Most co-stars spend weeks bonding before a film wraps. These two weren’t even allowed to say hello. When two lead actors share the screen in a horror movie, you’d expect them to spend time together off-camera — running lines, grabbing coffee, building chemistry. But for Barbie Ferreira and Dacre Montgomery, the rules on the set of their upcoming horror film, Faces of Death, were the complete opposite.
They were told to stay apart. No small talk. No casual chats. Nothing.
The Director’s Unusual On-Set Rule
Director Daniel Goldhaber made one thing crystal clear before cameras started rolling — his two lead actors were not allowed to interact between scenes. And he meant it seriously.
“We didn’t really chat while we were making the film,” Montgomery, 31, told PEOPLE. Goldhaber’s instructions were direct: “I wanna try and keep you guys separate for obvious reasons — to play into the performance.”
And if either of them forgot the rule? They were quickly reminded.
Ferreira, 29, described the moment perfectly: “We were literally shushed if we were talking to each other.” She even mimicked the finger-wagging warning she’d receive on set — a firm “Ah-ah-ah!” whenever a conversation was about to start.
“It Felt Completely Unnatural”
For Ferreira, best known for her role in Euphoria, this kind of dynamic was something she had never experienced in her acting career.
“Usually we have to create a really strong bond before we start shooting,” she explained. “We spend a lot of time together and form a friendship.”
This time? Not even close.
“It’s very unnatural to be working together and not be able to talk,” she admitted. “We would almost say something and then catch ourselves — like, ‘Ah! We shouldn’t!'”
Despite how awkward it felt in the moment, Ferreira says the experiment actually worked in their favor. The mystery surrounding Montgomery’s performance kept her genuinely on edge — exactly the kind of authentic reaction a horror film demands.
“I had no idea what he was gonna bring to Arthur,” she said. “I really didn’t wanna know. I wanted to make sure it was surprising to me — in character.”
Montgomery Was Watching Every Move She Made
Even though the two weren’t speaking, Montgomery wasn’t disconnected. Far from it.
The Stranger Things alum admitted he was already a huge fan of Ferreira’s work going into the project — and spent every off-camera moment studying her performance.
“Everything she does on screen is amazing,” he said. “I’m watching it the whole time — when I’m off-camera and she’s performing on-camera.”
For Montgomery, working alongside other artists is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. “Everyone is their own X-Men that kind of brings their own superpower from their life to their performance,” he said. “And I find that fascinating.”
What Is Faces of Death About?
The film is a reimagining of the notorious 1978 mondo horror film of the same name — a movie that once shocked audiences by blurring the line between real and staged death footage.
In this new version, Ferreira plays Margot, a content moderator for a social media platform who stumbles upon what appear to be re-enactments of murders from the original film. As the story unfolds, she faces one terrifying question: Is the violence fictional — or is it happening right now?
Montgomery plays Arthur, a masked antagonist whose unpredictability keeps both Margot and the audience guessing throughout.
The film also features a stacked supporting cast including Charli xcx, Josie Totah, Aaron Holliday, and Jermaine Fowler.
Mark Your Calendar Faces of Death hits theaters on April 10. If the behind-the-scenes tension between its leads is any indication, this one is going to be genuinely unsettling — in the best way possible.