DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Australian Actor Briefly Loses Consciousness During Intense Horror Film Scene

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A new horror film, "The Devil's Temptation," blends LGBTQ+ themes with supernatural horror, centering on a ritual meant to 'correct' same-sex desire.
  • Australian actor Stacey Clausen stars as a young gay man undergoing the ritual, performing intense physical scenes that led to him briefly losing consciousness.
  • The film, from the team behind "The Medium" and distributed by NEON, explores themes of forbidden love and the terrifying consequences of confronting dark forces.

The upcoming 2026 horror film "The Devil's Temptation" promises a chilling blend of LGBTQ+ themes and supernatural terror. The movie delves into a ritual intended to 'correct' same-sex desire, which instead unleashes a malevolent force.

Australian newcomer Stacey Clausen takes on the role of "Ryan," a young gay man subjected to this ritual. Clausen underwent extensive physical training for the part, describing it as his most physically demanding role to date. During filming, he even experienced a brief period of unconsciousness while performing a particularly intense scene.

Can you go harder? You're not really being choked yet.

— Director Adrian KilaeraDuring the filming of an intense possession scene where actor Stacey Clausen was performing simulated strangulation.

The film is produced by the team behind "The Medium" and released by NEON. Clausen stars alongside Joe Baird as "Naim," with whom he shares a forbidden romance. Director Adrian Kilaera cited the natural chemistry between the actors as a key factor in their casting. He praised Clausen's ability to switch between character states, his quick reactions, and his improvisational skills.

For two seconds, I just blacked out, and then suddenly woke up.

— Stacey ClausenRecalling a moment during a particularly demanding scene where he lost consciousness.

To portray the possessed state, Clausen and the crew conceptualized the movements as those of a "predator," likening them to a jaguar's stealthy approach. Clausen even wore contact lenses to simulate sensory disorientation. The most memorable moments for him involved high-intensity possession scenes, requiring constant rolling, pulling, and simulated strangulation. One particular photo booth scene led to him blacking out for a few seconds after the director urged him to push harder.

"The Devil's Temptation" follows Naim, who moves to a conservative religious town after his father's death and develops a secret relationship with Ryan. When Naim uncovers Ryan's secret with the pastor's son, Hunter, jealousy leads to the truth being revealed. Hunter's parents then enlist an exorcist to 'correct' their son's desires, inadvertently awakening a mysterious entity that preys on deepest fears and desires. Naim must ultimately choose between love and terror as bizarre events unfold. The film is set to release in Taiwan on August 14.

I really didn't expect this role to take such a physical toll!

— Stacey ClausenExpressing the unexpected physical demands of his role in 'The Devil's Temptation'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog