Actors Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey say that though their film Truth or Dare is about intense thrills and challenging mindgames, they are yet to get far in battling their own demons. By Team Viva
Tell us a little about the film, Truth or Dare, and the roles that you both have played.
Lucy Hale: I play the character of Olivia. The film is about a group of friends who travel to Mexico and become possessed by an evil game of truth or dare and it becomes a life or death situation where they must protect themselves and their friends.
Tyler Posey: I play Lucas, who is caught in a love triangle. He seems to have it all figured out and planned. He also becomes very vulnerable and scared because he and his friends are caught up in that situation where lies are being tested by a demon that has possessed a game of truth or dare and they have to figure out how to defeat it without dying. It’s “protect them friends.”
In the film, the two of you are best friends and have known each other for some time. There are secrets and lies. There is drama and melodrama of sorts. And then, there is death. How did it feel like to be together as a little unit, since you haven’t known each other before the film. You came together as strangers but needed to have a bonding in the film?
Tyler: It was seamless.
Lucy: Yes, the foundation of the film is friendship between these characters and we, of course, wanted that to be authentic and make it seem believable. I knew Tyler a bit before we shot this film. But they actually sent us on a trip to Mexico to bond and so we got along really well and got to know each other. We were lucky that we all vibed well with each other from the start and even had a similar sense of humour. So, the chemistry you see on camera felt very natural for all of us.
While you were bonding and playing truth or dare, what were the best questions that were asked? And were there any major revelations at the end of it?
Tyler: Sophia (Taylor Ali) was dared to dance on the table which she got very excited for. I think she may have dared herself to do that (laughs). Rest, I can’t remember. I don’t think the game went on for too long. It was late in the night. I was dared to jump in a pool, which was too cold but it was Mexico.
Lucy: Pretty standard truth or dare!
Tyler: And it wasn’t that intense. No major revelations were involved.
How was Jeff Wadlow as a director?
Tyler: I had a great time working with him. He’s really cool.
Lucy: What’s great with working with him is that he has a kind of energy that keeps us wanting to be on his level. He was well prepared and had a proper planning. He had a vision for the film and an endpoint where he knew what he needed to achieve. I have so much respect for him because of what we captured within our short filming period. I can’t believe that the quality of the film turned out to be as great as it did despite being on a time crunch.
Tyler: Yes. He is the man. He was always looking out for us, having fun. We were like a big family and it was really fun to shoot with each other. He was super enthusiastic whenever he was directing. For example, he would shout ‘cut’ like CUUUUTTTT!
Lucy: We knew when he liked something. It is because he has a kind of growl in his throat. If you notice, in the film, there is a creepy grin. When Jeff smiles, he looks like that. So, I think that was inspired by Jeff, the creepy face and I mean that in the best way possible.
You both have been a part of intense TV shows with thrills, twists and turns. Does appearing in a brave show like this help you face anything in your real life now?
Lucy: Absolutely not. I wish I was half as cool as Aria Montgomery (in Pretty Little Liars).
Tyler: I think you’re pretty tough.
Lucy: I fake it very well but I don’t think I could handle half the stuff that my characters have handled. No chance.
Tyler: Absolutely not. We’ve battled like demons and monsters. I would try to at least stand up for myself but I probably wouldn’t get very far. I get winded pretty easily. I can’t walk up the hill without feeling like I am going to vomit.
Was there a particularly memorable moment while filming this one? For example, the roof scene and the finale.
Tyler: The finale was pretty memorable.
Lucy: It was memorable for me because we had built that set in a warehouse in Downtown Los Angeles. It was covered in dirt and I just remember everyone hacking up dirt and blowing their nose. There was just dirt coming out of us because we were in that room for around 15 hours every day for a week. I just remember it being really hot. It felt as if it were 110 degrees there.
Tyler: I loved that whole sequence. It was so much fun. It was choreographed and there were stunts, which I am down for because Teen Wolf had a bunch of them. I got to be tackled. I got to throw somebody. There was a lot going on in that segment. That was probably the most memorable time.
If you could describe the film in three words each, what would you say?
Lucy: Morbid, silly and exhilarating. These are just great words for it. Or cool? Also, Really. Messed. Up.
Tyler: Nice! There you go, cool.
(The film premieres on June 30 at 1 pm and 9 pm on Sony PIX.)