"Trapped in the Muck" - An Interview with Actress Puja Mohindra

Puja Mohindra is a writer/producer/director/actress who has made guest appearances on TV shows such as “All My Children”, “Ghost Whispers” and “Chicago Fire”. Today, she is here to discuss her latest film “Muck” which recently hit DVD and Blu-Ray last month.

1.Thank you for taking time for this interview. Before I get into “Muck”, tell my readers how you got into acting?

You're welcome. Thanks for sharing my story. I got into acting through dance. I studied and performed an Indian classical dance theater style called Bharata Natyam throughout my chlldhood and into my adolescence. I also was on the speech team in high school, where I competed in Comedic and Dramatic Duet Acting. Honestly, I wanted to play basketball or tennis in high school, but I wasn't good enough to make the team! So, theater, dance, and creative writing became my after-school activities that turned into my greatest passions. Happy accidents!

2. Were you a horror fan when growing up? If so, what were some of your favorite horror films?

Actually, I'm too much of a scaredy-cat for horror films! My favorite films are comedies, romances, and character-driven stories. I love historical, period pieces, as well.

3. I enjoyed “Muck for some of intense action scenes. How did you become involved with this film and tell me about your character in the film?

I auditioned for the film in a standard audition process. I do remember the director asking me if I would be willing to wade through a swamp at night in the dark and cold--so I was given fair warning about that!

My character is the lead character's love interest. She's from India, originally. She's fiesty, strong, funny, and innocent.

4. What was the like filming in Cape Cod, MA compared to other places?

We shoot mainly at night in Cape Code in September, so while it was beautiful, it was cold! Cape Cod has so much history and beauty. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to explore it and share its gorgeous landscape in this film.

My other projects have been shot in big cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, where you're always up against city and street noise. It can sometimes interrupt the shoot and spoil good takes. Cape Cod was so peaceful, and we shot at night, so we didn't face these challenges with noise and sound, or at least not as much. It allowed us to be more productive and efficient with our time.

5. The action scenes were very intense. What was the filmmaking process like and filming some of the intense and gory scenes involving you?

I did a few stunts on my own. We had a fantastic Stunt Coordinator who made sure we were always safe and comfortable, as did Steve Wolsh, our director.

As for the gory scenes, I had to get comfortable with having blood thrown on my face, which is a lot like having a pie thrown in your face!

6. “Muck” marks the first film for director Steve Wolsh. What was it like working for him and would you work with him again?

I really enjoyed working with Steve. He's ambitious and extremely detail-oriented with a strong and specific vision. From the first time I read his script, I loved that he created an Indian character who is part of the ensemble, but her story isn't driven by her ethnicity. She's just one of the group of friends who experience these events-- a night gone horribly wrong--and her ethnicity has little to do with the story. I think that's really innovative of him and a much more accurate portrayal of our world, at least in America.

7. I thought the cast was very good in this film including yourself, what was it like working with your co-stars and were there any fun stories from the set?

The rest of the cast was fantastic. We spent two weeks together in Cape Cod, and we had a great time both on set and off. On set, my favorite memories were shooting a scene where we driving a stolen police car, and when we were shooting, the car kept breaking down. It was funny, but also a great example of movie magic. You can't tell in the finished film that the car had any problems.

8. Finally, what are some of your next films that everyone should keep an eye out for and where they can they find you on social media?

On social media, I'm on Instagram and Twitter at @pujamohindra, and on Facebook via my actor/artist page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Puja-Mohindra.

I can next be seen at Silk Road Rising Theater in Chicago, where I'm doing a workshop production of my one-woman-play, "A Great Dive." If you or any of your readers are in Chicago this August, we'd love for them to come out to the show. Tix are at: http://www.silkroadrising.org/live-theater/silk-road-solos/a-great-dive.

In addition to acting, I'm a writer and am currently working on a novel adaptation of the play, as well as a screenplay version of the story.

I want to thank you again for doing this interview and good luck with the success of "Muck" and your future projects. 

“Muck” is currently available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Film Review: "Muck"

Before I start with my review of “Muck”, I want to disclose that I recently contributed to the “Muck: Feast of St. Patrick” Kickstarter campaign back in December of last year, which enabled me to receive a digital copy of “Muck: Feast of St. Patrick” and the shooting script PDF and Blu-Ray of “Muck”.

I just want to let everyone reading this that this is my unbiased review of the film.

“Muck” is a film that has been hyped on major horror sites for the last year and finally being released through Anchor Bay Entertainment. The film is the middle part of a planned trilogy with the first and third films being shot at a later date. The film is about a group of friends who emerged from the dark marshes all bloodied and battered. They hide at a vacant vacation home in hopes of escaping. Soon they are going to find out that the nightmare isn’t over as something mysterious is still stalking them. Can they find a way out of this madness or will they end up dead as the people that they’ve been partying with earlier in the night.

“Muck” is a horror film that has been gathering my interest since hearing about this last year. The last time I could remember a horror film having this same interest was back when the first “Hatchet” film came out. I was worried in the beginning of the film that this was going to be a failure with it started, but thankfully this was a fun slasher film.

One of the things that I liked about this film was Steve Wolsh’s direction. One of the thing that makes it good was the fact that the action scenes had an intense and gory feel to it. It made the build up to it feel rewarding, as I thought it moved a little too slow at times between action sequences. It grabbed my interested in the film and kept it through the last half hour. The other thing that makes this good was the way that Wolsh directs his cast. I liked, the way that he makes sure that performances aren’t taken too seriously, as this gives the film a throwback vibe to cheesy 80’s horror films. It made the characters entertaining to watch and you’re interested in seeing what happens next.

Wolsh’s screenplay for the most part was good. I liked how he able to create some good action sequences. While this feels like a throwback film, the action scenes felt intense. From the way it was created to its execution, everything had an intense feel to it. It helps cover up some of the film’s flaws with how the story started as this makes me want to check out the upcoming prequel to this film. The only thing that I had a problem with was the fact some of the non-action scenes was a little too long. It’s a minor grip that I have with this film, as it hurt the flow of the film a little bit. It would’ve been nice if those scenes were trimmed down a little bit or cut. It would’ve helped the story move a little better but the payoff to the action scenes is what makes this an entertaining film that I can recommend.

“Muck” is a film that many people might not get right away with its structure and the fact that this is the middle film of a planned trilogy. But if you’re into bloody violence and intense action, this film delivers on its bloody mayhem and makes you interested in future installments.

Review Rating: Four Stars

Three Intense Clips from the Upcoming Slasher "Muck"

Anchor Bay Entertainment recently released two clips for their upcoming release of "Muck". The upcoming film stars Kane Hodder (Hatchet, Jason Voorhees in four of the Friday the 13th films), Lachlan Buchanan (“Pretty Little Liars”), Puja Mohindra (Foreign), Bryce Draper (Bound), YouTube Sensation Lauren Francesca (iwantmylauren) and 2012 Playboy PMOY Jaclyn Swedberg.

"Muck" has limited theatrical release starting on 3/13/2015 and hits DVD and Blu-Ray on 3/17/2015.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: www.getthemuckout.com

Plot Synopsis:

After narrowly escaping an ancient burial ground, long forgotten and buried underneath the marshes of Cape Cod, a group of friends emerge from the thick, marshy darkness, tattered and bloody, lucky to be alive. They have already lost two of their friends in the marsh, presumably dead. They stumble upon an empty Cape Cod vacation house alongside the foggy marsh and break in to take shelter. Whatever was in the marsh is still after them and soon after one of them goes for help, the rest of the group learns that the evil in the marsh is not the only thing that wants them dead. Something worse, something more savage, was lying in wait just outside the marsh, in the house. What happens next is unspeakable horror that cannot be unseen. These unlucky travelers spend their St. Patrick's Day trapped between two evils forcing them to fight, die, or go back the way they came.

"Muck": Film Clip - Car Attack

"Muck": Film Clip - Pitchfork

"Muck": Film Clip - Window

"Muck": Official Trailer