Jon: So, Dean, you have three films in this year's FrightFest. That’s quite an achievement. Tell us about the films and your involvement.
Dean: Yes, I’m very happy about it, especially as it’s the 25th anniversary. It’s such a massive festival, and I feel very privileged. I play the lead, Alan, in Members Club by writer-director Marc Coleman, which is the Saturday night main screen feature film. It sold out all 800 tickets in 30 minutes! We’re all still pretty shocked about it, to be honest.
It’s a comedy horror about an over-the-hill male stripper group that ends up in a working men’s club and somehow gets involved in a plot to bring a 16th-century witch back from the dead. Yes, it’s mad, gory, and very, very funny. The cast is incredible, packed with top actors, including Perry Benson, Marc Monero, Steve Oram, Juliet Cowan, David Schaal, and even Peter Andre pops up. Plus, the rest of the cast from Marc’s first film, ManFish, Liam Noble, Emma Stannard, and David Alexander, are like family now.
I’m very excited for people to see this. Marc, the director, is a mad genius, and it was such fun to shoot.
Jon: You’re also the male lead in the feature film Charlotte, playing Roy, a completely different character from Alan in Members Club.
Dean: Well, yes, very different. Alan is a happy-go-lucky type, whereas Roy has a very dark side with many mood changes. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? You’ll have to watch to find out. Without giving too much away, Charlotte has many twists and turns and really messes with your head.
Jon: Charlotte has been recommended as one of the top five terrifying films to watch at FrightFest this year. How does that feel?
Dean: Very proud, but I’m just part of the team. Writer-director Georgia Conlan and co-writer, DoP, and editor Martin Hardwick deserve all the credit. Those two literally did everything between them, and I’m so pleased that their hard work and talent have been recognised. I really hope this serves as a calling card for their talent.
Jon: Can you tell us about the story?
Dean: It’s difficult to talk about this one without spoilers, so I’ll just say it’s about a young schoolgirl who has run away from an abusive household and has been taken in by an older man who is trying to help get her back home. Yes, he has a past, but that doesn’t make him a bad man, or does it? Seriously, it’s a very clever story, just watch it!
Jon: And finally, your third film, Derelict. This looks like a gritty and atmospheric feature, shot partly in black and white. What can you tell us about it?
Dean: This film is a cinematic masterpiece. Director and writer Jonathan Zaurin has woven together such a breathtaking and heartbreaking revenge thriller with some of the most beautiful shots you’ve ever seen on film.
You may think I’m biased. Well, yes, I am, but I’m not the only one. He is already receiving rave reviews and being described in the same vein as Shane Meadows and Ben Wheatley films.
Jon: That’s a pretty strong statement. So, what makes this film so impressive?
Dean: Honestly, it’s a work of art. To be so visually stunning while also being so bleak is a skill in itself. The story is about a girl, played by the brilliant lead Suzanne Fulton, who loses her father, me, to a senseless attack and goes on a journey to find those who were responsible and help find peace within herself.
She really draws you in, and you feel every pain she is experiencing. The rest of the cast, too many to name them all, Micky Combes, Pete Bird, Darren King, Ayvianna Snow, all put in amazing, gritty, nuanced performances, and I feel very lucky to be part of this great film. I truly believe this is something very special.
Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned the original score by Michael Sanchez. It’s a totally immersive experience that is as beautiful as it is tragic.
Jon: Well, I can honestly say they all sound fantastic. Dare I ask, do you have a favourite film?
Dean: You can ask, but I can’t answer that. They are all so different, it’s impossible to compare. I will say that they are all at the top of their game in terms of their own genres, whether it’s comedy horror, psychological drama, or revenge thriller. I’m very proud to be involved in all three, playing totally different characters.
Jon: So, after FrightFest, what’s next for you?
Dean: Well, hopefully, the films will all do well in the big wide world and bring me more opportunities, but also get these filmmakers and other actors the recognition they deserve. Remember their names, you will definitely be hearing more from them.
Jon: Thanks for chatting, Dean. Good luck with the films, and have a great FrightFest!
Dean Kilbey still has films in post-production, including the horrors The Crucifix and The Shug, and can currently be seen on TV in Supacell and Top Boy for Netflix, ManFish on Amazon, plus Boiling Point the series on BBC One.
