KAYA COLEMAN TALKS DANGEROUS GAME: THE LEGACY MURDERS

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

A family weekend at a remote island mansion turns Cluedo-esque as they're trapped inside, forced into a deadly game of whodunit. This film is one murder after another?

I didn’t have a chance to read the full script until I was casted, by the time I finished my first read, I was laughing because I didn’t realize how gruesome it was going to be. The challenge was exciting.

Was that an actual house on an actual island or movie magic?

It was an actual house and an actual island but with lots of movie magic in between the two. We mostly used the big mansion for the exterior shots and then shot in multiple areas around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

What was the first day on this set like?

My first day on set was wild because we shot my character's first scene in the movie as well as her last scene. So on my first day on set I took a boat ride and got torn apart by dogs.

How do you feel the night before a first day on set?

I used to feel nervous. But now I feel excited and grateful, for that opportunity to do what I love.

Would you be the type to fan-girl acting alongside Jon Voight?

I didn’t know he was attached to the project until we ran into each other at the production-office but he was very kind to me. We ended up talking for an hour about paramahansa yogananda before he insisted he walk me safely back to my car. He really made me feel like an equal from the beginning, so I never felt any of that fan-girling energy. Regardless of his political opinions, he is a man who respects the craft of acting, and he made filming this movie a lot of fun.

Tara seems like the most sane person of them all. Why do you think she didn't go back to the boat already after the first toxic family meeting?

Tara did everything she could to keep calm, and prioritize her safety. Let us just say the choice to turn away from the boat wasn’t from the goodness of her heart. Unfortunately, though, she was a casualty of a twisted family affair.

You used to compete, for years, as an all-star cheerleader. That stamina must prove useful when you're in some of the more physical scenes?

All acting requires physical and mental stamina to varying degrees but for a horror film like this one, my athletic background was definitely an asset. It was a mental, physical and emotional marathon.

How did you start acting?

I started acting, and modeling, when I was very young. But as I got older, I focused more on athletics and academics. I went to university to study molecular biochemistry and had plans to become a naturopathic physician. However, my desire to keep acting did not waver and I later moved to Vancouver to study acting. For me, acting is one of many paths to self-development and self-expression and I look forward to deepening my craft.

Will you explore any role?

I look forward most to exploring the duality of character and hope to tell stories of love, passion, resilience and strength in a way that is relatable and authentic. It would be an honor to lead a spy thriller–movie, also.