Actor Jason Collett has appeared in many series and movies, including in HBO’s “Watchman” and “Dead Silent”. When I saw the trailer for Netflix’s The Devil All the Time, I knew I had to talk to him. You can read our entire conversation below.
The film centers on an orphaned young man named Arvin Eugene Russell (Tom Holland) and explores the psyches of various corrupt or broken characters between the end of World War II and the 1960s, including a manipulative preacher and a couple of serial killers.
Not only does the trailer for The Devil All the Time look amazing, but it also has a long list of phenomenal actors including Collett, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgård, Sebastian Stan, and Jason Clarke.
Horror Fuel: “What’s your story? How did you get into acting?”
Jason Collett: “Oh, wow. Well, as a kid I grew up in Atlanta. I really didn’t know that I wanted to be an actor, but I was into performing. I would watch movies and memorize them word for word and then go out on the playground and perform them in front of my friends. I had no idea that I was acting. In high school, I took an acting class as a blow-off class for an easy grade. It was in that class that I realized that I really enjoy having the power to make people laugh, to cry, to make them feel something. Then I went to college and tried doing a little bit of community theater I loved it, however, in my third year of college, I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do. I hopped around a bunch of different majors. Finally, I sat down with a guidance counselor – she was fed up with me – and I remember it like it was yesterday. She was like, ‘Hey, you gotta choose something.’ I told her I wanted to be an actor and she said, ‘Great, I’m going to put you down as a theater major,’ to which I responded “no I think I want to be in film and TV”. Two weeks later I drove out to Los Angeles and officially became an actor.”
Horror Fuel: “That’s great!
Jason Collett: “It’s funny, I didn’t like the idea of acting as a kid, performing in front of an audience. I remember the very first thing that I performed in. I was a cow in a local church play, a nativity scene. I had one line, yes, the cow spoke, ‘And may friendly beasts.’ I was finishing the sheep in front of me’s sentence. I had such stage anxiety. I couldn’t even remember my one line. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, today it still is. I have nightmares about that cow.
The art department didn’t have any more black fabric. I couldn’t be a black-spotted cow, they only had red so I was a red-spotted cow [laughs]!”
Horror Fuel: “It’s amazing how those things from childhood stick with us, yours just happens to be a red-spotted cow [laughter]. Now every time I drive past a cow I’m going to think about this conversation.
By the way, I saw the trailer for Netflix’s The Devil All the Time. It looks incredible! What can you tell us about your character?”
Jason Collett: “In The Devil All the Time I play a red-spotted cow [laughter].”
Horror Fuel: “Oh, my god [laughter]! You’re funny!”
Jason Collett: “I got type-cast [laughter].”
Horror Fuel: “Hopefully, this time you remembered your lines [laughter].
Jason Collett: “No, but seriously, I can’t give too much away. Netflix likes to keep things close to the vest. I play Gary Matthew Bryson. He’s a character from the book. He has a very small role in the book however the screenwriters went in and when they wrote the script, they broadened his role in the whole story. The character is bigger than anyone who has read the book will be familiar with.
He’s a young man who is going to enlist in Vietnam. He’s young, he’s nieve, he’s idealistic and hopeful. He’s in this big new world. It’s going to be a fun time watching how he deals with it.”
Horror Fuel: “In the press release we received it mentions that Gary is somehow involved with a couple of serial killers.”
Jason Collett: “Ah, I can’t talk too much about that, but I will say he dabbles a little bit. The moments he’s on-screen are incredible. It’s been said that his moments will keep you “on the edge of your seat.” Without getting into it, I will say that you might be on the right track there. It does kind of deal with serial killers. Every character in this film is twisted in their own way.”
Horror Fuel: “I can’t wait to see it. I find serial killers very interesting. Plus, the cast is simply amazing!”
Jason Collett: “It’s bizarre isn’t it?”
Horror Fuel: “You don’t see a cast like that very often. It’s got you, Tom Holland, Jason Clark, Robert Pattison, and for god’s sakes, Bill Skarsguård. I mean wow!”
Jason Collett: “It really does have some great actors. There’s a lot of big named people in it. When I got the part I was like, ‘No way!’ I had to go on IMDb and double-check. I was thinking that there’s no way it had all these amazing actors. But it does. It’s just crazy. There are so many different storylines happening. Not only are there all these different storylines, but times as well. The way Antonio [Campos] handles his craft, he gives so much to every single character, to every single timeline. It’s amazing.”
Horror Fuel: “There’s also a religious element of the story, right?”
Jason Collett: “Oh, yeah. There are some religious elements to the storyline. There are some characters that are in that world. You’re going to see sides of that world that is going to be uncomfortable. It’s going to be dark. It’s a real serious film, but it’s still going to be fun to watch. These characters have flaws. A lot of the time there is real evil.”
Horror Fuel: “The trailer is fantastic.”
Jason Collett: “Isn’t it? It just came out. I love the trailer so much. It gives you so much, but at the same time doesn’t give you anything. It doesn’t give away any spoilers, you get a little bit of the story and you see some of the brutal nature of some of the characters.
Rob, by the way, has the most insane character. I think people are going to walk away blown away by what Rob does. With Rob, you don’t really know quite what you’re going to get out of him, he will totally surprise you. He has an epic role. You have to see the film. His character is all over the place.”
Horror Fuel: “He’s very talented. The movie is described as a psychological thriller. Is that accurate?”
Jason Collett: “Oh, absolutely. It’s kind of twisted. It’s dark. It’s gothic. You’re going to walk away from this film feeling a little uneasy.
Are you familiar with the book at all?”
Horror Fuel: “I’ve heard of it, but I haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet. I don’t get the chance to read many books these days, but it’s on my list.”
Jason Collett: “When I got this role I immediately read the script and I was like, ‘What is this?’ It was so crazy. So I immediately read the book over a weekend. It’s crazy. There are moments where I had to just stop and say, ‘What?!’ It will be fun to see what viewers think.”
Horror Fuel: “Is the film very close to the book?”
Jason Collett: “Yes. Antonio and Paulo did a very good job keeping the movie close to the book. Streamlining is one thing they did in order to tell the story. It’s going to be very similar. It’s kind of like a love letter from Antonio to the book. It’s his passion project. I talked a lot to Antonio about the book. Watching him talk about the project, he’s like a little kid with his favorite toy. He’s clearly well versed in everything the book touches on. He’s done his homework. And he wanted to make sure that all the characters got their due. You couldn’t have asked for a better director for this.”
Horror Fuel: “I am so glad to hear that. When directors, actors truly love a story it always makes the film better. That love and dedications translate to the screen.
Besides reading the book, how else did you prepare for your role?”
Jason Collett: “The role of Gary is very interesting. Hewas a very difficult character to play. He has a lot of emotional vulnerability. Like I said earlier, the film is so dark. It’s brutal and gothic. Gary deals with those exact things. There was one day on set where, after filming, I walked away and it just lingered with me, you know. I just had to sit there and process the emotional trauma that I had been through that day. It was really difficult to prepare for. These things weren’t something we deal with in everyday life. It’s hard to put yourself in that mindset. As an actor, you have to go places you’re not comfortable going. At the same time, that’s the fun of it, right?”
Horror Fuel: “I can only imagine how difficult it is to put yourself inside a character. What was the hardest part of filming? The emotional toll?”
Jason Collett: “There was one particular scene. It will be obvious which one it is. By the end of the day, I was just drained, physically, and emotionally. It actually took multiple days and a lot of rehearsal. That scene was hard, not just for the acting but also for the technical difficulties. Antonio is an incredible director. He has such an eye for how to shoot a scene. The scene was very climactic and he wanted to do it all in one take. We spent an entire day filming this one scene that lasts a couple of moments on screen.”
Horror Fuel: “Was it more difficult physically or emotionally?”
Jason Collett: “If I had to pick one I’d say emotionally. Yeah, definitely emotionally. But it was fun. You’re creating something. Working with Antonio especially. We created something that wasn’t on the page. That was part of the fun too. It was very much a collaborative effort with everyone.”
Horror Fuel: “What do you hope viewers walk away from The Devil All the Time with?”
Jason Collett: “I hope they walk away wanting more. The world that they have created with this film, it doesn’t just stop with The Devil All the Time. There are multiple books that take place in this world Donald Rey Pollock has created. I want them walking away saying, ‘I want to see more of this world. I want to see more of the story.”
Horror Fuel: “Is there anything else coming up that our readers can see you in?”
Jason Collett: “I do have another film coming out, it’s called Stay at Condor Beach. I’m not sure when that’s coming out, they haven’t announced it yet. That stars Joseph Cross and Annabeth Gish. Annabelle was in The Haunting of Hill House.”
Horror Fuel: “Fantastic! That series is one of the best Netflix has ever done.
Where can our readers learn more about the film and you?”
Jason Collett: “You can go to the Netflix pages. They are always posting stuff, new trailers. Netflix is the go-to for anything related to The Devil All the Time. There will be more things coming out as we get closer to the premiere date. As for me, I post a lot of pictures of dogs [laughter]. My Instagram is there for anyone out there who likes dogs and amateur photography. I’ll also be posting more things for The Devil All the Time closer to the release date.”
Horror Fuel: “Who doesn’t love pictures of dogs? Your Instagram sounds a lot like my Instagram account.
I can’t wait to see The Devil All the Time! Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. It was a pleasure.”
Jason Collett: “Oh, thank you.”
Don’t miss The Devil All the Time, premiering on Netflix on September 16, 2020. Judging by the trailer and what Jason shared with us, I can safely say this is a “must-see” movie! Also, be sure to read Donald Ray Pollock’s novel that the film is based on. You can pick up your copy now from Amazon now.
