The 90210 actress, 36, says in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly that she had to determine why she didn’t want to do the project. “I had to figure out why I didn’t want to do it — and it’s because of the nature of the film,” she says. “Wow, I won’t be doing this,” I thought as I read the screenplay. Oh, if I don’t want to do it, I need to say yes, I reasoned. I’ve never agreed to a project more quickly.
AnnaLynne McCord plays Eve in the drama, a devout Christian who commits a mass massacre after striking a deal with the devil. Although the content of the movie is “really heavy,” AnnaLynne McCord acknowledges that she was motivated to take part in the project since it has a greater significance. The movie also stars Dean Cain and Natasha Henstridge.
“Mass shootings are an issue we are now dealing with in our world,” according to McCord. “Films are meant to be enjoyable and exciting, but because these things are happening, we need to make timely films that address these topics.”
McCord had to put aside her own thoughts about Eve as a performer. The Nip/Tuck actress explains, “To play a villain, you cannot assess your character. Throughout my career, I’ve played villains, and I’ve discovered one thing: they don’t exist. People make excellent and bad decisions, and sometimes the bad decisions are terrible.
McCord wanted to make her character more relatable for the viewers because she was dealing with her own mental health issues. “That’s something I care about deeply,” she tells Us. Suicidality has been a problem for me. I’ve talked a lot about my struggle with mental health. I have to shed light on it because I’m extremely open about it.
Even while playing a criminal was not McCord’s most straightforward job to date—”It was really dark to be inside of her,” she admits—she was able to leave the part behind when the lights came up.
“Something really incredible has happened with my work as a result of all of the treatment I’ve been through and the healing modalities I’ve tried,” she reveals. “Eve is very much her own person; leave [her] at the door and go home,” the speaker continued.
McCord hopes that readers will view Eve, who puts “blind faith into a belief system,” in a new light. Even if you don’t care for or like my character, Eve, you could after watching this movie understand her, she says. “You might comprehend how she ended up there.”
She also hopes that the movie sparks a wider discussion about mental health. “We are talking about mental health in a much broader way than we ever have in any other era, but there’s so much more for us to really look into,” she says to Us. Eve lacked the ability to have a relationship with herself, which is where it all begins.
She ends by saying, “I hope it gets people talking.”
