Alien Star Veronica Cartwright on New Scary Thriller Movie The Ruse | Interview

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In an upcoming interview, Brandon Schreur from ComingSoon’s Senior Editorial team sat down with Veronica Cartwright, who will be starring in the chilling new thriller film titled “The Ruse“. During their conversation, Cartwright shared her reasons for joining the project, her approach to portraying a character suffering from dementia while also maintaining an air of suspicion, and other intriguing insights.

In the given synopsis, it’s mentioned that when a caregiver suddenly disappears from an elderly patient’s home, Dale (Madelyn Dundon) steps in as the new nurse. She hastily makes her way to the secluded coastal house, only to encounter turmoil – managing an unruly patient, enigmatic neighbors, and eerie supernatural events that appear to haunt the property. Is it truly a haunted house, or is something more sinister at play? As Dale becomes increasingly trapped, she’s uncertain who to trust, growing fearful for her life and that of her patient. The film stars Veronica Cartwright (Alien, The Witches of Eastwick), and promises a terrifying thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end!

The Ruse will be released in theaters nationwide on Friday, May 16, 2025.

As a gaming enthusiast, let me share my curiosity: What led you to join forces on this intriguing project, The Ruse? When you first received the script, what were the elements that caught your eye and sparked your desire to become an essential piece of its creation?

Veronica Cartwright stated that director Stevan Mena reached out to her representatives and sent over the script. She found the script intriguing, believing it could make for a compelling thriller since such films are not commonly produced nowadays. She appreciated the challenge of portraying a character who frequently had a cannula inserted in her nose [laughs]. Olivia was an interesting character to play, as she exhibited signs of OCD and possessiveness, along with quirks and moments of clarity. Acting out this role was enjoyable for her.

I’m quite confident that one aspect of this film that truly captivated me was its ability to keep viewers guessing until almost the end. The plot twists and turns were so frequent that I wasn’t completely certain about what was happening, not even up to the final act, more like the last 10-15 minutes. Was it haunted? Was there a murderer around? Had my character been deceiving me all along? So many possibilities. When you first read through the entire script, what was your initial response? Were you able to foresee where the story was headed at all?

Indeed, not at all what I expected, but incredibly ingenious! The wig detail still leaves me in awe; it completely slipped my mind. Suddenly, I found myself saying, “Ah, yes, I had forgotten about that twist, quite clever, indeed!

[Madelyn Dundon] was a joy to collaborate with. She was fantastic, she’s a charming young woman. It’s refreshing to have someone you can work alongside effectively. You know, we had a limited budget. That house didn’t require extensive modifications. Our set decorator was quite resourceful, moving items from one room to another. The house was quite diverse in its style.

Hey there! I must confess, your earlier observation about the house being a character in the film really struck a chord with me. Its portrayal on screen seems quite modest, and I can’t help but wonder if that was intentional. Could you share some insights into what it was like for you to film at this location?

[Laughs] The house wasn’t tiny; it was quite large, to be precise. And it had a peculiar quality about it – one door, and then, all of a sudden, another level to explore. I believe Cory [Geryak] did an excellent job with the cinematography, creating that eerie sensation of, ‘Weren’t I just here a moment ago?’ Indeed, it was a rather impressive three-story house, I must admit.

It’s intriguing to note that The Ruse seems to have a nostalgic movie vibe, yet it deviates from the predictable paths most big productions take. It offers an unique blend of excitement, fear, and drama, with an ending twist that echoes Alfred Hitchcock’s style, as it explains the motivations behind everyone’s actions. Did this aspect of being part of something distinctively different from current movie trends also catch your attention in the project?

Indeed, it’s somewhat similar to that type of storyline. In this case, the puzzle solver takes on the role of the detective, piecing together the clues at the end. I found this approach quite intriguing since it’s not a common narrative style. Typically, we are expected to solve the mystery ourselves, but in this instance, there are unexpected twists and turns that challenge our assumptions. These surprises took me by surprise when I encountered them.

I really enjoyed the introduction of the detective character, as it wasn’t forced or overly explanatory. Instead, it felt seamless and authentic, like we were following along with him as he unraveled the mystery step by step. I found that approach very engaging.

Oh, good. I hope other people think that, too, when they see it.

Speaking of Madelyn, who portrays Dale in the film, I was wondering if you could share some insights about working with her. Her interactions with you were simply fantastic, and I’m curious to know more about your on-screen partnership. How did it feel having her as a co-star?

As a gamer, I’m absolutely smitten by this charming young lady we had the pleasure of hosting during our Airbnb stay. The producer, John Caglione Jr., his associate Cory Geryak, myself, and this angelic soul named Ginny, who accompanied Caglione Jr., were our companions in this shared abode. Ginny took care of us like a den mother, cooking for us, ensuring everyone was comfortable, and so on. We all resided in the upper part of the house, which boasted numerous bedrooms. The view outside? A breathtaking lake, framing a picturesque landscape that left me awestruck. The property was a stunner.

Inside, there was a massive Viking stove, complete with a barbecue section. It was an absolute joy to cook and grill on it. Truly fantastic!

Later on, Madelyn resided in an apartment situated below us. It was wonderful. We’d share meals and yet maintained our own spaces within this Airbnb, as we each occupied distinct wings. She was delightful and considerate towards me. Her kindness towards me was evident, as she often consulted me – we seemed to complement each other remarkably well, I believe. I think she excels in her role, I think she’s genuinely good at it. I sincerely hope for her success and happiness.

Once more, I find myself expressing the belief that the two of you work exceptionally well together, adding an extra layer of enjoyment while watching. As previously stated about “The Ruse”, it’s hard to predict what will happen until the end. There’s a moment when your character is suspected; perhaps Olivia was the deceiver, and she could have murdered the nurse at the start. I won’t reveal any spoilers for those who watch the movie, but I am intrigued as to whether this suspicion influences your entire performance in this film. When you’re shooting scenes that occur earlier, do you find yourself thinking, ‘I should act a little suspicious, but not too much?’

As a devoted fan, let me share an interesting tidbit from behind the scenes: During filming, I had a scene where I temporarily removed my cannula and left, only to return and replace it later. It added a sense of authenticity, making it seem like Olivia could have truly performed the action herself. Unfortunately, this scene didn’t make it into the final cut. I must admit, I was slightly disappointed because I appreciated that realistic touch. Perhaps Stevan had his reasons for excluding it, but I found that element intriguing.

Actually, my beloved character often displays lucid moments, yet there are instances when she seems to wander off, lost in her thoughts. Reminders of her husband or past memories, sometimes eluding her grasp.

At other instances, she was completely coherent, discussing music and various topics. This was Stevan’s daughter who wrote that entire section since I believe she is a conductor or similar. So, she penned the whole passage about focusing on this part and the fifth of that — I’m thinking, ‘Alright.’ It turned out well in my opinion, making it intriguing because I wasn’t familiar with any of it, but it was quite fascinating. I wanted to make sure I did it justice. However, it was, indeed, captivating with the music involved.

Yes, I shared your sentiment as I’m not very familiar with that genre of music either. Yet, when you began discussing it, I found myself thinking, ‘She seems to be incredibly knowledgeable about this topic. I believe they likely researched thoroughly for this scene.’

Thank you, Stevan, for having your daughter write that [laughs].

I was wondering if you could share some insights about collaborating with Stevan, as I’m not very familiar with his work. Today, I revisited some of his projects, and I must say, he appears extremely talented. He has some notable directorial credits to his name, and it seems he truly understands the art of directing. Given your extensive experience in the industry and diverse range of projects you’ve worked on, I’m curious about your take on working with someone who is relatively new yet promising like Stevan.

To put it simply, he knew precisely what he desired in every situation. He was always present in the room. He often pointed out specific details, such as items on the side of the table and other particular objects like a mug, stating Olivia’s need for order and precision. These arrangements were Stevan’s ideas, and he was meticulous about maintaining them. He would frequently rush in to arrange everything just as it had been. When shooting scenes, his enthusiasm for the outcome was palpable. He allowed for a great deal of creative freedom to express our characters, which was gratifying. It’s pleasing to have such freedom.

As a gaming enthusiast diving deep into the world of cinematics, I’ve always been intrigued by your choice of roles in horror and thriller projects. From The Birds to Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Alien, these projects have left a lasting impact on me. Is it that you’re particularly attracted to this genre and eagerly seek out these roles, or is it more like a natural progression? Just wondering if there’s a specific appeal for you in these spine-tingling tales.

[Laughs] Everything seems to be happening by chance. I’m never quite sure what’s going on, but if a script lands in my inbox with a unique and intriguing role that I haven’t tackled before, I’m more than willing to give it a shot. Frankly, I don’t actively seek out horror films, but I did star in ‘The Town That Dreaded Sundown,’ which also falls into the horror genre, so it seems like I keep getting chosen for such roles. I can’t quite explain why.

I believe the reason is that you are incredibly skilled at it. The movie “The Ruse” will be hitting theaters this coming May, which I found very thrilling since most low-budget independent films tend to go directly to video on demand (VOD), making them harder for people to locate and discover. However, with this one being screened in real theaters, I find that really intriguing.

Honestly, I’m thrilled about this wide release! Just as you mentioned, indie films often have brief runs in small theaters or unique venues. However, spreading it across the nation feels pretty amazing!

Thanks to Veronica Cartwright for discussing The Ruse.

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2025-05-17 00:42