Love is a killer within the new Valentine’s Day horror flick “Heart Eyes” — however Gigi Zumbado brings levity and appeal 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 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 dropped at you by Display Gems and Spyglass Media Group, the identical firm behind the “Scream” franchise, “Heart Eyes” is certain 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 means of in lighthearted scenes as Monica: Ally’s co-worker, wingwoman and occasional vogue police. Their on-screen kinship doubtless 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 mentioned 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” solid 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 concerning the making of “Heart Eyes” and bringing a style of Little Havana to Hollywood.
The next Q&A has been flippantly edited for readability and size and accommodates 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 special film than everyone else. I overlook how scary and hectic and loopy it’s. Monica [offered] comedic aid. To come back in and simply, such as you mentioned, take the sting off and get to chortle a bit of 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 bought to chortle and have a pleasant enjoyable time with Olivia Holt. [It] felt like we had been simply kiki-ing all day lengthy.
I saved pondering, “Is Monica going to be part of the horror?” However [spoiler alert] it felt good to see a finest pal who doesn’t die. What an idea. [laughs]
If you happen to did must defend your self from the killer generally known as “Heart Eyes,” what would you employ? A chancleta. [Visibly takes off her shoe.] This one’s a bit of one, it’s a bit of 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 come back from an appearing household? Are your dad and mom actors? Our dad and mom should not actors in any respect. I do self tapes with my mother generally, and that’s a horror scene in itself, attempting to get her to behave reverse me if my sisters should not out there.
It’s enjoyable, although, as a result of our dad and mom by no means pushed this on us, ever. We had 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 means 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 understand how folks can deal with this trade with out having two finest pals beside them cheering them on as effectively. I wouldn’t be capable of 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’ve got our mother with us, and we bought our dad out right here. Now that every 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 few pilot that I shot in November in Montreal. It’s referred to as “DMV.” It’s a CBS pilot, a office comedy, and it has probably the most extremely gifted, hilarious solid 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, and so they’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 Speak, 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 title to Cecilia and made her a Cuban lady from Miami. It was so cool to get to convey out my roots and showcase, , a bit of 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 in all probability 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 had been requested, “Do you speak fluent Spanish? Were you raised speaking Spanish?” It needed to be [this] actual Latin story for you to have the ability to inform it. I don’t suppose that’s lifelike or the way it works.
I believe all of us share a number of 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.
