Samara Weaving had officially declared herself done with horror. But then came Over Your Dead Body, a dark comedy remake from director Jorma Taccone that proved impossible to resist. In a recent interview with Collider, Weaving and her co-star Jason Segel opened up about the brutal Finnish winter, the gallons of fake blood, and the surprisingly tender metaphor at the heart of this bloody tale.
The film follows Dan (Segel) and Lisa (Weaving), a miserable couple who head to a remote cabin hoping to salvage their marriage. Unbeknownst to each other, both are plotting murder for the insurance payout. Their schemes go sideways when three uninvited guests—played by Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, and Keith Jardine—show up at the door.
Why Samara Weaving Came Back to Horror
Weaving, who has become a modern scream queen thanks to films like Ready or Not and The Babysitter, admitted she kept telling her team she was done with genre movies. But Over Your Dead Body changed her mind. “The script was phenomenal,” she said. “I’ve been such a fan of Jorma and the cast attached. Having Juliette Lewis and Timothy Olyphant attached was a no-brainer.” She also noted that this script leaned into comedy more than other horror projects she’s read, which was a major draw.
Segel, who is famously selective about his roles outside of Shrinking, explained that he saw the movie as a metaphor for marriage counseling. “You start off wanting to kill each other, you both go in with the intention of getting the best of the other person, and then there’s a big blow-up,” he said. “In the aftermath, some real emotion comes out, and you realize, ‘Okay, we’re in hell, and the only way we’re getting out of here is together, and I choose that.’” He added that he needs to understand the “why” behind any project he takes on, and this one clicked.
Blood, Sweat, and Finnish Winters
Filming in Finland during winter was no joke. Segel recalled a trip to the grocery store after a makeup session that left him looking a little wild. “They thought I was stoned or high,” he said, laughing. “But I smiled at everybody. The Finnish culture is so different. My personality is like this all the time. I’d be like, ‘Hello! Hello, everyone! How was your day?’ They were like, ‘That guy’s definitely high. Do not let that guy drive.’”
Weaving, meanwhile, shared a story about having to sleep in her makeup for a previous job because of tight turnarounds. “I was covered in tattoos and had no eyebrows. I looked insane,” she said. “People would cross the street to get away from me. It was a social experiment.”
For fans of horror-comedy, Over Your Dead Body promises the kind of gory, laugh-out-loud chaos that made Ryan Reynolds' The Voices a cult favorite. And if you’re into bone-chilling final shots, check out our ranking of the most unforgettable horror endings.
Autograph Confessions
When asked about celebrity autographs, Segel revealed his only one: Marc Summers, host of the ’80s game show Double Dare. “I loved me some Double Dare,” he said, explaining the show’s gooey stunts. Weaving, a fan of British comedian Noel Fielding, technically owns his autograph because she bought one of his paintings. “Does that count?” she asked. Segel wasn’t sure, but it’s a keeper either way.
Over Your Dead Body is now in theaters and streaming. For more on Segel’s dramatic range, don’t miss his haunting turn as David Foster Wallace.
