In Modem, Josh Burdett steps into a psychological horror story that turns our dependence on the internet, Wi-Fi, and constant connection into something unsettlingly relevant. In the interview, the actor reflects on building Michael, the intensity of filming in isolation deep in the Swedish forest, and the excitement of seeing the film arrive at the Raindance Film Festival with multiple nominations, including his own Best Performance nod.
Modem blends horror, technology, and isolation in a very contemporary way. What drew you most to the project and to the character of Michael?
The wider script and Michael’s character were both very compelling to me. We live in conflict within ourselves when it comes to our relationship with the internet and social media and it can also create conflict with each other. Modem really explores these themes and the dark side to our addiction to being online. Michael is trying his best, as we all are, but he is up against some very powerful forces. I was so interested to explore this conflict through him.
The film starts from a very current idea: our dependence on Wi-Fi, social media, and constant connection. How do you see the power of that theme within the horror story?
Yes absolutely. Because of our addiction to being online, we kind of excuse it because we are deluding ourselves that it’s all OK because everyone’s doing it. But, in reality, there is a very dark side to it and this is the perfect breeding ground for the horror element of the film to come through. But the horror is nuanced and comes through in ways maybe people won’t expect, which makes it very exciting to share the experience with the audience.
You received a Best Performance nomination at the Raindance Film Festival for this role. What was it like to receive that recognition for such an intense and distinctive project?
I am absolutely thrilled to be nominated. I was working on another film last month and I was in my hotel room in South Africa when Tim (Tim James Brown, the Writer & Director) called to say that I had been nominated AND that the film itself had been nominated for Best UK Feature and Best Cinematography (David Meadows). I couldn’t really believe it but definitely feel very honoured and flattered and just have to thank my fellow actors, particularly Amanda Renberg and Nika Tallroth, who were just amazing to work with.
You have described filming Modem as a very special experience, with the cast and crew living together deep in the Swedish forest. How did that environment shape the mood of the film and your performance?
We were certainly isolated during the entire shoot, so it helped me to become very focussed on the environment around us and on the character of Michael. In the film, the family are really in the middle of nowhere and the forest and nature itself is like another character, changing moods throughout the film from benign and sunny to being something quite dark and ominous at times. I felt quite cut off from everything outside of our film family and that certainly helped me to delve more intensely into this role.
Your career includes very different projects, from Loving Vincent to The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, and now Modem. What interests you most about characters placed under emotional or psychological pressure?
I think we are all under varying degrees of pressure at regular intervals throughout our lives and for some of us that can feel more constant or at times overwhelming. The anxiety that results from those sorts of feelings is unpleasant to experience but it can be a really interesting window through which we can examine ourselves or, in the context of a script, for an actor to examine the character they are playing. From an actor’s perspective, it’s just fascinating to explore how your character might react to the position they find themselves in. Pressure and anxiety are universal so I think the audience can relate to those types of moments on screen and maybe even feel some release from the pressures in their own life, which would be wonderful.
Modem also seems to carry a reflection on how easily we disconnect from the real world even when surrounded by nature and beauty. What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
I think we all sort of accept that we are regularly disconnecting from the moment in favour of our phones or work. That could mean we are checking out when in the company of friends and family, or too busy looking at content when the world around us is so beautiful. There is so much natural beauty in Modem but the desire among some of the characters is to shun it in favour of being online and this, in turn, leads to some very dark places. The film explores that to the max and hopefully gives us all a reminder to truly connect to our surroundings above our need to be connected online.
Beyond Modem, you are also coming off new projects like The Mystery of the Golden Spear and the upcoming Gandhi. What excites you most about this current stage of your career?
I am so lucky to have had the chance to be on some wonderful and diverse projects lately. It’s kind of a wonderful, crazy life and there’s a sense of adventure that I love. Let’s see where it leads to next!
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