Jenna Kanell rose to fame on the horror circuit after starring in Terrifier. Since then they have been amassing some very interesting projects ranging from small independents to studio titles such as this year’s Renfield. But acting isn’t the only talent that Kanell possesses. Alongside acting Jenna is, amongst other things, a stunt-performer, a director, and a writer. With so many specialities there is always plenty to keep Jenna busy. Most recently Jenna both wrote and starred in Faceless After Dark. The film received its World Premiere at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest and this week returns to UK shores as it screens at Grimmfest.
Faceless After Dark takes some inspiration from Jenna’s own experiences working in the horror genre and film industry, but moulds them into something truly wicked. The story follows Bowei (Kanell), a young actor who rose to fame starring in a movie about an evil clown. Life isn’t exactly what Bowie expected though, and after a toxic fan invades Bowie’s home, a plot for sweet revenge ensues. The script being co-written by Kanell infuses an unexpected layer of intimacy to the piece; Faceless After Dark is a stirring film with a powerful message.
Ahead of the screening of Faceless After Dark at Grimmfest, THN spoke with Jenna to find out a little more about the movie. We were able to have our talk as Faceless After Dark is as independent as movies get, and so is unaffected by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Our discussion covered the genesis of the idea, the initial audience reaction out of FrightFest, as well as the always prevalent topic of surviving in the world as a female-presenting person. You can watch the interview in full below:
Catch Faceless After Dark on Friday 6th October as part of Grimmfest. Further details about the screening can be found here.
