As someone who has been following both Alexandra Essoe and Richard Harmon for years, sitting down with them to discuss Pitfall felt a bit surreal. I've been a fan of Essoe ever since Starry Eyes. Watching her career evolve from that breakout performance to projects like Doctor Sleep, Midnight Mass, and The Haunting of Bly Manor has been one of the more rewarding journeys to witness as a horror fan. Every role seems to reveal something new about her range, and her rise within the genre has been more than earned.
Harmon has been a favorite of mine for years as well. Most audiences know him from The 100, but my appreciation goes back even further. I actually met him at a convention in Houston years ago, where we briefly talked about Trick 'r Treat. Even then, he was the kind of actor who genuinely enjoyed engaging with fans. The success that followed never changed that impression. The dude is the real deal.
The pair are now bringing their talents to Pitfall, a survival horror thriller that follows a group of friends whose wilderness outing spirals into a nightmare involving traps, injuries, and an unseen hunter stalking them through the forest. While the premise sounds like classic horror on paper, both actors were quick to explain that the film's appeal went much deeper than its body count.
For Essoe, the draw had little to do with gore and everything to do with character. She told me that whenever she reads a script, she's looking for "the human drama element," focusing on the relationships and emotional history between characters rather than shock value alone. She explained that she is not interested in "gore porn" and is far more interested in material that challenges her as an actor, something she felt Pitfall delivered.
Harmon approached the project from a completely different angle, which somehow speaks to the film's versatility. While Essoe found herself digging into the emotional foundation of the story, Harmon was looking for something simpler.
"A lot of times now when I read something I look if I think it's going to be fun for me," he said, adding that Pitfall immediately felt like the kind of role where he could cut loose and enjoy himself.
That contrast between the two actors mirrors the film itself. Pitfall operates as a survival thriller, a slasher, and a character drama all at once. Harmon described it as a movie that "cross[es] so many borders," noting that different cast members could probably classify it in entirely different ways.
Essoe agreed that the film embraces familiar horror elements from the start, particularly the classic setup of friends being stalked in the woods. What impressed her was how grounded everything felt beneath those genre trappings. She pointed to the relationships between the characters as the reason audiences become invested.
"That is what makes me give a shit about what's happening," she explained, noting that emotional investment is what makes the danger meaningful. If audiences care about the people on screen, then every injury, death, and setback lands harder.
One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation centered on Ashley, Essoe's character. In lesser hands, Ashley could have easily fallen into the modern "girl boss" stereotype that has become increasingly common across genre movies and television. Essoe was very aware of that possibility and actively worked against it.
She described Ashley as someone who appears strong on the surface but is actually carrying enormous emotional baggage. According to Essoe, her anger and toughness are rooted in fear, guilt, and helplessness. Rather than portraying her as some invincible action hero, she focused on the character's flaws and vulnerabilities.
"She's not strong," Essoe said. "She has a massive chip on her shoulder." She went on to explain that Ashley's need for control stems from feeling powerless, which makes her both relatable and human.
It's that perspective that has made Essoe one of horror's most consistently compelling performers. Whether she's facing supernatural horrors or very human monsters, she always seems to find the emotional truth underneath the genre mechanics.
Harmon, meanwhile, continues to thrive in a very different lane. During our conversation, I mentioned that he has become incredibly good at playing characters that audiences love to hate. Rather than rejecting the observation, he embraced it. Harmon explained that discovering his ability to blend comedy into dramatic material opened up an entirely new side of his career. Since then, he has intentionally explored characters with sarcastic and abrasive personalities because he enjoys finding new ways to develop them.
"It's something that I'm doing a lot of right now because I'm enjoying seeing how far I can grow it," Harmon said. That energy is all over Lars. While Essoe carries much of the emotional weight, Harmon injects a level of unpredictability and dark humor into the film that helps balance the tension.
Despite their different approaches, both actors ultimately want audiences to have fun. When I asked what they hoped viewers would take away from Pitfall, Essoe's answer was refreshingly straightforward. She wants people to have a great time with friends, laugh, enjoy the kills, and leave talking about the wild moments they just witnessed.
Harmon echoed that sentiment, encouraging audiences to take away whatever resonates with them, as long as they take away something. In true Richard Harmon fashion, he then compared the experience to the kind of pleasure audiences haven't had since watching March of the Penguins. Not the comparison I had in mind, but I can't argue with it.
At its core, Pitfall succeeds because it understands that horror works best when there are characters worth caring about. Essoe brings emotional depth and vulnerability to Ashley, while Harmon delivers the kind of charisma that makes even the most difficult characters entertaining to watch. Together, they help elevate Pitfall beyond a straightforward survival thriller into something more engaging.
And if this interview was any indication, audiences are going to have just as much fun watching them as I had talking with them. Pitfall is now available on VOD from Cineverse.
Jessie Hobson