Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Head Count’s Isaac Jay

Actor Isaac Jay is the star of the new must-see film, Head Count. The mystery-thriller-horror story follows a group of teenagers who unknowingly summon a shapeshifting monster during their weekend trip to the Joshua Tree desert.

The creature hides among them, attempting to separate them into groups of five to complete its deadly ritual, and Isaac Jay is delivering a performance worthy of his leading man credentials.

Pop Culturalist caught up with him to chat about Head Count, how the film differentiates itself from others in the genre, and the important relationship at the heart of the film.

PC: Tell us about Head Count and your character in the film.
Isaac: I play Evan, a college freshman who’s a bit lost in his life. He wants to hang out with his friends who are going on a cruise to an unknown tropical location. He can’t go because he has to spend time with his bummer of a brother, and goes to the desert to visit him. While they’re hiking, he runs into a group of kids around his age, and this beautiful girl catches his eye, so he decides he’d rather spend his spring break with them instead of his brother. While he’s hanging out with these kids, he accidentally summons a demon.

PC: What initially attracted you to this project?
Isaac: Lots of reasons! First, I worked with Michael Nader [writer] on a previous film called Flock of Four. I really, really, really love him and think he’s incredibly talented. Also, from the second that I chatted with Elle Callahan [director] in the audition room, I really vibed with her. I knew she was someone who I wanted to work with.

When I read the script, I loved it because it isn’t a horror film—it’s more of a slow-burn thriller. As an actor, that allows me the time to really develop a real character. It’s not a film where as soon as you meet the character, he dies. I thought it would be a really fun project, and sure enough, when I got on set, it was! There’s a lot of daylight in this film versus darkness, which I feel like a lot of horror films use. The whole film is shot much like an ’80s film and I loved that.

PC: This is your second feature film. Was there any pressure being the lead?
Isaac: I didn’t feel a ton of pressure. The whole film involves all ten of us, so every shot had multiple characters in it. They were so much fun, and this cast was so great. We developed a bond, which I think translates into the film. There was so much support and room to play. I felt that with Elle, too. She really, really pushes you as an actor and lets you run with it. Everything was so relaxed. She makes sure you’re doing your best work and having the most fun. That took a lot of the pressure off as well.

PC: What was the biggest lesson you learned from Flock of Four that you brought to Head Count?
Isaac: Flock of Four was my first real role in a feature. I learned really early on how important it is to keep track of where you are in the story. On the second day of Flock of Four, we filmed the climax of the movie. We jumped in and had to go there immediately. I’ve done stage work in the past, and with the stage you’re allowed the full breadth of the play to get to that point. With film, you have to be ready the second action is called—you have to know exactly where you are and what the previous scene was, even if you haven’t filmed it yet.

Going back to your previous question, there was pressure leading Head Count because you’re the person everybody’s watching to pull people into the story. I learned how to tackle that: it’s really about letting the story tell itself and not forcing it.

PC: The monster in this film has its own original lore. Is that a benefit or challenge for you as an actor?
Isaac: It was a challenge, but also a lot of fun. With the monster having its own lore, I could live in my own imagination. I didn’t have to go back and research who this monster normally targets, etc. There’s this interesting thing with horror films where the monster is sometimes a reflection of the lead character, so it was fun to explore what similarities the monster and Evan have. I found they both have insecurities and yearn to be included. The monster pursues the other characters more strongly than Evan, and I think it’s because it sees Evan as an ally.

PC: What can you tell us about the creature?
Isaac: I can’t say too much, but it’s a shape-shifting monster. Some of its lore was based on skin walkers from the Navajo Tradition. It’s main trick and magic is that it can imitate somebody else’s form. Throughout the film, the creature gets better at doing it. That progression is a lot of fun to watch, and it gave the actors a lot of room to play with.

PC: Elle has said that this film is intended to be watched more than once, and you learn something new each time. What surprised you the most when you read the script?
Isaac: That’s a good question. The number five plays a huge role in the film—the monster is obsessed with it. Throughout the film, the subtle ways that the number five pops up and how it ties itself together by the end is very cool. The art department did a phenomenal job manifesting it on set. It’s one of the best reasons to re-watch this movie a million times, because every time you watch it, you catch a new five or a hidden clue somewhere. That was really fun.

Another thing that really surprised me was how much this story is about the reconnection between a boy and his brother, and the emotional depth that the film delves into with that relationship. Peyton, Evan’s brother, isn’t on the screen that much, but their relationship is constantly there. It’s such a strong force and really bookends the film. The way it ties up at the end was beautifully done. It could have been easy to miss the full impact of that relationship, but I think the way it ends is both beautiful and unsettling.

PC: Was that your favorite relationship to explore in the film?
Isaac: I think so. They’ve lost their parents, and Evan, who’s the younger child, realizes he has to be the adult. Peyton is this wild child who lives in a crazy trailer. It forces Evan to raise himself, and he holds resentment towards his brother as a result, but he also realizes how important family is.

The resolution in the final phone call was the most fun I had on set—it was also the last thing we shot. The catharsis in the phone call and Evan’s inability to express what he hasn’t said to Peyton, but what he really feels deep down in his subconscious, finally surfaces. When it actually comes to a life or death situation, Peyton is the person who’s always going to be there for Evan.

PC: The film is out now. What do you hope audiences take away after seeing it?
Isaac: It’s different from a lot of things I’ve seen. It Follows is the only film off the top of my head that has a similar vibe. Elle did such a fantastic job building this world—there’s a lot of heart and emotional depth that you don’t see normally with this genre.

To keep up with Isaac, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Head Count in theaters and On Demand today!