Maria Bello's career has seen her star in a number of various genres, including crime thrillers like A History Of Violence, incisive drams like Thank You For Smoking and The Cooler and horrors like Lights Out.
Bello stars in Lights Out, the new horror from David Sandberg which has become a smash hit in the US upon its release. Bello plays Sophie, a mother who has a history of mental illness and constantly sees an apparition which her son also sees. It turns out that the apparition has some sort of connection to them both and is haunting them only at night or in the dark.
How did you become involved in Lights Out and what drew you to the project?
They asked me to do it, and two weeks later I was on set. It was a very quick process – I only shot for two or three weeks. I had been asked to do quite a few genre films in the past and had usually said no, but this one came up and it wasn’t just a horror film. I also thought it was an interesting way to explore a family that is suffering from mental illness.
I also loved the character of Sophie and the complexity of what she was going through as a mother suffering from schizophrenia. She doesn’t just become this way because of her ‘friend.’ You see in the flashbacks to her past that she was having issues before that, so she was ripe to be taken away to this other world. And it was a really fun character to play. So, for me, it was a no-brainer to do it.
What was it like working with Teresa Palmer, who plays Sophie’s daughter, Rebecca, in the film?
It was wonderful! We look so much alike that she could definitely be my daughter. Teresa is so mature and steady and interested and just alive in everything that she does, and that plays well for her character against mine. I really enjoyed working with her.
What do you think David F. Sandberg brings to it as a director and what was he like to work with?
I thought it was an extraordinary story. It was kind of amazing to me how David got to direct his first feature after putting a short film on the internet – and I think he did a terrific job. He had a strong vision and he knew how to shoot things in a very collaborative way, while maintaining that vision, and turned out a film that’s good.
Marc Spicer, the director of photography, is also great. Every movie is about that real team effort, and the director of photography is so important – the way he shoots and uses the lighting to conjure up an environment that is as scary as possible.
Did shooting on practical locations also add to the fear factor?
The house where we shot was pretty spooky, I have to say. I shot all my scenes in just that one house, and it was a scary place, so that helped with the tone. When we were carrying the candles in the film, it was lit just by candlelight. I was really impressed by it, and it sets the mood.
A lot of the creature work was done practically – with Alicia Vela-Bailey playing Diana in makeup and prosthetics – as opposed to creating the character digitally. Did interacting with a very real Diana scare you?
Alicia was so great. She was scary but funny for us. Sometimes Diana would have to be more defined than others, so I’d see Alicia in all phases of going through the different costumes. She’s so soft-spoken and sweet, so to then have her jump out as Diana was fun. But, honestly, there were a couple of times when she just scared me. I’d turn around and she’d be putting those hands on the wall, with her fingertips one by one, and I got such a chill! I could never have played her role!
Fear of the dark is a very primal terror. Do you feel more or less afraid of it after making this film?
I stayed at this hotel in Bakersfield, which is famous for having these two little kids who still walk the hallways after losing their lives when the place burned down. For two nights, I stayed up to wait for them – in the dark. For most people it’s a really scary idea, but, for me, it’s an exciting thing. I’ve been that way since I was a kid – I thought it would be really cool to see a ghost. I haven’t, but I would like to one day.
I’ve always been very interested in the supernatural and have had some experiences in my own way, but never with a ghost. So, hopefully, after doing this movie, the ghosts will see that I’m open to it and will come visit me. I would like to say that I want the good ghost! Casper and his friends can come visit me, but Diana must stay away!
