A reality television production crew visits Pennhurst, an abandoned psychiatric hospital, on a mission to capture evidence of paranormal activity. Soon the crew is being picked off one by one in a series of gruesome murders. Turns out there are plenty of ghosts at Pennhurst who don’t want the crew there and do everything in their power to make them leave.

But what do the ghosts really want? The answer will shake you to your core.

We caught up with actress, Amanda Dunn, who plays Jesse in the upcoming Michael Rooker film, Pennhurst.

Horror News Network:  Pennhurst is pretty much about a paranormal reality show gone terribly wrong.  The investigators find something more terrifying than ghosts.  How did this role come about for you?

Amanda Dunn: I had worked with Rooker before on a couple of other projects, so when he obtained the script for Pennhurst, he called me up and basically said, "I've got  something for you." I gladly accepted.    

Horror News Network:  What was it like working with Michael Rooker?  

Amanda Dunn: He is one of my favorites, so it's an absolute blast every time we work together. Having him as my director this time around made it an even cooler experience because I value his opinion and guidance. He was very enthusiastic and kept me pumped on set.    

Horror News Network: Tell us about your character, Jesse?  

Amanda Dunn: Jesse is the 'tech geek' of the group, but not how you typically imagine someone with that title. She has an alternative edge and a cool and slightly sarcastic demeanor. Jesse loves her job and basically lives for finding something to spook the audience of their television show.    

Horror News Network: How does Jesse handle the situation when it goes from creepy to horrific?  

Amanda Dunn: Jesse is the one that tries to keep as calm as possible when things start to get iffy. She does her best to help her team hold it together.

Horror News Network: How does that compare with how Amanda Dunn would handle the same situation?  

Amanda Dunn: Similar in the fact that I really insist on breathing easy under pressure.. but I've also been known to crack at the worst moments. I can be pretty inconsistent in a crisis.    

Horror News Network: You'’ve worked on other films and various TV shows.  How does working in the “horror genre” differ for you?

Amanda Dunn: Being on a horror set offers a certain type of fun that only a horror set can provide. The experience of filming Pennhurst ended up being an incredible one. Just  being on location at the facility, right in the middle of it. It really is a strangely beautiful place. However, I approach every type of role with the same amount of tenacity. I just love  working, period.    

Horror News Network: The trailer looks incredible, from the way the movie was shot to the gritty feel of the film.  What can the hardcore horror fan expect in terms of actually being scared?

Amanda Dunn: The location alone lends itself to being genuinely creepy, and we definitely tried to bring something to the table that will deliver a thrilling ride for the viewer. I am actually very anxious to see how it all comes together!    

Horror News Network:  Are you, yourself a horror fan?  In the spirit of the season, what’'s your favorite horror movie / thriller?  

Amanda Dunn: Am I a horror fan? Absolutely. I read every single Fear Street book growing up and often wrote short stories and plays in this genre. The word "horror" has always enticed me. When it comes to my favorite horror movie, I'm going to have such a difficult time narrowing it down to one, that I will just have to give you my Top 3 in no particular order: Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," John Carpenter's "Halloween," and Brian De Palma's "Carrie." Apparently, it's super hard to beat horror films from the 70s. I'm pretty certain that is a fact.    

Horror News Network: What’'s up next for you?  

Amanda Dunn: New projects and potential projects seem to pop up over night for me. Hopefully that means I'll stay busy until further notice! I also have a couple of films set  to hit festivals very soon. One in particular is a horror short entitled "The Killing Seed." It was written by Rod Dixon and directed by Carl Shackleton. We filmed it in Atlanta  earlier this year, and I'm looking forward to promoting it in the coming weeks.    

Horror News Network: Where can our readers find out more information about you?  

Amanda Dunn: I update my twitter and Facebook fan page regularly. I'd love to have more of you to entertain! :-) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Dunn/157136364380608 http://twitter.com/AmandaActress  

Horror News Network: Thanks for your time Amanda! Comment on this article here.

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Published on: 2011-10-15 (574 reads)