Interview: Actor, editor, and writer Danica Lee Clauser on her new creature feature GOG

Horror actor/editor/producer/writer Danica Lee Clauser - Image courtesy of Clauser

Danica Lee Clauser is no stranger to the horror genre. Her recent credits include the role of Violet in “Inkblack,” a horror pilot that earned her a “Best Actress” award at the New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival. She also starred as Amber in the short film Trick or Treat 2 and she wrote, produced, and starred in the thriller Girl with the Grey Eyes.

Her latest film is GOG, which will stream on Shudder from October 15-November 15 as part of the Etheria Film Festival. The movie follows a group of friends stuck on a boat, as an unknown creature attacks them. Clauser plays McKinley, one of the friends hoping to survive and eventually return to shore. She also served as a writer, producer, and editor for the film.

We recently spoke with Clauser about GOG and the many hats she wears as a creative working within the horror genre.

The Horror Lounge: You’ve already done a number of horror projects. What attracts you to the genre?

Clauser: Because horror already exists (for the most part) outside the realm of reality, you’re able to capture real world themes in creative, out there ways. As an actor, I get to do a lot of weird, fun stuff that I wouldn't normally get to do in a straight drama or comedy. I love to work on movies with a lot of action, and horror allows for that intensity and sense of play. There’s also something very cathartic about screaming your lungs out at work.

The Horror Lounge: On most of the horror short films that you’ve starred in, including GOG, you’ve also worked as an editor and sometimes a producer. What’s it like balancing those roles and wearing numerous hats?

Clauser: What makes it manageable is that the bulk of my work for each job happens in a different stage of production. I spend most of my time as a producer in pre-production, then as an actor while shooting, and an editor in post-production. There’s a bit of overlap between producer/actor in pre and producer/editor in post, but that bit of separation makes it easier for me to switch on the different parts of my brain. I’m also lucky to share the role of producer with our director Kara Grace Miller and our director of photography Alexander Cope, and we’re able to trade tasks as needed. Both Miller and Cope are a part of Bare Bones Filmmakers, our indie arts collective dedicated to microbudget filmmaking. 

The Horror Lounge: Tell us about your new film, GOG, and your role as McKinley.

Clauser: GOG is an Americana creature-feature horror comedy inspired by local legends. Five Vermont transplants, or "Flatlanders," set out to have the perfect day on their boat, but the lake’s sole permanent resident fights to protect herself against the intruders. The spoiled visitors’ egos clash as the elusive plesiosaur claims back her home. 

My character McKinley is the scream queen who’s tragic death should kick off our film. She’s young, spoiled, and has never really faced adversity. Problem is: she doesn’t die, which scrambles the typical kill order for this kind of film. Throughout the film she gets ignored, talked over, and underestimated until she finally loses her cool.

The Horror Lounge: Much of the film takes place on or in the water. Were there any challenges in terms of shooting in that environment?

Image courtesy of Danica Lee Clauser

Clauser: Yes! Mainly weather. There’s a saying up in Vermont where we shot the film: “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” Summer rainstorms can come on pretty quickly (and they certainly did). Not only did rain not fit into the story we were telling, but it’s also dangerous to be out there during a storm. We had to plan our schedule and storyboarding carefully to allow for flexibility and to give us enough of a cushion to work around imperfect weather conditions.

The Horror Lounge: As a viewer, I think part of what works with GOG is that you don’t really see the creature that attacks the friend group. Can you address the creature feature aspect of the film?

Clauser: GOG is introduced as the source of fear in the film, but the real horror quickly becomes the ego-ridden failed attempts at teamwork from our five humans, and how stress, claustrophobia, and fear of death drive their actions. The story is about the effects of GOG on the group, not GOG herself. We also had moments where we wanted to play with the camera as GOG’s pov, watching our characters seal their own fates, just as the audience does.

The Horror Lounge: What’s next for you following the release of GOG? 

Clauser: We’re excited to announce that GOG will be screening at Filmquest Film Festival in Provo, UT this October, as well as more screenings to be announced around the country. We all hope to continue working together, trying new things and challenging ourselves as filmmakers. 

Check out GOG when it streams on Shudder from October 15-November 15 as part of the Etheria Film Festival.