Love is a killer within the new Valentine’s Day horror flick “Heart Eyes” — however Gigi Zumbado brings levity and allure to this cheeky, but ugly film.
The Cuban American actor stars alongside Olivia Holt (“Ally”) and Mason Gooding (“Jay”), two co-workers at a advertising and marketing company who discover themselves collectively, however not collectively, on Valentine’s Day. In the meantime, the “Heart Eyes Killer,” recognized for killing younger {couples} in Boston and Philadelphia, has set his sights on Seattle, the place the film takes place.
Directed by Josh Ruben and delivered to you by Display Gems and Spyglass Media Group, the identical firm behind the “Scream” franchise, “Heart Eyes” is sure to maintain date night-goers on the sides of their seats.
The horror issue, nevertheless, takes a again seat when Ally and Jay share comically gratuitous moments of rom-com schmaltz.
Zumbado’s charisma shines by way of in lighthearted scenes as Monica: Ally’s co-worker, wingwoman and occasional vogue police. Their on-screen kinship possible stems from Zumbado’s real-life id as a “girl’s girl.”
Born and raised in Miami, the 28-year-old navigates the leisure trade alongside her two sisters, Carmela and Marisela Zumbado, who’re additionally actors.
“I always say that we have three raffle tickets in the raffle,” Gigi Zumbado stated over a Zoom name with De Los. “We read for the same roles, even though we’re very different. We’re always sharing notes and giving each other advice.”
Because the youngest of the three, Zumbado has solid her personal path in showbiz, having beforehand taken on the position of Tammy Ocampo within the Epix collection “Bridge and Tunnel,” and showing in such movies as “Pitch Perfect 2” and “Tone-Deaf.” She can also be featured in an upcoming comedy pilot for CBS, “DMV,” alongside former “Saturday Night Live” forged members Tim Meadows and Molly Kearney.
However earlier than Zumbado ventures off into her promising future, will her character Monica survive this Valentine’s Day unscathed? Zumbado spoke with De Los in regards to the making of “Heart Eyes” and bringing a style of Little Havana to Hollywood.
The next Q&A has been frivolously edited for readability and size and comprises spoilers.
Your character Monica took the sting off an in any other case intense thriller. What did you consider your character? Oh, I like her. She’s very enjoyable. Monica is a blast. It’s so humorous as a result of I really feel like I’m in a distinct film than all people else. I overlook how scary and hectic and loopy it’s. Monica [offered] comedic reduction. To come back in and simply, such as you stated, take the sting off and get to snicker just a little bit.
You say your character was in a very completely different film than the others. What sort of film is Monica in? My character’s in a Mary-Kate and Ashley [Olsen] film. I [cannot] remark a lot on the slasher elements of it. I simply acquired to snicker and have a pleasant enjoyable time with Olivia Holt. [It] felt like we have been simply kiki-ing all day lengthy.
I stored pondering, “Is Monica going to be part of the horror?” However [spoiler alert] it felt good to see a greatest good friend who doesn’t die. What an idea. [laughs]
For those who did need to defend your self from the killer often called “Heart Eyes,” what would you utilize? A chancleta. [Visibly takes off her shoe.] This one’s just a little one, it’s just a little kitten heel, it doesn’t do a lot. My dad at all times instructed me and my sisters, “If you got a heel, use it.”
How does it really feel to return from an performing household? Are your dad and mom actors? Our dad and mom are usually not actors in any respect. I do self tapes with my mother typically, and that’s a horror scene in itself, making an attempt to get her to behave reverse me if my sisters are usually not accessible.
It’s enjoyable, although, as a result of our dad and mom by no means pushed this on us, ever. We have been simply the leisure of our household, at all times dancing and enjoying devices, and in order that’s how we got here into entertaining, by way of music.
The three of us all dwell collectively in Hollywood now. If Carmela goes in earlier than me to an audition, she’ll come out of the room and be like, “OK, they hated this, they like this, they’re looking for this.” I get an additional minute to prep. Then if Marisela goes in subsequent, I’ll be like “OK, Mari, they liked this from Carmela and this of me, but you do this and da, da, da, da.”
We’re tremendous fortunate. I don’t know the way individuals can deal with this trade with out having two greatest pals beside them cheering them on as effectively. I wouldn’t be capable to do that with out my sisters.
How does it really feel to dwell in L.A., coming from a Miami family?We simply turned the Hollywood Hills into Little Havana. We now have our mother with us, and we acquired our dad out right here. Now that each one of our grandparents have handed, we return much less, and now my aunts and uncles and cousins [come] out right here for the vacations. We’re such a tight-knit group. We’re simply not accepting anything.
What comes subsequent for you? I’m actually excited a couple of pilot that I shot in November in Montreal. It’s known as “DMV.” It’s a CBS pilot, a office comedy, and it has probably the most extremely gifted, hilarious forged I’ve ever labored with.
I really feel just like the smallest fish in an enormous pond with these comedic legends. They’re “SNL” alum, they usually’re unbelievable. I’m actually hoping we get to go ahead as a result of that was a blast and people individuals are simply so gifted and it felt like being on a TED Discuss, simply watching all of them work together with one another.
I did see that it was in growth. That’s so cool. Dana Klein is wonderful. She modified my character’s identify to Cecilia and made her a Cuban woman from Miami. It was so cool to get to deliver out my roots and showcase, you already know, just a little chonga from Miami to CBS.
I’m beginning to discover extra Latino characters in mainstream media that don’t essentially have a very detailed backstory; they will simply exist and be who they’re. Completely. That was most likely the most important praise to me. In “Heart Eyes,” this character of Monica was an open ethnicity [role]. I simply occurred to be Latina. I had gotten sick of solely studying or reserving issues particularly for Cuban ladies. There was a time that you just simply wanted to be Cuban and have been requested, “Do you speak fluent Spanish? Were you raised speaking Spanish?” It needed to be [this] precise Latin story for you to have the ability to inform it. I don’t suppose that’s practical or the way it works.
I believe all of us share numerous issues in our completely different cultures. And I used to be so proud that this position had nothing to do with being Hispanic. I occur to be Latina. The author is letting me showcase that, however that’s not why I booked it. And that was such a praise to me.