Wyatt Russell talks new horror film Night Swim: "If the scene calls for me to be possessed in a shower, you got the right guy"
Jan. 5, 2024Exclusive: Wyatt Russell talks getting into character for Blumhouse’s latest horror
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Warning: Night Swim spoilers ahead!
Actor Wyatt Russell is no stranger to taking on dark roles – but being possessed by a haunted swimming pool was (pardon the pun) a whole other ballgame.
“We did talk through scenes a lot to try and transitions were hard – I’m just now remembering it. Transitions were hard because it was like, ‘where do you go?’ How do you transition from fun family to like, now there’s something going on, and then, oh my God, then holy shit, he’s possessed,” Russell explains to GamesRadar+. “So, we talked about that a lot. Feathering in that was good, but then having him be an ex-athlete who needs to get back to a former version of himself to try and play baseball again – the narcissistic qualities come out. And then mostly it’s just playing the scenes as they come. If the scene calls for me to be possessed in a shower, you got the right guy. I can do that for you . It’s just truncating it out and doing it, doing it piece by piece.”
InNight Swim, Russell plays former baseball star Ray Waller, who, after being forced to retire due to illness, moves his family into a new house in an attempt to settle into a normal life. Ray is particularly attracted to the backyard swimming pool, convinced that it will help with physical therapy for his worsening condition.
Possession aside, Russell also told GamesRadar+ that his background as a hockey player helped him prepare for the role: “It provided a starting-off point that was familiar to me and I could speak to from a place of reality. It was nice to be able to offer that.” Baseball serves as the film’s throughline, which McGuire says was due to the sport’s “iconic, almost mystical kind of role in American culture” and that the “audience would find themselves almost instinctively falling into rooting for [Ray]”.
Night Swim is in theaters now. For more, check out our chats withdirector Bryce McGuire on the film’s originsandstar Kerry Condon on acting in her first-ever horror film, or get your questions answered with ourNight Swim ending explained.
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox
Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent’s Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.
Elvis and Dune 2 star Austin Butler to play Patrick Bateman in Challengers director Luca Guadagnino’s American Psycho remake
Andrew Garfield says he’s “disappointed” he couldn’t do Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, but Jacob Elordi “needed it more” than him
Dev behind new Doki Doki Literature Club-style psychological horror says it’s not “for those with weak hearts,” but with 98% positive Steam reviews, I’m not sure I can stay away
