When someone is naturally unable to fit into the social norms of society, and they care more about excelling in their morbid fascination and dedication to even the smallest and grimmest details, in an effort to perfect their job, they often have difficulty relating to their peers. But in the case of Special Agent Terrence Ballard, who’s played by Patrick Fischler in the horror thriller sequel, ‘The Pact II,’ that relentless quest to find the truth is what ultimately helps in discovering the identity of the series’ notorious serial murderer, the Judas Killer. While the FBI agent helped save the lives of those in his community, following his dedicated search for the horrifying serial killer, the mystery follow-up film also offers gripping insight into the harrowing effects the investigator’s search for the truth ultimately had on those connected to the case.
‘The Pact II,’ which was written and directed by Dallas Richard Hallam and Patrick Horvath, and is now available on VOD and DVD, is set a few weeks after its predecessor. The sequel follows June Abbott (Camilla Luddington), a woman whose carefully constructed life as an artist in Los Angeles is beginning to unravel. While Annie Barlow (Caity Lotz) exterminated the plague that was the Judas Killer in ‘The Pact,’ June is now experiencing the same lucid nightmares that the first film’s protagonist was having throughout the original story. The dreams are so awful, they begin disturbing June’s waking life.
When Special Agent Terrence Ballard, the FBI agent assigned to wrap up the case of the newly deceased Judas Killer, shows up at June’s door, he brings with him some terrifying news. He informs her that there’s a Judas copycat killer in her neighborhood. In the course of his investigation, Ballard shows June a picture of one of the copycat killer’s victims, and she is stunned to see that it’s the same woman she saw brutally murdered in her nightmares. As a result, a series of hauntings begin to torment June, growing in frequency and ferocity over time. With her internal pain and agony over the killings continuously growing, June increasingly relies on her boyfriend, David (Scott Michael Foster), a police officer she lives with, to overcome her fears. June also reaches out to Annie, who she discovers was involved in the original Judas case, for advice on how to overcome her nightmares and fears.
But even with David and Annie’s help, not only does June see murder victims in her nightmares, but her dreams put her in the role of the murderer. June fears that the spirit of the Judas Killer is the architect of some greater plan in which she must now play a part. June struggles to maintain her grip on sanity as she plunges into her own investigation of these events. No matter the result, the truth will be horrifying; either there is true evil inside of her, or someone, or something, is determined to destroy her.
Fischler generously took the time to talk about filming ‘The Pact II’ during an exclusive phone interview. Among other things, the actor discussed how he was mainly driven to play Special Agent Ballard in the thriller sequel because he’s a fan of Hallam and Horvath’s first horror movie, the 2012 horror thriller, ‘Entrance,’ and admired the way they presented the FBI investigator in ‘The Pact II;’ how he believes Agent Ballard became obsessed with finding the Judas copycat killer, because whenever something’s left unsolved, he can’t let it go, as he instinctively feels when any little thing isn’t right in his cases; and how he embraced Luddington and Foster’s approach to acting, as the three work very similarly to each other, including figuring out how they were going to approach their scenes together before they arrived on the set.
ShockYa (SY): You play Special Agent Terrence Ballard in the horror mystery film, ‘The Pact II.’ What was it about the character, as well as the script, overall that convinced you to take on the role?
Patrick Fischler (PF): The number one reason was the directors, Dallas and Pat. I met with them, and just thought they were fantastic, great guys. I watched their first movie, ‘Entrance,’ and I loved it. Once I met with them, they convinced me to do the movie. I also thought the character was someone I could have a little fun with, and I did.
SY: Speaking of Dallas and Patrick, they co-penned and co-helmed ‘The Pact II’ and ‘Entrance,’ their feature film directorial debut you just mentioned, together. What was the process of working with them both, as writers and directors, on ‘The Pact II?’
PF: Overall, they work incredibly smoothly together, as they’re like brothers who have known each other since they were born. They work so well with the actors and crew. They also don’t contradict each other, which is a worry when two people are directing a film. They’re open to any questions and changes you have; even though they wrote the script, they were receptive to anything. I like them very much, and think they’re incredibly talented.
SY: Speaking of the fact that Dallas and Patrick were open to the cast and crew’s ideas, did they allow you to improve while you were filming, or offer any suggestions on your character’s storyline and arc?
PF: Oh yes, they were collaborative 100 percent. There wasn’t that much improv on this movie, even though it’s something I like to do. But what we did was meet before we started shooting and went through the script. We worked on all the scenes and dialogue that didn’t feel natural or real to me, or sound like something Ballard would say. So they were incredibly open to changes in motivations he had, and things like that, and really let me shape him into who I wanted him to be.
SY: Ballard is an FBI profiler who recently wrapped up the case of the Judas Killer from the first movie. Did you do any research did before you began filming, in order to get into his mindset? What was your preparation process like for the role?
PF: Yes, I did. I read a book, but I forgot the name of it, as I looked through it over a year ago. I wish I could remember the name of it, as it was the one book I read, because a friend of mine recommended it. It was about an FBI profiler, who I found to be incredibly fascinating. I read the book, and the rest of it I made up. (laughs)
SY: With Ballard being an FBI profiler who’s obsessed with the Judas killer, did you create any reasoning on why you believed he was driven to solve the case, and follow up with the copycat killer?
PF: That’s a great question. I think he became obsessed with the case because he couldn’t solve it. I think whenever something’s left unturned for Ballard, he can’t let it go. I think Ballard feels any little thing that isn’t right.
I think he would be considered to be an awkward, weird guy in the normal world. But in his world of profiling, if something is off, even something no one else would notice, it becomes an obsession to him. I think he’s a guy who can’t let things go. That affected how I wanted to play him. He’s the type of guy that if you met him at a party, you’d think, wow, I have no interest in talking to that guy. But I don’t think he cares about that type of social stuff.
SY: The film is the sequel to writer-director Nicholas McCarthy’s 2012 horror mystery film, ‘The Pact.’ How familiar were you with the first movie when you signed on to star in the follow-up? Did having that original film influence, or inform, the way you approached your role and the story?
PF: I had not seen the first film until I signed on for this movie. But I think it’s great, but it didn’t influence me at all. If I hadn’t seen it, I would have given the same performance, since Ballard’s not in it. The events of the first film were just background knowledge to him.
SY: In ‘The Pact 2,’ you primarily act alongside Camilla Luddington and Scott Michael Foster. What was the experience of working with both Camilla and Scott on the horror thriller? Were you able to have any rehearsal time together to help build your characters’ relationships?
PF: Well, Camilla, Scott and I all met to talk about all the scenes we had together. They were very similarly to me, as they like to talk and figure stuff out before we get to the set on the day we’re going to shoot. Then on the day we filmed, they were really fantastic.
I think I had met them both before the film began, and knew them a little bit. When movies, don’t have a high budget, you don’t have a lot of time together. They’re both fantastic, and really open to ideas.
SY: Speaking of filming the thriller independently, did that pose any challenges on the set, or did it help infuse the project with an extra creativity?
PF: I would say that shooting anything is challenging. Budgets of $200 million and $200,000 are both challenging. I would say I face normal challenges on any movie I make. Preferred Content, the production company I worked with on another movie that I made after ‘The Pact II,’ is great. Things ran really smoothly and really well, for as little money it cost to make the film.
A lot of that stems from the producers and directors. Like I said earlier, we were in the trenches together. We all know what this is, and make the day go as fast as it can, while making the best product you can.
SY: The thriller received a theatrical and VOD release. Are you personally a fan of watching movies On Demand, and do you think the platform is beneficial for independent films like ‘The Pact 2?’
PF: Oh, absolutely. I love going to the theater, and that’s my thing. I would love to see everything in the theater. Most people prefer to watch movies at home, but I’m not most people. Most of my friends who have kids and busy lives don’t have time and money to go to the theater.
So I think Video On Demand is a great option for people who want to watch films in the comfort of their own home. But to have the choice to either go to the theater, or watch movies at home, is great.
SY: Besides movies, you’re also known for your role as Jimmy Barrett on ‘Mad Men,’ and for guest starring on such shows as ‘Veep,’ ‘Scandal’ and ‘Castle?’ What is it about television that you enjoy working on so much? How does starring on a series compare and contrast to making independent films as ‘The Pact II?’
PF: In the day and age we live in now, almost everyone would agree that the material on television right now is as good as it is in movies. When I first started out, movie actors didn’t star on TV shows, but now that’s not even remotely true; almost every good show has had at least one good movie actor attached to it.
When you have networks like Netflix, HBO, AMC, Starz and Showtime, which put out quality shows, I just want to be a part of that. I want to go where the writing is, and now it’s all over television. So if a TV or a movie script is great, I don’t care what the medium is; I just want to do good work. I think that good work is consistent on television.
Now in the movie industry, I feel like big studio films are all just these tentpole pictures, like ‘X-Men’ and ‘Captain America.’ But I think independent films get to challenge the audience a little bit.
SY: Besides ‘The Pact II,’ do you have any other upcoming projects lined up that you can discuss?
PF: I had a recurring role on the upcoming fifth season of the Showtime series, ‘Shameless’ (which is going to begin airing on January 11). I also starred in another horror sci-fi film for the producers of ‘The Pact II,’ called ‘The Diabolical’ (which is going to be released later this year), and it’s pretty great.
Written by: Karen Benardello