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From stand-up to scares: THN talk ‘The Neighbour’ with Bill Engvall

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Bill Engvall Interview for The Neighbour

Bill Engvall is best known to audiences for his work within the comedy world. Starting his career as a stand-up comedian, Engvall worked his way to television, and had his own sitcom which ran for three years (and starred Jennifer Lawrence). Now though, he’s venturing into new, darker territory as he stars in new action/thriller/horror, The Neighbour.

Directed by Marcus Dunstan of The Collector fame, Bill stars as Troy, the titular neighbour. Troy takes a shine to his next-door neighbour John’s (Josh Stewart) girlfriend Rosie (Alex Essoe). When she catches him out doing something illegal she finds herself in danger of becoming his next victim. Can John find her in time?

The film is a great cat and mouse thriller in the vein of Dunstan’s previous work. It screened at Frightfest earlier this year and we found the whole thing terrifyingly tense. It arrives on DVD and digital platforms just in time for Halloween. Ahead of the release we caught up with Bill via email (the wonders of modern technology folks) to pick his brain about the project.

Bill Engvall Interview for The Neighbour

Bill Engvall Interview for The Neighbour

How would you describe The Neighbour?

I would describe “The Neighbour” as a thriller, more so than an actual horror film.

What was it about the project that drew you to it?

I have always wanted to have a role that people don’t see me doing. And it worked!!!!!

Were you familiar with Marcus’ previous body of work?  

I was familiar with Marcus’ work and was very excited to work with him.

How is he to work with as a director?

Marcus could not have been a better person to work with.  He pulled emotions out of me that I didn’t realise I could manifest

They often say that comedians make the best scary villains, how much fun was it embracing your darker side?

There are really no words to describe how much fun it was to play a dark character.

bill-engvall

Bill Engvall Interview for The Neighbour

How did you rationalise Troy’s actions?

Troy is a dad who is trying to make ends meet and give his sons something. However, the way he goes about it is, shall we say… questionable? Hahahaha.

Did you look to any specific actor’s performances to help get into that mind-set? 

Not really, although I will say that I studied Josh Stewart quite a bit, I have the utmost respect for him and his craft.

What was the toughest scene to shoot?

Probably for me it was the scene when we discover my son dead. We shot it several times and it was, for me, the most emotional scene.  Trying to recreate that moment over and over was tough.

Marcus Dunstan interview for The Neighbour.

Bill Engvall Interview for The Neighbour

Did you have much interaction with Alex and Josh when filming, or did you keep a distance to aid the unease?

No. Actually we hung out together, and it was good because we had to have something to break the tension of the scenes.

What type of horror movies do you enjoy?

Oh man, I have been a horror film fan for a long time.  I go back to Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price, and even the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Bill Engvall Interview for The Neighbour

Bill Engvall Interview for The Neighbour

Do you get on well with your neighbours?

Hahahahaha, yeah I would say I am a pretty good neighbour. Although after my neighbours saw this film, a couple of them called my wife and said “Are you okay over there?” Hahahahaha.

The Neighbour releases in the UK on Halloween, why should people pick this as their Halloween fright flick?

It is a great edge-of-your-seat movie, I think that it is THE perfect Halloween movie.

What projects are you working on now?

Well I have another film coming out in November called a Wish for Christmas and it is way different to The Neighbour. I am really hoping that The Neighbour leads to more dramatic roles for me.

The Neighbour arrives on UK DVD from Monday 31st October. Read our review here

Kat Hughes is a UK born film critic and interviewer who has a passion for horror films. An editor for THN, Kat is also a Rotten Tomatoes Approved Critic. She has bylines with Ghouls Magazine, Arrow Video, Film Stories, Certified Forgotten and FILMHOUNDS and has had essays published in home entertainment releases by Vinegar Syndrome and Second Sight. When not writing about horror, Kat hosts micro podcast Movies with Mummy along with her five-year-old daughter.

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