SiREN was a pleasant surprise for horror fans. The film centers on a group of guys on a bachelor party bender who happen upon a seemingly helpless captive in a secluded strip club and free her. Of course she turns out to be an otherworldly monster with the ability to captivate men with her melodic voice. The film was inspired by the short film AMATEUR NIGHT which was one of the highlights of the horror anthology film, V/H/S. In the found footage short, Actress Hannah Fierman played Lily, a mysterious and impulsive girl with a dark secret. Here, her part has been expanded to title role and we learn more about her monstrous character.

HorrorBuzz had a chance to speak to Fierman by phone to discuss the development of a short into a feature, the character of Lily, and what it was like to shoot a film in which she starred but had very little dialogue.
HorrorBuzz. When you did VHS did you have any idea they would be developed into a feature or that it even had the potential to become a feature?

Hannah Fierman. Initially when we were doing the short film we were already talking about how we would turn it into a feature. We brainstormed and it just seemed like it would be impossible to do it in the found footage format so I just stopped thinking about it. Then later when the premiere happened (for V/H/S/) in LA, there was a before party. At the party there was this dude that kept looking at me, staring at me from across the room. He finally comes over and apologizes for staring but is like, ‘I’m writing a feature.’ and I was like, ‘Oh cool,’ and he said, ‘No you don’t understand. I am writing the feature based on your character’ and I was like, ‘OH! oh ok cool!’ I just left it at that and moved on because, well, in independent film you can’t get all excited about it because a lot of things just don’t end up happening. Then a few years later, they called me up and said they were ready to start shooting. I was like ‘WOW! Ok!’

HB. Who is Lily? Where did she come from?

Fierman. She comes from some underground realm where she is totally normal. Some little circle of hell where she just fits right in.

HB. What’s her criteria for “liking” guys?

Fierman. Just you know, animalistic, pheromones.

HB. How did you approach that character knowing that there was pretty much no dialogue?

Fierman. We workshopped it. David had originally sent me an image of a bat. So I watched a bunch of videos online depicting their behavior and then I brought in this feline, predatory aspect to it. I also workshopped it with my stunt double, Elizabeth Davidovitch, who I had worked on AMATEUR NIGHT with for V/H/S/ and we just brought those back for SiREN. In this movie though she has a tale and she sings and she flies around a lot more.

HB. A lot more body language.

Fierman. Yeah very primal, like this sexual being that is a sort of misunderstood monster.

HB. She’s not evil?

Fierman. No not at all. She’s just reacting in her natural state.

HB. Being nude for 90% of the movie, was that something you had to get over?

Fierman. Well I mean initially you have to work to get over it but at some point you are just like, “fuck it” and you focus on the task at hand. I mean anybody that is focusing on your nudity on set is just not doing their job. Everybody was super professional on that set, very cool group of people. We were out in the swamps. My biggest worry were the chiggers.

HB. What are some of your favorite creature features?

Fierman. I like them, but I get upset. You know? I mean, it makes my heart hurt. Like King Kong or Pete’s Dragon. It’s like ‘No he’s not mean, leave him alone!’

HB. You identify with the misunderstood monster

Fierman. I think that everybody does in a way. I mean, that’s why it’s a recurring theme and subculture. We love our pets, we love our animals and it’s the same.

HB. Any favorite horror films?

Fierman. Well, you know, I’m not a huge horror fan, but I love the genre. I love the the breadth that it gives you. And horror fans are really open to you doing whatever the hell you want. They’re open minded enough to watch some crazy ass shit. I also love the fans themselves, you know? You can do this crazy gritty stuff and if there is something interesting there it will get attention. But as far as watching the movies, no, I can’t. I get upset. I get nightmares. I guess my favorite horror movie is The Sixth Sense. But the ones that scared the shit out of me was Jacob’s Ladder and The Shinning. I can’t watch those any more.

HB. What’s next for Hannah

Fierman. A movie called Haven’s end where I play a goth chick. It’s kind of a sci-fi, post-apocalyptic movie. I also just got a feature that’s been released online for free. It’s called Hold Me. It’s a drama. I play a woman named Hannah that holds people as they are getting willingly euthanized.

HB. WOW!

Fierman. Yeah it’s a really intense movie and I am really proud of it. It’s super indie and it’s an important topic to discuss. After the movie that I am doing this week I am doing a short film with my buddies where I play a cyborg prison warden. It’s gonna be so much fun!