Rupert Grint Embraces Puppets in New Horror Film

Rupert Grint, celebrated for his iconic role as Ron Weasley, has embraced a new cinematic direction, drawn to the distinctive puppetry in Hanna Bergholm's latest film, "Nightborn." Grint expressed his strong preference for practical effects, stating his admiration for Bergholm's use of puppets, a technique he found particularly appealing after watching her previous work, "Hatching." The film "Nightborn," also known as "Yön Lapsi," centers on a couple moving to a secluded Finnish forest, where their dream of a perfect family is shattered by the unsettling nature of their newborn son.

The ambitious narrative weaves together elements of Finnish folklore, satanism, and postpartum depression. Grint, who recently became a parent himself, found a personal connection to the film's themes of parental anxiety and the isolation that can accompany early parenthood. He noted that the film taps into the fear of a baby being "not quite normal" and the potential trauma associated with those first isolating months.

The practical effects in "Nightborn" were central to its creation, with various versions of the baby character, Kuura, including animatronic and puppet designs, used to depict its growth and metamorphosis. Grint also found his character, Jon, a British husband navigating a new life in Finland without speaking the language, to be in a different film than his wife, highlighting his loneliness and struggle to support her as the marriage and their family situation deteriorates.

Filmed in Lithuania with a Lithuanian crew, "Nightborn" incorporates whimsical elements alongside its darker themes, with Grint praising the magical and sometimes sinister aspects of Finnish mythology. He reflected on a pattern in his career, often filming "something scary about babies" when expecting his own child. Grint finds horror offers a broad, creative canvas for bolder storytelling, though he also expressed interest in lighter projects like Christmas movies, such as his upcoming role as Bob Cratchit in "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol."

Despite his burgeoning work in horror and his role in "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol," Grint admitted to not enjoying watching his own performances, finding it difficult to lose himself in the story. While he might attend the premiere of "Nightborn" at Berlinale, he anticipates leaving early, confessing a preference for the early "Harry Potter" films over his more recent work. He acknowledged, however, that "Nightborn" is a fitting film for Berlin and will undoubtedly leave a lasting memory.