Interview with Olivia Peck, Star of “Obsidian”

We chat with Olivia Peck, the star of the indie horror film “Obsidian” — a frightening new take on body-horror and the pitfalls of vanity.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I will never volunteer for a drug trial. I’ve seen enough horror movies to know that never ends well. The latest film to cement my stance on this matter is the female-driven Obsidian, a film about a drug trial gone awry that you could call a cautionary tale. To celebrate the film’s recent release, I chatted with star Olivia Peck about what intrigued her about the film, what draws her to horror, and why she wanted to be an actor.

Morbidly Beautiful: What was it about the script for Obsidian that intrigued you and made you want to be a part of the project?

Olivia Peck: Obsidian was exciting to me because when I read the script, it was just as much of a drama as it is a horror movie. The characters seemed real and layered beyond all of the scary stuff. Even the gore had intention behind it. There’s a message to the film that I found meaningful.

Morbidly Beautiful: How did you prepare for your role?

Olivia Peck: Fortunately, I found my character, Iris, to have similar qualities to myself in terms of age, line of work, and aspects of her personality. It made me really empathize with her and imagine the type of life she had. I created a past for her, leaned into her style, and just tried to step into the scenes with all of Iris’ baggage and optimism while also staying in the moment and circumstances at hand.

Morbidly Beautiful: What draws you to the horror genre?

Olivia Peck: Horror is like the darkest parts of the human psyche brought to light. Weirdly, I kinda dig that. I think it can be important. It makes us realize how much light there is in the world. Does that make sense?

Morbidly Beautiful: Yes, that absolutely makes sense, and I completely agree. What made you want to be an actor?

Olivia Peck: I wanted to be an actor because I love doing musicals and operas, but the acting part was the most fun for me. Once I realized that I can JUST act without having to worry about my singing voice, I dove in. And then I realized how hard it is to be a good actor. I love the challenge.

Morbidly Beautiful: If you could collaborate with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Olivia Peck: My friends! There’s nothing better than working with your friends.

Morbidly Beautiful: Aw, I really love that! What’s up next for you?

Olivia Peck: Right now I am in the process of acting in a movie created by Ahmed Siddiqui called In Their Hearts. I’ve also got a couple of indie films in the works with local southeast region filmmakers. I feel so lucky.

Morbidly Beautiful: One last question for you, Olivia. What’s your favorite scary movie?

Olivia Peck: Does Donnie Darko count as scary? I think it is! I love that movie. I also like Shutter Island.

Thank you so much to Olivia for taking the time to speak with us. Be sure to catch Obsidian on VOD now!