A horror fan since she was a little girl is the talented Kamarra Cole. After attending CCPAA, a Performing Arts Academy in San Diego, Kamarra has been a force in the entertainment industry. Horror Nation speaks with Kamarra about her upcoming role in the Werewolf film, Wolf Hollow.
HN: What is your favorite Werewolf film?
KC: Silver Bullet is hands down one of my favorite werewolf movies. Silver Bullet is a movie that to this day if it’s on I will watch it. Gary Busey is prime Gary Busey and Corey Haim as well as Megan Follows give really strong performances. The pain in the ass brother and older sister dynamic between Jane and Marty feels so real and you can empathize with both of them. Jane feels like because Marty is handicapped she bears the burden of having to care for him. Marty understands this and they butt heads, but they still have a deep love for each other and you can see it throughout the entire film. That love is also filled with respect and trust, which is why Jane believes Marty when he tells her about the Reverend Lowe being a werewolf and terrorizing their small town. The whole story, like a lot of King’s work, resonates because it’s set in a place and with scenarios that are believable. Even the metal smith making the silver bullet has a very matter of fact answer when Uncle Red asks what you would need a silver bullet for. A werewolf. The werewolf sfx is a little dated but still hits home especially in the funeral scene. It’s an excellent werewolf movie because the story itself is excellent.
HN: If you could play any role, in any horror film, from any time, which role would you like to play?
KC: There are so many amazing roles in horror. That’s a tough one. Mina Harker from Dracula and Private Vasquez from Aliens. Vasquez is this amazingly badass character, who gives no f*&ks about what any of the guys think of her. She holds her own, and then some, and you never see her back down. She’s a character who I would have loved to have seen more of in an earlier timeline. In general though she’s such a vibrant and dynamic character. On the flip side I love period pieces. Dracula is one of my favorite books, and I love all the many versions of the story throughout the years.
HN: The Werewolf designs in Wolf Hollow are fantastic. What was it like to be on set with those beasts?
KC: That’s what is magical about acting in any movie, but horror especially. Even the actors sometimes don’t get to see the creature reveal until later. I got to see a lot of the gore that resulted from the werewolf run-ins which was so much fun. Mark Cantu, our director, had such a strong and laser focused vision of what he wanted his creatures and this world to look like and I think it was really boldly realized.
HN: Any funny stories from the set?
KC: Everyday on set was a blast and we were always laughing about something.
HN: Your character Gillian is a mediator, have you ever had to mediate on set?
KC: She is! That’s why I liked her a lot. It’s always fun to play layered characters. Gillian is a badass for sure, but she’s got this bleeding heart that really keeps her from responding to a lot of situations in the best way. Gillian feels like she needs to be everything to everyone at all times. As for myself, I wouldn’t say so much peacemaker, but definitely just lending an ear. Productions are stressful, and everyone at some point or another is going to need to vent. I try to just be three for my fellow cast and crew.
HN: Do you think Women of Color get a fair shake in Horror?
KC: Yes and No. As a little girl and all while growing up, I was always drawn to Horror and Science Fiction. I am also a book nerd, so I devoured Goosebumps, Christopher Pike, King, John Saul, Dean Koontz and anything else I could get my hands on to read or watch. Science Fiction and Horror are supposed to be these worlds with infinite realities and possibilities. Creatures from our nightmares and characters that give you a glimpse of yourself and yet at the time the worlds all looked the same, with the same faces in those leading roles.
A lot is changing though and my gosh I have seen some amazing strong and dynamic characters in Horror that are Women of Color, especially in the indie world and at festivals. Like man if you haven’t seen, She Never Died, starring Olunike Adelyi, you need to. It’s directed by Audrey Cummings and will blow your mind. Such a strong performance that started in the indie Horror world and now she has gone on to even more powerhouse performances in other films and on T.V.
We’re in this really exciting time right now in Horror. Directors like Jordan Peel are showcasing strong Women of Color in Horror, but even now, I could go on backstage and show you at least 50 casting calls in horror that call for a White or European female who is smart, funny, beautiful and a badass. I didn’t know that those attributes were color specific. Indie Horror is opening a lot of doors, for stories that reflect the actual world we live in and even more so you see filmmakers of color in the horror genre making space for these faces, no longer waiting to be asked to join., they are creating and bringing their own vision to life. I love horror, I love the horror community, it’s come a long way but we can always do more.