WILD EYED AND WICKED: Actor Molly Kunz Talks About Her New Fantasy/Horror Film!

Glen Dower:

Molly Kunz:

That moment in young Lily’s life changed everything for her and severely impacted how she lived her life, and understandably so. I wanted to make sure that it was clear that this was something she’s been living with. Yes, she’s traumatized, but it’s that calcified trauma. It’s that wound that you never clean and dress and let heal, and so it just keeps getting worse and worse and starts taking over more of your body and the infection grows.

I didn’t want it to be so obvious that she was completely dysfunctional because I don’t think that’s how it works. I think she has survived through her life up until this point with this trauma and she’s getting by, but she’s not good. She’s not okay. And that sort of the jaded protectiveness and defensiveness that one person would develop because of their daily experiences just can’t open up. “I can get through, but I have to muscle through it.” “I have to white knuckle it and I can exist, but I can’t thrive.”

I think that was what I wanted to show and I also wanted to make her relatable in that way. Most of us don’t go around thinking “Our wounds are open for everyone to see.” So, I wanted to be sure that she had enough relatability so that people who haven’t experienced trauma that is as severe as hers but have still struggled as we all do in life.

Glen Dower:

Because she is functional. As you say, she has a job and she has relationships that she’s trying to develop, but there’s always something holding her back that is, obviously, her past. She is fully fleshed out and I think that must be something to do, of course, with the director, Gordon Shoemaker Foxwood, who is also the writer. How important do you think that was as he clearly had a vision, and was bringing his own words to life?

Molly Kunz:

Absolutely. He knows this story in and out and that is what’s beautiful about having the same writer and director. There are no competing visions. He and I also had a very similar vision going into the project. So we were on the same page. Even just getting to know him, I knew the world because I was getting to know him. We also filmed it on his family farm in Pennsylvania. There’s so much history there. The location and being physically in the space were so helpful for fleshing out that world for me. You can just feel it when you’re there. Gordon has thought so much about this project and knew exactly how to say what he wanted and what he needed. He was wonderful to work with.

Glen Dower:

Molly Kunz:

Michael’s great. I think he added this level of quirky awkwardness that informed my approach to Lily’s relationship with her dad because he was playing this character. Yes, he’s been a bad dad. But part of it is he’s just bad at knowing how to interact with people generally. The moments where Lily starts to grow is when she can start to see him as a person, as a whole person, instead of just as a parent. I think all of us have had that experience growing up.

There’s the moment when we realize our parents are people, they’re real people with all the implications that it has. They’re flawed just like everybody else. And I think the way that Michael plays the vulnerability of his character was very informative and very helpful for me because there are moments where Lily can’t get past, “You’re my dad, and you’re supposed to be my dad.” But then she sees something in him, and it becomes “Oh, you’re a person too. And, I guess, as a grown-up now, too, I have to find compassion for you. I have to find seeing you as a person and as a human being.”

I think the moment in the barn door, where we have this little conversation and he says, “I know I’m bad at this. I know I’m bad at showing you that I love you. I know I’m bad at knowing how to help you. But I want to try.” Lily lets that be enough and I think that’s huge. I was so happy with how that whole interaction went. Also, of course, as a person, he’s just a total delight in the character and I had a blast.

Glen Dower:

Molly Kunz:

I had done strength training in preparation because I knew I would be doing a large chunk of it myself. And I did. I also had broadsword training and fencing lessons. So I had a little bit of a foundation going into it. Plus, the armor. So, there are moments of fight sequences that are – when she has the helmet on – a stunt double. Also, the actual riding of the horse because it’s just not safe to get on a huge animal like that clanking around with armor and scaring them. That had to be done by someone else. The director’s wife, who owns the horse, had this relationship with the animal, so it was safe for her to do that.

But wearing the armor, for those hours, it was an extra forty pounds. Just chain mail and plates. Then you also have your shield and sword and then the helmet too sometimes! It was physically very demanding and challenging, especially when you have this breakneck speed of a shoot. We’re shooting long days and we’re shooting nights, and it was incredibly demanding. But I was so excited to take that on. It’s so fun and you put it on and you’re like “Yeah, I’m a badass! Look at me!” I would never have that opportunity and just so cool and difficult, but that’s why we do it.

Glen Dower:

You must have thought for one moment, “Seriously, how did those knights do this hundreds of years ago?!”

Molly Kunz:

Glen Dower:

Molly Kunz:

Glen Dower:

Molly Kunz:

Thank you so much, Glen.