Skip to content
  • 01. Home Page
  • 02. Biography
  • 03, Career
  • 04. Photo Gallery
  • 05. Video Archive
  • 06. Press Archive
  • 07. Twitter

Nightmarish Conjurings: February 2021

[Interview] Madison Iseman & Israel Broussard for Fear Of Rain

Nightmarish Conjurings   |   Written by Shannon McGrew

In the YA thriller FEAR OF RAIN from writer/director Castille Landon, teenager Rain Burroughs (Madison Iseman), who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, finds herself struggling every day as she tries to figure out which of the disturbing images, harrowing voices, and traumatic feelings she experiences are real and which are all in her mind. However, when Rain insists against her parents’ (Katherine Heigl and Harry Connick. Jr.) advice that the shadows and cries from her neighbor’s attic are hiding a dark secret, she enlists help from Caleb (Israel Broussard), the charmingly awkward new boy at school – who himself may not be real.

Prior to FEAR OF RAIN ‘s release, Nightmarish Conjurings’ had the opportunity to chat with actors Madison Iseman (Annabelle Comes Home) and Israel Broussard (Happy Death Day) about everything from how coffee brought them together, the importance of destigmatizing mental illness, and their favorite horror movies.

To kick things off, what was it like working together and building up the relationship that Rain and Caleb have? 

Madison Iseman: It’s fun! I like Israel (laughs). We really just hit it off from the beginning. I think we hung out once in LA, before we went down to Florida to film, and then it was just easy from there. We get along really well. We like coffee a lot, that was major.

Israel Broussard: Coffee snobs (laughs). I felt we had an energy that just kind of… I don’t know if it was subconscious but we kind of fit into our characters from the get-go. By the time we made it to Tampa, we had already said the “nice to meet you” and all that, and went and got coffee and, from there, everything was history. I definitely worked off Madison’s energy a lot through this film and it was fun.

For you Madison, this is a pretty demanding role. How was it getting into Rain’s headspace and how did Director Castille Landon help you to prepare for the role? 

Madison Iseman: We did a ton of research and talked to people, family members, friends, but more than anything, there was a memoir that both Castille and I really studied called “The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness” by Elyn Saks. It was an interesting way to look at schizophrenia because it’s told from Ellen’s story, from a young child up through adulthood. Rarely do you ever get to see or hear about that timeframe, especially if dealing with schizophrenia, and what that looks like. So, we really clung to that memoir and used that a lot towards Rain and what she went through. Between Castille and I, we really tried to find Rain and what her schizophrenia looks like because it does differ from person to person and not one experience is like the other. It was very collaborative from the very beginning, and it was very challenging but I think it turned out really great.

For you Israel, what do you think it is about Rain that attracts Caleb to her? 

Israel Broussard: I think they’re a little alike, I think Caleb’s kind of an outsider. He’s not necessarily a loner but he’s definitely a little quirky, a little too quirky to be in a big friend circle. So I think Caleb being a new kid at the school, by the time Rain steps in, I think there’s a little bit of an attraction, a love at first sight kind of thing. But also, I think they have similar minds and I think he’s attracted to that. To the point where he’s more than willing to put himself to the side and do everything he can in his power to help Rain and try to understand where she’s coming from, even when he doesn’t realize what she’s going through. One of my favorite things about the character is he continues that even after he realizes what she is going through and I appreciated that. I wish there were more people like that. That’s the main thing that I loved about Caleb. And really, the whole script was just written well. Castille got a great cast together, a great cinematographer, and I had a lot of confidence in her and she killed it. I’m really happy with the movie we made.

That’s a great segway into my next question which was how was it working alongside Castille Landon and what were some of your favorite parts about filming? 

Madison Iseman: There’s so many fun, awesome parts. I really enjoyed all the stuff that Israel and I did together. Those were the light moments, you know, and they were so fun and we got to go to the aquarium and do all this cool stuff. But then there were some of those super impressionistic pieces that were so awesome, like with the painting, some of those elements I really enjoyed cause you got to see a little bit of Rain’s mind and what that might look like. Castille has a fantastic brain and I feel lucky that I got to pick at it and play with her and do this together.

Israel Broussard: [Castille’s] got a huge brain but she also had everything thought out and she did her research even before, I think, putting the pen to the paper and that helped us out a lot. But she also knew what she wanted and she could communicate that really well, strangely well. I later found out she was an actor as well. It was nice because it was definitely heavy material, more so for Madison and Harry Connick Jr. than Caleb, but even being on set I would come by and kind of just watch everything go down. She was just very direct and very inquisitive, but also leaving room for any creative additions they might add to the scene. It was nice, it was [a] wonderful watch, it was great to be part of, and she really knew what she was doing and I’m happy that seeing the film it definitely shows.

I’m sure you both have been asked this a million times, but having starred in multiple horror films, are you both horror fans and if so, what’s your favorite horror movie? 

Madison Iseman: Yes, I’m a horror fan. All-time, probably The Shining. Recently, probably Hereditary. The film that scared me the most when I got into scary movies was The Ring. It’s too hard to pick just one.

Israel Broussard: With horror films, I’m not sure how I got into it necessarily, but I’ve been happy to go along for the ride (laughs). I’ve never been a huge horror fan, I’m getting there. I saw IT when I was a kid and that really screwed me over and traumatized me. Not the new one, the new one was good, but nothing can compare to the original, and I was actually a little disappointed in the new one. It was great in its own right but there was just something about the older one that it really just digs into your consciousness and plants a little seed there. My favorite horror movie…it’s kind of hard to tell. I’ve seen a lot of horror movies but the only ones that have been imprinted on me would probably be IT. I did just recently see Hereditary and that was a little much (laughs). It was the most beautiful fucking horror show I’ve ever seen, but at the end, I’m like, what just happened.

Madison Iseman: After I watched Hereditary, for weeks straight in my dreams I saw headless people bowing at my bedside. I was emotionally wrecked from that movie and I could not sleep.

Lastly, what do you hope people take away from FEAR OF RAIN, especially in regards to the treatment of people with a mental illness? 

Madison Iseman: Obviously, you know, I hope everyone enjoys it and has a great time watching it. But I do think this is a small step in a big conversation that I hope is portrayed more and more throughout film and television. I think it’s a conversation we’ve shied away from for a long time where it’s been improperly displayed in media. So I really do hope this is a step in that direction and we can see more things that kind of fall into that world of de-stigmatizing mental illness.

Israel Broussard: Yeah, I agree. Obviously, I hope people are entertained by it and get some joy out of it. But ultimately, I hope that this film strips away any stereotypes or misconceptions that people already have regarding schizophrenia and other types of mental illnesses. And obviously, this film itself isn’t exactly how it is for everybody. Everybody handles it a little differently and it’s different for each individual, but what’s important to keep in mind is the perspective that people battling with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses are people too. They have family and friends and they have people around them that help them along. So it’s nice being a bit of a fly on the wall inside Rain’s family and seeing what it’s like as a family to help and go through what people with schizophrenia go through. I hope people take away just a brighter perspective and more of a compassionate perspective.

Related

Powered by MND Press Library
Welcome to Madison Iseman Source - Your newest online resource for multi-talented actress Madison Iseman. Madison is known as Bethany from the Jumanji movies & can also be seen in other movies such as Annabelle comes home & Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween among others. Madison is also known as Charlotte on CMT's television series Still the king & can currently be seen as Allison/Lennon on the television adaptation of I Know What You Did Last Summer from Amazon Studios. Madison is also set to star in a live action movie version of 80's manga & anime series Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac as Sienna. Keep checking back as we bring you the latest on Madison & her projects.

Family Sites

Co-Stars

Mckenna Grace
Michael Cimino
Michael Cimino
Sabrina Carpenter
You1
Accepting

Elite Affiliates

Channing Tatum
Chloe Grace Moretz
Danielle Rose Russell
Geraldine Viswanathan
Lily James
Madelaine Petsch
Nathalie Emmanuel
Néstor Carbonell
Oliver Stark
Perrie Edwards
Sebastian Stan
Soe Kazan
Talia Ryder
You1
You2
Accepting

Latest Projects

  • Knights of the Zodiac (2023)
    Knights of the Zodiac (2023)
    Sienna
    Post-Production
    When a goddess of war reincarnates in the body of a young girl, street orphan Seiya discovers that he is destined to protect her and save the world. But only if he can face his own past and become a Knight of the Zodiac.
    Info
    Photos
    Videos
    IMDb
    Official
  • I Know What You Did Last Summer (2021)
    I Know What You Did Last Summer (2021)
    Alison/Lennon Grant
    Cancelled/Season One Streaming Amazon Prime
    One year after the fatal car accident that haunted their graduation night, a group of teenagers find themselves bound together by a dark secret and stalked by a brutal killer. As they try to piece together who’s after them, they reveal the dark side of their seemingly perfect town—and themselves. Everyone is hiding something, and uncovering the wrong secret could be deadly.
    News
    Photos
    IMDb
    Official
  • Clouds (2020)
    Clouds (2020)
    Amy Adamle
    Streaming Disney+
    Young musician Zach Sobiech discovers his cancer has spread, leaving him just a few months to live. With limited time, he follows his dream and makes an album, unaware that it will soon be a viral music phenomenon.
    Photos
    IMDb
    Official

Featured Albums

Saturne Magazine Editorial September/October 2018
Saturne Magazine Editorial September/October 2018
Saturne Magazine Photoshoot September/October 2018
Saturne Magazine Photoshoot September/October 2018

Latest Videos

  • 7th Annual KS95’s “Clouds Choir” For A Cause 2019
    Added December 31, 2022
  • Holly Wire ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Interview
    Added December 18, 2022
  • Brief Take ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Interview
    Added December 18, 2022
  • Knights Of The Zodiac Official Teaser Trailer
    Added December 3, 2022
  • American Horror Stories ‘Necro’ Trailer
    Added September 6, 2022

Most Popular Videos

  • Henry Danger: The Bad Girl Clip
    Viewed 1044 times
  • Henry Danger: Henry & Veronika Clip
    Viewed 1020 times
  • Fear of Rain: What Makes You, You Clip
    Viewed 986 times
  • Kid Danger Kisses A Bad Girl Clip
    Viewed 985 times
  • IRK Magazine Short Film
    Viewed 879 times

Quoting Madison

"I’ve always just loved the horror genre and scary movies. I don’t really know why. Ever since I was a little girl, they were always my favorite movies to watch. They are also one of my favorite movies to act in. There are just really no rules."
MORE QUOTES

Site Information

  Maintained by: Niamh
  Online since: August 15th 2021
  Contact: Contact Form
  Site Visitors:
  Online:

Madison Iseman Source is 100% unofficial. The site is fan run, for the fans. All original text and graphics belong to Madison Iseman Source (unless stated otherwise), all pictures, scans, screencaps etc. are copyright to their original owners. This site is non-profit, and is in no way trying to infringe on the copyrights or businesses of any of the entities. All content posted up on this site is used under the Fair Use Copyright Law 107. All photos are copyright to their respective owners. Tags & watermarks on photos exist only for promotional purposes & do not imply ownership. If you would like something removed please contact me.

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© 2021 - 2023 Madison Iseman Source • Theme by MonicaNDesign • Powered by WordPress
Madison Iseman Source is 100% unofficial. The site is fan run, for the fans. All original text and graphics belong to Madison Iseman Source (unless stated otherwise), all pictures, scans, screencaps etc. are copyright to their original owners. This site is non-profit, and is in no way trying to infringe on the copyrights or businesses of any of the entities. All content posted up on this site is used under the Fair Use Copyright Law 107. All photos are copyright to their respective owners. Tags & watermarks on photos exist only for promotional purposes & do not imply ownership. If you would like something removed please contact me.