Bailee Madison’s Boundary-Pushing Role in ‘Play Dead’

Bailee Madison is turning stomachs in her acting career, and she plans to continue doing so. After getting her start with Gábor Csupó’s fantasy film, Bridge to Terabithia, in 2007, Madison is now pursuing her dream of being a horror film icon. She’s presently starring in the popular series, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. In a conversation with FilmSweep’s Arezou Amin in December 2022, Madison discussed her role in the third and final season of Hulu’s The Hardy Boys, as well as reflected on her experiences in Patrick Lussier’s horror-thriller Play Dead, a film so intense it made her sister sick, forcing the family to stop watching.

Madison describes the film as “a cat-and-mouse game” between her character and Jerry O’Connell’s character. She mentions that the movie has a “dark and chaotic” tone, with more emphasis on psychological elements than outright horror. Revisiting the incident when her sister couldn’t watch the film, Madison recounted,

“My sister, I don’t think, will ever watch it. We had to stop it. We were watching as a family, and she kept commenting about her discomfort, saying, ‘I can’t watch it.’ I replied, ‘Okay, we’ll turn it off and maybe give it another try someday.'”

Image via Tubi

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However, that “someday” never came, and Madison comprehends the reasons. She describes the film as “very intimate,” noting that the entire plot unravels in a morgue. It explores “the predicament of being stuck in an already challenging situation, and then realizing there may be no escape.” Madison expresses her passion for the horror genre and knew that Play Dead was the perfect project for her, especially since it was recommended by Johannes Roberts, the director of The Strangers: Prey at Night, in which she previously appeared.

What’s on the Horizon for Madison?

Following the release of Play Dead in late 2022, Madison’s plate has been full with her role as Imogen Adams in the upcoming second season of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and the final season of The Hardy Boys. Joining a cast including returning stars like Rohan Campbell and Alexander Elliot, Madison will feature as a regular in the third season, set to premiere on July 26.

Watch the trailer for The Hardy Boys Season 3 below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bailee Madison Play Dead

More about Bailee Madison Play Dead

• Bailee Madison’s IMDb Profile
• Play Dead Movie Details
• Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin IMDb Page
• The Hardy Boys Hulu Series