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire.

Interview

Cinema Scholars’ own Glen Dower sat down with actor Alexis Ren to discuss her new psychological horror film Latency. They spoke about Alexis not initially wanting to star in a horror film, building on-screen and off-screen chemistry with co-star Sasha Luss, and creating an off-screen backstory for her character to better prepare herself for the role, among other topics.

(Edited for content and clarity)

Glen Dower:

Alexis Ren, how are you, Ma’am?

Alexis Ren:

Hello! I’m wonderful. How are you, Glen?

Glen Dower:

I’m very, very well, so first of all, I wanted to share with you the note I made when you came on screen. It goes like this. ‘Wow, Alexis Ren, bringing the sunshine and a gust of fresh air.’ So this seemed to be, I thought, would be your role within the film. You are the audience, you are the key to the world of Hana in this movie. We don’t want to spoil any of the twists and turns, but when you first read the script, when you received it from James Croke, were you aware of those twists and turns or were you on a journey like the audience too?

Alexis Ren:

Originally I was like, oh, I don’t want to do a scary film. That was my original feeling. I was like, no, I don’t want to do it. But there’s a lot in here and it’s a lot of relevancy with what’s going on in the world. So I read it and I was like… you’re right, there’s definitely that element to it of my character opening up this world a little.

Glen Dower:

James is the writer and director, so I imagine he must have had everything storyboarded in his mind. He must’ve been very specific with the mise en scene and even things like your costume because that’s very specific as well. So what was it like working with James on set?

Alexis Ren:

James is the best, and I think that’s what’s so cool about working with someone who’s getting that big opportunity. I too feel that way. This is my second major film, and so we both came on being like, we’re doing the thing like, oh my god, and we got to do that together. And so I think we were eye to eye with each other on that.

That’s what’s so cool about doing a film. Everyone is there for the same objective: to make a killer movie. And so it’s like me, I really do relate to the character. Her sarcasm, her dryness, her love, her compassion. I felt like she was just a part of me. So I didn’t feel like I had to deep-dive into someone else. I could really just bring out that side of me that I haven’t been able to do. And he gave me permission to do that. So I was really grateful.

Glen Dower:

The film is somewhat of a two-hander between you and Sasha, who plays Hana. How did you guys foster that relationship? Sometimes you see in movies when the characters are supposed to be best friends but there is no onscreen chemistry whatsoever. But with you and Sasha, you were a pleasure to watch, which made the events of the film even more impactful. But how did you guys work on that relationship offscreen to make it project onscreen?

Alexis Ren:

Obviously, I was a fan of her coming into it, with Sasha she’s such an incredible actress, so I immediately was like, I just want her to like me and I just want this to go well! And obviously, it’s nervous meeting someone new for the first time, especially someone that you need to create that deep of a relationship with. But I was so lucky that it was just so natural with her and our personalities really blended well, and she’s so good at the dark psychological stuff, she’s just incredible at it, so if anything, I was just reacting to her darkness to try and compensate for it through the love that I had for Hana.

So really the best acting is when you’re just reacting. And that’s truly what I felt like. She just gave me so much to work with that I could just be there as a friend and just try and give levity to her no matter what. And I’m like, there is light and love in this world. So it was fun to play that.

Glen Dower:

Yeah. And did you maybe give Jen a backstory about how she and Hana had met? Because we meet and you’re fully formed best friends and we know you are her gateway into the outside world. You bring her food, you do her laundry, and you keep her energized. Did you work on a little backstory – how you met maybe at college or something like that?

Alexis Ren:

Yeah, I kind of created a made-up story about a package that got left at the wrong apartment. So I was trying to figure out how they met, but they lived in the same building. I think it was something along those lines maybe five years ago. And obviously, Jen is a huge gamer. So when she saw Hana’s set up, she was like, ‘Let me in here! What do you do?! Can I get on that?!’ And then once she learned what was going on with Hana, I think she did feel a sense of responsibility to be there for her. Maybe Jen was also looking for some kind of purpose as well. So I think it blended really beautifully.

Glen Dower:

That comes across really well. Now, I’m not a gamer at all. I was always a movie guy when I was younger and judging by the movie I am glad I’m not! But is this a new world to you too?

Alexis Ren:

Yeah, I mean so many people are in gaming nowadays, so it didn’t feel too far off. My little brother’s a huge gamer, so I just was like ‘Okay, I get the lifestyle. You scream into a microphone, those are your friends, you’ve never met them and you beat them at games and sometimes you love ’em and sometimes you hate ’em.’ and that’s the gamer world! No. It did feel pretty natural just where the world is right now.

Glen Dower:

Yes, definitely this is the world right now. But like you say, these virtual communities and these virtual friends are opposed to that fear of real-life friends. That’s why Jen is so important in the film. I just want to talk about, as a fellow podcaster myself, your own new podcast coming out, would you like to tell us a bit about that?

Alexis Ren:

It’s coming out in July, super exciting! I selfishly love being able to have those conversations with people I’ve always wanted to talk to. So we’re going to go all over the place; researchers, conspiracy theorists, we’re going, my sister and I, she’s going to be the cohost with me. We’re just going to deep dive into everything that I think is the nuance of our personalities. And I think that’s what’s so cool about podcasts, and I’m sure you understand this if you have podcasts, it’s the slow, long-form content and it feels more like real life than anything else online.

And so for me, it just felt like, okay, I can still be on social media, but coming from this slow form, nuanced way, it just feels a lot healthier because then people will see all versions of you as a whole full being. Instead of a clip here on Instagram, a clip here on TikTok, that all feels very fragmented. So I’m very excited for people to see me as the human version of myself instead of this social media thing.

Glen Dower:

Excellent. That’s really exciting news. So I know from being a podcaster myself, that it takes the will to make it exist and it takes a long time because ultimately it’s so rewarding and satisfying. So best of luck with that for sure! And just one last thing, Alexis, over to you. Pitch Latency for our readers, why should they go and see you and Sasha in Latency?

Alexis Ren:

Because it’s relevant, and it’s a conversation that we need to have right now in the world. As technology keeps advancing, we need to start to make sure that our intentions are correct, and our values are aligned. Technology is not good or bad, it just is. So let’s make sure whatever that is, is in alignment with our best interests.

Glen Dower:

What a perfect way to end. Alexis, an absolute pleasure meeting you. I wish you the best of luck, with the movie and with your podcast.

Alexis Ren:

Thank you, Glen, I appreciate it.

Latency, from Lionsgate, is in theaters now.

LATENCY: Actor Alexis Ren Talks About Her New Horror Film!

Introduction

Synopsis

Alexis Ren as Jen

Interview

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Alexis Ren:

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