Interview with Brendan Coyle
Interview with Brendan Coyle
Published: 22 January 2018
I watched the first episode in the dark, and I was terrified! I hope we scare the bejesus out of viewers!
What drew you to Requiem?
The scripts were terrific. The moment I read them, my curiosity was piqued. There is a very strong mystery at the heart of it. It’s genuinely spooky and mystifying. There was a real buzz going around the industry about these scripts, and I can see why. There is so much going on in them. Kris writes in such a bold, original way. You have to back that. I thought, “Even if I don’t get the part, it’s been great to read these wonderful scripts!”
Talk us through your character.
The idea of haunting and being haunted is a strong theme in Requiem. Matilda is haunted, and Kendrick is haunted. He is haunted by the disappearance of a child in an old case. He was under duress at the time and faced a power greater than him. He still behaves in a way that is haunted. Ostensibly we think that it’s because he didn’t solve that case, but there is actually more going on…
He is haunted by a lot of internal stuff. I love the subtext of this drama. We’re never quite sure who anyone is at any particular moment.
How does the drama create such a spooky atmosphere?
It doesn’t have a world-shattering budget for CGI, so a lot of the spooky elements are conjured up through suggestion. It’s all about the power of the unseen.
What were the rural locations like to shoot in?
Fantastic. Wales is wild. We saw many stunning parts of the country, and I was filming with delightful people. I loved the whole experience. It was a real treat.
How did you find it working with Mahalia?
She’s an extraordinary director. She has great taste and a wonderful visual style. Her ethos is very cinematic and poetic. On set, she’d very calm and focused. She has tremendous certainty without being aggressive. She’d give you very selective notes, but they were always spot-on. I don’t know what ‘it’ is, but when you meet someone who has ‘it’, you recognise it immediately. Mahalia definitely has ‘it’.
Do you think audiences will be compelled by this drama?
Absolutely. I can’t think of anything else like it. This is a project close to all our hearts. Kris’s storytelling is brilliant. I think audiences will really take to it. It poses those eternal questions: Is there anything else? Are we alone?
Do you also think viewers will be chilled by Requiem?
Definitely. We like to be scared. It’s a visceral experience, venturing beyond our comfort zone. Stepping into that dangerous territory is a thrill. Requiem is like a classic movie such as The Omen. It preys on our faith. This is beautifully done. I watched the first episode in the dark, and I was terrified! I hope we scare the bejesus out of viewers!
