Don’t see this film as another film about a demon child. It’s more of a mother making decisions after discovering this evil child’s intentions.

Taylor Schilling ventures into her first horror-thriller movie with The Prodigy as Sarah. Sarah is a mother whose young son Miles’ disturbing behavior signals that an evil, possibly supernatural force has overtaken him. Fearing for her family’s safety, Sarah must choose between her maternal instinct to love and protect Miles and a desperate need to investigate what—or who—is causing his dark turn. She is forced to look for answers in the past, where the line between perception and reality becomes frighteningly blurry.

The film also stars Brittany Allen and Jackson Robert Scott. It is directed by Nicholas McCarthy and written by Jeff Buhler.

LRM Online interviewed Taylor Schilling over the phone earlier this month. We talked about her attraction and experiences in being part of a horror film.

Schilling is a former Golden Globe and Emmy nominee. She is best known as Piper Chapman in the television series Orange Is the New Black. She also starred in several notable movies such as The Lucky One, Argo and Atlas Shrugged: Part I.

Read our exclusive interview below.

LRM: Why you are attracted to this project called The Prodigy?

Taylor Schilling: I was truly blown away by the ending. By the time I got to the third act of the film, I was just kind of in shock and awe. I felt like I wanted to be a part of it. I really was moved by the choices that Sarah made to protect her son.

LRM: Talk about relating to this character Sarah and showing empathy for a child.

Taylor Schilling: I think it’s a position that a lot of parents can relate to and feeling a great responsibility and a great weight to care for your child and to be their advocate. There is that limitless nature of that sort of love. Sarah is just not willing to give up on her son no matter what.

LRM: One of the things I’ve always been noted as not to work with children, but you manage to work with several children for this film project. Could you talk more about that?

Taylor Schilling: I’ve heard that too. Jackson [Robert Scott] just extraordinary. It was really a pleasure to work with him. He’s such a joyful and funny little boy. He is so talented and can seamlessly move between his play and fun and throw a really deep and interesting character work. He was really a pleasure.

LRM: You don’t usually work with horror movie projects. Could you talk about working in a horror movie and do you enjoy this type of genre?

Taylor Schilling: Yes. I’ve never done a horror movie before. I enjoyed the script so much that it seemed to kind of transcend the genre. I would followed the story wherever it went. I think horror movies can have such a profound impact on the viewer. I have such a respect for my experiences with horror movies. They like kind of move you and this early in a way that other cinematic experiences don’t always. It’s fun.

LRM: What are some of your favorite horror movies?

Taylor Schilling: Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist and Silence of the Lambs are probably my favorite.

LRM: Were there any challenges for this film since this was your first horror movie?

Taylor Schilling: I think the way Nicholas McCarthy was such a fantastic director. He really set this up as the focus wasn’t on horror as much as it was on a mother losing her son and fighting for her child in need. That was the through line that carried us through the whole piece.

LRM: Can you talk about any of your future projects and could you comment on the last season of Orange Is The New Black?

Taylor Schilling: I have a couple of projects besides this movie that I’m excited that’s coming out. There is another movie called Family coming out in April that I’m really thrilled to share with everybody. Another film called The Public coming out shortly thereafter. Then the final season of Orange Is The New Black. I’m very much looking forward to continuing to shoot and share with everybody.

LRM: Thank you very, very much for speaking with me on your busy schedule. I really appreciate this, Taylor.

Taylor Schilling: Thank you so much. It was a pleasure. Thank you.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive