Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Death Link’s Elise Luthman

Elise Luthman is a standout in all aspects of her career. While she’s starred in a variety of different genres and mediums, she’s earned her place as one of Hollywood’s most respected scream queens.

Her latest project Death Link is an edge-of-your-seat horror film about the dangers of social media and finds Elise dominating every scene she’s in.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Elise about her career, her work behind the scenes, Death Link, and more!

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts and storytelling?
Elise: It definitely started with my family. I’m the youngest of seven siblings. We’re all from Ohio. We started in musical theater. My older brother, Joey Luthman, decided to move out to California to do movie and TV acting. I followed in his footsteps. I found a career that I had this underlying passion for. I’ve been doing it for the last thirteen years, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

PC: That might be the answer to this next question, but who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Elise: It would be my brother. He’s been great, especially in helping me with self-tapes during COVID times. He’s always been my go-to to film self-tapes with. We coach each other. We bounce a lot off of each other. He’s one of my favorite human beings, so he’s my inspiration and role model when it comes to acting.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Elise: Oh, wow. That’s a good question. I haven’t thought about that. Wow. I did a short film many, many years ago. It was one of my first films, and it was with horses. I love animals. That was the film when I was like, “This is for me.”

It was a small, little short film. I remember riding the horse. They had this camera panning around us. I was like, “This is so cool.” It skyrocketed from there.

PC: What have you learned from your experience writing and producing that you’ve been able to apply to your work on-screen and vice versa?
Elise: My brother Joey and I have both been working behind the camera these past few years. It’s fascinating because so much goes into the production of a movie or television show or even a short film. There are so many working parts. Props, the cinematographer, etc. It’s important to understand all sides of the business.

Death Link

PC: You have a new film out now. Tell us about Death Link, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Elise: It’s definitely a fun one. The audience will be on their toes the entire time. I love it. It’s about the age of social media and how social media is very much intertwined with everything these days. It shows the consequences of what happens when you give too much information.

I connected very much with it because as an actress you have to be on social media. It’s part of the job now.

I believe audiences will relate to the journey of my character Julie in terms of realizing how social media can be a double-edged sword sometimes.

It’s a fabulous movie. We have a fantastic director, David Lipper, and cast that includes Jessica Belkin, Riker Lynch, Alli Simpson, Steven Clark, Isabella Blake-Thomas, Matt Rife, the list goes on and on. Steven Clark is definitely going to be one to look out for! It’s a thriller that has funny moments as well. It’s going to be a fan favorite, I know it!

PC: You’re no stranger to horror. What is it about this genre that excites you as a creative?
Elise: It’s crazy! I remember about five years ago I did an interview on the red carpet. Someone was like, “What’s the next goal? What do you want to do?” I remember saying, “I want to be in a horror movie.” This is my fifth or sixth horror film, so I got what I wished for!

I still can’t watch horror movies because they scare the crap out of me. But when I’m on set, I’m talking with this demon. We’re putting prosthetics on. We’re talking about coffee. It’s no longer scary. I really enjoy the process of it.

PC: Is there a scene that you’re really excited for the audience to see, and what was the most challenging scene to film?
Elise: One of my favorite scenes to film was a fight scene. I won’t tell you who’s fighting or when it happens, but it’s an epic fight scene. I’m a fan of those. I love action stunts. That’s one that I’m excited for people to see.

One of the most challenging scenes was when we had a whole coffee shop scene in the rain. It wasn’t supposed to be in the rain, but it started raining during filming. We kept going. That was a challenging one.

PC: What do you hope audiences take away after they see the film?
Elise: I want people to remember that social media is not the entire world. There’s an actual world out there. Go walk in some grass. Go talk to your friends. Create something with your own two hands. It’s a fabulous film. You’ll be sucked into each of these characters’ journeys. The key takeaway is to remember that life is more than what’s on the screen.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Elise: Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Elise: I love Dead Poets Society. I don’t know if it’s a guilty pleasure. I just love it.

PC: Favorite book?
Elise: Verity by Colleen Hoover.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Elise: Les Misérables.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Elise: Angels & Airwaves.

PC: Dream role?
Elise: I want to do an action film.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Elise: Margot Robbie.

To keep up with Elise, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Death Link wherever you stream movies.