Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension star Chris Murray

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension star Chris Murray is ready to make your October even more of a thrill ride in the next installment of the blockbuster franchise.

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How did your role in Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension stretch you as an actor?

When I first went out for it, I thought it was a comedy because it had a code name. The director wanted to see improv and that ‘s what I do best. I had a lot of fun and later, I found out it’s part of the horror movie franchise. I never thought I would do a horror movie, or that I’d play a father. I don’t have kids and being a concerned dad is a lot of work. Getting into that mindset of being concerned for their well-being is tougher than you think. It was a challenge in that I wanted to be light hearted and funny but this character is serious and grounded.

I don’t get scared that often. Maybe when I was a kid, I’d be afraid of the dark in the middle of the night. Being scared a lot is a hard emotion, but you just have to do it when you’re in a film like this. It’s hard to prepare to be really fucking terrified. You better have something that’s triggering you to be scared.

What drives you?

You really don’t know what you’re doing, character-wise, until that character finally makes sense to you. Meaning, when you can understand them as a human, you can offer your sense of humor or pain or experience to them. It drives me to find those guys I connect with or I know I can be the vessel for that understanding or that expression of character. It’s an endless search for something to connect with and know you can show the truth of that character better than anyone.

Were you a fan of horror movies movie doing this film?

I wasn’t before but now I kinda am. In a way, they put fear into the world but, it’s also like a rollercoaster ride. It’s funny at the beginning and then you go on this ride, like a rollercoaster, and in the back of your head, you know it’s just a movie.

How would you say this movie gives the audience something the previous films in the franchise didn’t?

It’s funnier. The guy that plays my brother is a stand-up comedian and we had a lot of fun.  I think you’re going to laugh, which you don’t do in the other ones. I would also say it can stand on its own. The mythology of one and three are there, but it stands on its own. Apart from that, it’s big! It’s 3-D IMAX and it’s a wild ride. There’s a lot happening in this one. You’re on the ride, it’s a puzzle that has to be figured out and it’s going to be intense and it’s crazy.

What’s next?

I think this movie is going to be a good one. This movie took the better part of a year and I’m looking forward to more projects. I want to play interesting characters; men who are interesting, funny, dark – real men. That’s where I’m heading and it’s taken me a long time. People in the business don’t know what to do with me half the time. I can play a lot more than the stupid funny guy so I think this movie is going to be good for that.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, releases wide theatrically on October 23, 2015.

Photographer: Diana Ragland

Wardrobe Stylist: Jordan Grossman

Groomer: Veronica Arancibia

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