When The R.I.P. Man hit the indie horror circuit, few expected it to carve such a distinct niche for itself. The low-budget British slasher, about a killer whose gruesome dental condition drives him to murder, earned praise for its unnerving atmosphere, sharp editing, and striking performances. At the center of it all are Owen Llewelyn and Jasmine Kheen, who bring opposing energies to a story that balances terror and humanity in unexpected ways.
For Llewelyn, playing the titular killer was a dream role. “I’ve always wanted to be in a horror movie,” he said, adding that the idea of portraying a villain who doesn’t see his victims as people but as trophies fascinated him. He built his performance around that detached obsession, each “tooth” a prize in the Rip Man’s macabre collection. Llewelyn credits director Jamie Langlands and co-writer Rhys Thompson for helping him ground the horror in physical discomfort: “I wore a mouthguard in nearly every scene. It’s uncomfortable, and that constant sense of pain informed the character completely.”
Kheen’s Clarissa, by contrast, is the film’s beating heart—a calm presence in a chaotic, blood-soaked world. “I saw her as someone who wants to protect everyone,” Kheen said. “She’s the one keeping things grounded when everything’s falling apart.” With a background in dance and martial arts, she brought a physical confidence to Clarissa’s survival instincts, though much of her strength lies in emotional resilience. “I found a lot of myself in her,” Kheen reflected. “Putting fear aside and staying clear-headed felt like the key to her character.”
Despite a modest budget, The R.I.P. Man looks and feels bigger than its scale would suggest, a testament to the cast and crew’s commitment. Both actors recall grueling night shoots and scattered production days, but the end result made the struggle worthwhile. “It was freezing cold,” Llewelyn laughed, remembering the tower scene featured on the film’s poster. “But that ended up being my favorite part of the film.”
The chemistry between the ensemble, Kheen revealed, came not from rehearsals but from a casual casting meet-up at a pub—an organic choice that paid off on screen. “It felt like we’d known each other for ages,” she said.
With The R.I.P. Man 2 already in crowdfunding, both actors are eager to return. Llewelyn teased that the sequel will lean fully into slasher territory: “More gore, more action, and a lot more Rip Man.” Kheen echoed the excitement: “It’s the perfect balance of something new with everything fans love about horror.”
Whether the Rip Man becomes a full-fledged horror icon remains to be seen, but both actors agree the potential is there. “Slashers aren’t really a big thing in the UK,” Llewelyn noted. “It’d be nice to have a killer that represents that side of the genre.”
After spending time with the two, it’s easy to see why audiences are connecting with the film’s mix of menace and sincerity. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I came away impressed, and with a sequel already on the horizon, it feels like there’s a new horror franchise worth keeping an eye on.
Jessie Hobson