We are just hours away from the UK premiere of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, a slasherific riff on the classic children’s tale.
Ahead of the screening at Glasgow Frightfest 2023, Bloody Flicks caught up with actress Natasha Rose Mills, to talk about her role in Blood and Honey.
Tell us about the audition process for Blood and Honey.
Having worked on previous such as the return of Krampus with Jagged edge they offered me the role as I was suited to the part they wanted someone with a small frame and someone who wears speckles which I happen to have. After reading the brief I saw similarities to myself.
What can you tell us about your character Jessica?
Jess is empathetic and very supportive and caring supporting Maria to help her recover from trauma. She’s the one who organised the retreat to help Maria recover from trauma and there’s a scene in the film when she takes the phones of the girls to demonstrate the importance of why we are here in the first place to support Maria and get back to nature as she says. Maria and Jess’s bond together is shown in moments throughout the film; they never leave each other’s side.
Jess goes through a difficult journey throughout the film, originally her intention was to have a nice time away with the girls and help Maria recover with the support of her friends. Unknowingly that something sinister was just around the corner and continued fighting to stay alive.
How closely do Blood and Honey tie into the mythology of Winnie the Pooh
This film is based on the 1926 version of Winnie The Pooh that went into the public domain in January 2022. With this film, they had to be careful not to include certain elements that belong to Disney such as the red t-shirt. There were similarities like Christopher Robin growing up with Winnie The Pooh and Piglet them having a strong connection and the hundred-acre woods location I would say, looked very picturesque.
It differs from Craig who is more of a larger build playing Winnie compared to the cuddly Winnie we all know. Winnie and Piglet turn feral because of scavenging for food when Christopher Robin went off to college turning them into cold-blooded killers. Some people might say it’s ruining their childhood, it’s a choice to watch the film or not. This is really made for adults for 80s slasher horror fans who want to see their favourite characters reimagined. It’s nothing like the Disney version of the film, even though I love Winnie The Pooh, Tigger was my favourite growing up I still remember the huge teddy my Mum bought me for my birthday.
Tell us about your favourite day of filming.
I wouldn’t say there was just a favourite day, but one, in particular, was when Craig and Chris were dressed up in their costume and dancing it was a good time really, everyone go on well together it was just a nice atmosphere.
There were some funny bloopers in the film that you literally have a laugh about when you watch them back like a scene when everyone was so serious huddling together and then we all fall down like dominos breaking the intensity of the moment.
Was it surreal seeing Piglet and Winnie going around slicing and dicing?
Definitely, if I’m honest some of the time it felt very real with a combination of being out in the woods it was quite frightening.
How has the worldwide buzz around the film affected you if at all?
I don’t think any of us thought the film would do this well, its been incredible to be part of this project, the features the publicity in Rolling Stone, Variety and that’s only to name a few including being the most anticipated of the year and well it did in Mexico and the US and now the UK release!
Have you managed to see the completed film yet?
I haven’t seen the film yet, I have seen clips of it but not the whole film I’m really looking forward to seeing it soon.
Would you say this is your biggest project to date?
Yes, this is the biggest project I have and it’s certainly been an experience and journey.
Catch Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey screens at Glasgow Frightfest 2023.
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