An upcoming actress involving her work in local theaters or going out for various panel discussions, Kennedy Rainer has brought her skills to the forefront of her career due to her involvement in these various creative outlets. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her early interest in acting, her theatre work, and upcoming projects.
Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?
Kennedy Rainer: Thank you so much for having me! Growing up, I was always into the more morbid stories but my family didn’t like horror movies. I used to watch episodes of Rescue 911 on Youtube and recorded pretty much every episode of Animal Planet shows like I Shouldn’t Be Alive and Untamed and Uncut. My stepdad introduced me to the Goosebumps series as a kid which was the first time I really experienced a scary story, and I was hooked.
I have an interesting relationship with horror films. One of my first memories I can recall was that my aunt had been watching Jaws at our house, and my little three-year-old self had snuck up beside the couch she was sitting on to watch it with her and I loved it. Then, I watched Prometheus with my family at 12 (my mom had heard it was similar to Alien and felt like it would have been okay for us to watch). The moment the alien had wrapped around the guy’s leg and snapped it, my mom turned off the TV and we watched A Bug’s Life. At 16, I watched The Exorcist and had to sleep with the light on that night, but regularly read through Stephen King’s work.
I really didn’t get into horror films until I moved out after graduating high school. I actually participated in horror films and ads for Bleedingham before I started watching horror films regularly. Some of the films I watched that I really enjoyed and ignited my love for horror were Rosemary’s Baby and Silence of the Lambs. I enjoyed the fear and paranoia that I felt while watching these films, and even afterward for the next few days. They inspired me to delve deeper into horror films, alongside watching the Youtube Channel, Dead Meat.
Me: When did you initially discover a passion for acting? What aspect of this industry appeals to you?
KR: I discovered a passion for acting when I was around 10. I remember watching the 1999 proshot recording of Cats on Youtube and I so desperately wanted to perform like them. It felt like something clicked and I have loved acting and theatre since. For my senior project in high school, I wrote a multiple-page essay on the importance of theatre programs in school and in life.
I have always enjoyed the aspect of storytelling and bringing people to life. To try to understand someone and their way of thinking. I have played characters that I initially couldn’t comprehend how they would make these choices, but after taking the time and care to research and investigate in the pages of the script and learning about their surroundings, it would become so clear why they chose the things they did. That is something that I think is beautiful.
Me: Is there any specific type of character you prefer playing? What do you look for in a character to be excited and interested in playing it?
KR: I have gotten the opportunity to play different types of characters for both stage and screen. My favorite characters to play are the characters that have intense internal conflict. I have performed in two different productions of The Crucible and those were easily some of my favorite characters. At 16, I played Mary Warren who had the internal struggle of doing what was right and being ostracized or even possibly killed by who she considered her friends. In 2023, I played Rev. John Hale, which was an amazing experience since it’s not often for women to play men in classic pieces at a professional level. I was able to bring a feminine gaze into a traditionally masculine role, while still playing a male character. In previous iterations, I have seen Hale play with an equally fire-and-brimstone type as the other religious men in town. I was able to play Hale from a place of wanting to love and heal, while trying to understand how everything could become so horrific, and having that struggle pulled me closer to the role. As far as things a character needs for me to be interested in playing it is case by case. I like three-dimensional characters, but I also like playing silly characters that are there for the gag. I’ve enjoyed being a dead body, and they don’t really do much. I enjoy contributing what I can to telling stories.
Me: Having worked on plenty of short films early in your career, what tools and skills did you acquire working on those that transferred to future film projects?
KR: Communication is key and that kindness goes a long way. I remember working on a particular shoot as background and some of the background actors were actively rude to the costomers who had to take care of forty background actors. While I was being brought up for wardrobe, I showed the options I had brought and mentioned that if any of the options didn’t fit, I would be more than happy to wear whatever they wanted to put me in. The costomers’ eyes lit up as they pulled together this very cute hippie outfit. We chatted and giggled together as we put all of these wonderful pieces together, and when I was heading to set, I thanked them for their time and left. It was a very cold shoot day and the outfit I had on had multiple layers, so I stayed warm all day. That same shoot, I helped a BG wrangler troubleshoot her laptop while we were waiting for BG to be called. I ended up being one of the only background actors who got to work on set, which was a wonderful experience.
Me: What do you do to stay in character while on-set? When you're not filming, how do you pass the time between takes?
KR: I will actually create playlists for characters to help stay in character. My approach to characters is very music and movement-based. One song that I have on multiple playlists is “His Kiss, The Riot” from the 2017 album Hadestown (I’m manifesting that I get to work with Patrick Page someday).
When I’m not filming, I’ll listen to music between takes or take a look through my script. I will also check in with my scene partners (if they’re up for it) to make sure that they’re doing okay or if they want to discuss the scene at all.
Me: As well as filmmaking, you’ve also been involved heavily in your local theatre not only performing but giving panel lectures on the genre. How did this come about?
KR: I had the wonderful opportunity last year to work on a panel at Crypticon discussing horror in theatre. Jasen Mortensen had contacted me after 2022’s Crypticon where I had presented Primal Balance (a short film that I had acted in), to ask if I would be interested in being a panelist the next year. When the panel lists were posted, I was so excited that there was a panel regarding horror in musical theatre. One of the topics we discussed was whether or not musical adaptations had to be horror comedies instead of true horror. Productions such as Carrie, Little Shop of Horrors, and Evil Dead were the prime targets of that discussion, and how it seemed like the shows that made fun of their original content tended to do better than being a stage version of the film. We also discussed what horror films we would love to see as musicals. My answer was Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. Could you imagine how fun the songs would be for the different deaths?
Me: What has been the most memorable experience that you've had based on this arrangement?
KR: Getting to be a huge nerd about theatre was so wonderful! I don’t often get to discuss the niche corner of horror musicals, so to have an entire room interested in participating in a discussion was an absolutely unforgettable experience. I also found at Crypticon what ended up being this horn crown that I wore for my wedding instead of a traditional veil.
Me: When giving a panel discussion or presentation, what type of prep work usually goes into getting ready for the event?
KR: I always send out an email to the folks I will be presenting with to send topics I have information on or topics I would like to discuss. I try to make sure that everyone has a chance to bring up what they have planned for the panel. With my own topics, I will write down points I wish to make and possible questions that might be brought up and how I would answer them.
Me: In addition to this, you’ve also worked for the local festival Bleedingham. What can you tell us about your work with the festival?
KR: I work with Bleedingham by acting or crewing on their ad shoots. I actually have a shoot coming up with them for their first ad of the year! We try to get as many new people to be involved, whether it’s participating in creating ads, making films to compete, or being in the audience for Bleedingham weekend!
Me: How do you do to keep your creative energy flowing?
KR: I take vocal lessons and try to go ballroom/swing dancing at least once a week. This industry can definitely be feast or famine, so I try to find the things that make me happy as well as keep me creative. I’ll sometimes write short scripts that I would like to see made someday if I feel like I’m in a rut.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
KR: I recently got cast in a short film in Vancouver called Adelaide is Alone, which is written and directed by Olivia Das. I will also be working on the first ad for Bleedingham in March, and we are hoping to get in before Crypticon. Speaking of Crypticon, you may just find me at some of the panels (especially if it has to do with theatre).
Me: Lastly, being that this is our Women in Horror Movement, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself? Thank you again for your time!
KR: Thank you so much for these lovely questions!
A big message I would have to say to women who want to join the industry is that you are strong and deserve to be there. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Also, your health, mental or physical, is always a priority.
This interview ran as part of our 2024 Women in Horror Movement celebrations! Click the banner below to check out our complete coverage:
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