Interview: ‘In a Violent Nature’ Star Andrea Pavlovic on Horror and Scream Queens
In Maker’s Dozen, we ask folks in and around the film industry 12 questions and have them ask one of us.
Andrea Pavlovic is an actor best known for her role as Kris in the 2024 horror film In a Violent Nature. In this interview, Andrea talks about her earliest horror movie memory, working with practical effects, her perfect fall day, and how In a Violent Nature reflects our times.
This interview has been edited for content and clarity.
1. What is the Andrea Pavlovic origin story?
Ballet, actually. I did it for about 12 years, and when I stopped my mom put me in an after-school theater program, probably because I had way too much energy to expel. I remember that being the moment of me falling in absolute love with the creation of art. It felt binding, and gave me a sense of belonging. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since, finding spurts of it whenever I’m lucky to create, or work.
2. What is your earliest horror movie memory?
I remember thinking Star Wars was a horror movie because my brother, who is seven years older than I am, would let me watch movies and shows way beyond my years. I still have the image of Darth Vader’s face being burnt etched into my brain. But first proper horror movie? The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I absolutely loved it.
3. Making a movie is one thing, seeing it is another. What was your reaction to seeing In A Violent Nature for the first time?
Wow, this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
4. As I sit here in my peaceful home on my peaceful street, all while the horrors of the world loom and persist, I can’t help but think of this film. The serene setting and sounds of nature paired with slow-approaching doom is such an unsettling and powerful dynamic. From your view, what’s another way this movie reflects our times?
I love that our movie actually buys into the cheesiness of the horror tropes: the final girl, the dumb jock, the asshole boyfriend, the love triangle, etc. And yet, there’s a lot of agency to them. They feel a bit more modern, for lack of a better word. I remember having a conversation early on with our director about how bad the script was. No joke. He said he knew he hadn’t given us a lot to work with, but it’s because the script was a love letter to all horror tropes past. And with that in mind, there was so much openness to collaboration. I’ll never forget him telling me to make Kris my own. I didn’t feel tied to my specific trope at all. Because the audience is smart. They’ll know right away from the campfire scene exactly who everybody is, so there was this freedom to make these characters unique to us. And I think that’s kinda the beauty of horror. You can make it whatever the hell you want and people will either love it or hate it. But hey, at the end of the day at least you tried. And you made something.
5. The movie’s killer Johnny is played unforgettably by Ryan Barrett. So that watchers of the movie might sleep better at night, what’s a silly memory you have of Ryan on set?
He recently told me that at the start of filming he purposely tried to distance himself from us to suspend that tension of predator versus prey while filming. I laughed so hard when he told me because I remember feeling distant from him at the start. I low-key thought he hated me. Then very quickly we bonded over drunken karaoke at the only local bar (shoutout to Shooters).
6. For Johnny, it’s the golden locket. What’s an item you own that would prompt you to go psycho killer in pursuit of if someone stole it and why?
Probably my bass guitar. Or the SLR my dad passed down to me.
7. If you had the chance to change the course of Johnny’s life for the better by showing him one movie, what movie would you pick and why?
I feel like he needs to watch something that teaches him to love. Maybe Marley & Me? Or Almost Famous. Sex, love, rock and roll? I mean, come on.
8. Dakota Johnson recently said that it was “absolutely psychotic” filming Madame Web against a blue screen. What was it like to be on the other side of that, creating something with a team dedicated to practical effects?
It made my job easier, I’ll tell you that much. I didn’t have to act being scared. That blood looked so real. Steven Kostanski is an utter genius.
“That’s the beauty of horror: you can make it whatever the hell you want and people will either love it or hate it.”
9. Director Chris Nash is a revelation. What is some valuable directing advice he gave?
“Great. Do it again.” Jokes aside, the collaboration and the freedom he gave to us is unparalleled. He was so specific with his vision, and so open to collaborate. That’s really important to me on set. Knowing that I have the freedom to try shit out, fail, and try something totally new.
10. Who are your Top 3 Final Girls and which would be the last one standing in a death match?
Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne King, and Marilyn Burns. I plead the fifth on choosing who would survive. Love my Scream Queens too much.
11. Spooky season has arrived. Describe your perfect fall day.
A nice long walk with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Feeling the crunch of the leaves under my feet. That’s gotta be one of my favorite sounds. Cuddling up under the covers with a good book (currently re-reading Patti Smith, her writing is like the most comforting hug). Watching Practical Magic or a cheesy Halloween movie. And a nice glass of deep red wine to cap off the day.
12. In A Violent Nature is a lock for our Top 10 of 2024. Aside from that, what’s your favorite release of 2024 so far and why?
I recently watched Escape From the 21st Century at TIFF. Probably one of my top three films of all time.
+1. What’s your question for us?
What has been the scariest moment of your life?
Kevin: One time my former band had a really big gig at The Metro in Chicago. During the last song, I was feeling the music so hard to the point that I felt compelled to stage dive. So I did and as I was in the air, time must have slowed down because I realized then that precisely nobody was planning on catching me. Very scary, but shout-out to me for believing in myself, and shout-out to the poor girl I flattened.