Exclusive Interview: Alex Pettyfer Talks Gothic-Thriller ‘Sunrise,’ the Art of Collaboration, and the Film’s Message of Embracing Change

Alex Pettyfer stands out as a versatile and acclaimed storyteller, recognized for his intricate and compelling portrayals in timely narratives like The Butler, Back Roads, and Elvis & Nixon.

In the now-playing gothic-thriller, Sunrise, Alex Pettyfer reunites with Guy Pearce. Portraying the character Fallon, an ex-cop, he revisits the site of a heinous crime. As the residents of a rural town question his identity, Fallon, befriended by a compassionate immigrant family, faces the choice between seeking revenge and finding redemption.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Alex again about Sunrise, the art of collaboration, his favorite scene in the film, and it’s important message about embracing change.

PC: You’ve built such an illustrious tenure throughout your career. You’ve played such a wide range of characters. What was it about this script and character, in particular, that resonated with you?
Alex: The character originally started off very differently. He began as this anti-hero who enters this family and plays into the structure of saving the day. It was through my conversations with Andrew [Baird], our director, where I thought, “We’ve seen this so many times in cinema.” I believe that people come into our lives more as messengers. When someone does something for us, very seldom do we learn from that. It’s only when we experience something and overcome adversity that we learn not only about the situation at hand but also ourselves. This family is dealing with a lot of negativity, racism, negative attacks, people trying to steal their farm, and coping with the loss of a husband and a father, grieving with that. I said to Andrew, “I’d like to see this strange and ominous character who’s on his own journey co-align with this family, not in the sense that he’s there to help them, but they’re there to help each other and bring realizations for me as an individual character, and for them as individuals in this family, and how they’re able to overcome and prevail.” Andrew was really open to that idea. So through collaboration, there was this exciting trajectory in the script and in the messaging that we wanted to tell. I was pretty excited to be part of the film.

PC: Your character’s journey in this film is about overcoming the tragedy that he’s had in his own life and finding that acceptance. You brought so much nuance to that, and there is this wounded quality that you brought to him both physically and internally. It’s so compelling to watch on screen. As an actor, how did you create the space for yourself to tackle that vulnerability that ultimately leads to growth?
Alex: Originally, the character had a lot of things to say. I think that we deal with grief and trauma in different ways. I wanted to see the family grieving in a different way than how you see this presence grief. They vocalize to each other the struggles that they’re going through. You also see through the actions the struggles that they go through. So I wanted to counter that in the visuals of the film. It was working with Andrew and coming up with these beautiful visual ideas of how this character interacts with this family and the pain of the addiction that he has now to whatever he needs, without giving away too much. It just came naturally from that.

PC: You’ve also said in the past that one of your favorite things about filmmaking is that collaboration. You and Guy [Pearce] were able to bring the best performances out of each other. What was it like getting to work alongside him and how did his performance help elevate your own and vice versa?
Alex: We did another film called The Infernal Machine, where I had a lot more room to be a little louder in my actions and Guy was much more reserved; now the roles were reversed. I had to be this more subtle, quiet, ominous being, and Guy could be this loud character who is powerfully rooted in his charisma. He’s very charismatic in the film. It was very, very hard because Guy is so powerful as a talent. When you’re in a scene with him, he draws you in. I could feel myself wanting to react in a way and have to fight those feelings of being over the top in my setting of what I had created as a structure for my character. But it was nice to collaborate with Guy again.

PC: Your character becomes very protective over this family, particularly Edward, and there’s almost this mentor-like quality to that dynamic. Did you share any words of wisdom with William [Gao], who is such an upcoming talent and fresh face in this industry?
Alex: I try to steer clear of that [laughs]. I still consider myself a newbie as well. William is so grounded and so talented in the way that he conducts himself. He’s also a great musician. So, no, unfortunately, is the answer. [laughs] But I do love that dynamic between us on screen.

There’s this really beautiful scene between us where he has come back and dealt with this negative attack on him. There’s this scene where I explain to him in the dealings of these things and how they do pass. There’s this beautiful quote where I truly believe this, “This too shall pass.” Nothing is stagnant. Nothing stays the same. The sun does rise; it does fall. There is darkness, lightness, and that’s one of my favorite scenes in the movie with William.

PC: Likewise. There’s that beautiful sentiment where your character is sharing with Edward about how to embrace change when it does come in your life. As an actor who’s now gone on to produce, which you also do on this film and have done a ton recently with your production company, as well as direct. How has that change behind the camera impacted the way that you approach your work on screen and interpret scripts and characters like this?
Alex: It’s the collaboration. When you’re just an actor, you can become indulged in the singularity of your journey in the script. You work on your character, where they start, where they are in the middle, and where they end. There’s this selfishness towards the process.

When you start to work in different fields in entertainment in film or TV, you realize it takes an army. Everyone has their creative ideas, ideas on the wardrobe, makeup, the lighting; it’s all very inspiring and actually resourceful. My creative mind is challenged by these other creatives, and you come together. It really changes the way that you make a film in a much better way.

To keep up with Alex, follow him on Instagram. Sunrise is out now wherever you stream movies.

Photo Credit: Lionsgate