Matthew Daddario Interview: Into The Deep

Written by David Beton and directed by Kate Cox, Into the Deep is now available in theaters, on demand, and digital. When Jess (Ella Rae Smith, The Stranger) is charmed by a handsome stranger (Matthew Daddario, Shadowhunters), she joins him for a romantic adventure at sea.

However, the mood begins to shift when an injured woman (Jessica Alexander, A Banquet) takes refuge on their boat. When accusations start flying, Jess finds herself unsure of whom to trust. Torn between Ben and Lexie, tensions rise as it becomes clear that the wrong choice could cost Jess her life.

Screen Rant chats with Matthew Daddario about his new thriller and whether he'd ever want to return to the world of Shadowhunters.

Screen Rant: You have a new movie coming out this week—Into the Deep. How did you get involved with this?

Matthew Daddario: I was actually...I was traveling for a wedding. And, of course, as an actor you receive information wherever you are—whatever you're doing, because you don't have your consistent work all the time, where you're like, "Okay, I got a job to go to on Monday. I'm going to take the weekend." It wasn't like that. I receive an email for this part: "Do you want to meet with the director?" Did all that and read the script and everything and I realized this is a great project. So I ended up missing a wedding for this filming. I did. Didn't I feel bad about it. But honestly, no, I really don't. Because I'm really happy that I did this movie.

Screen Rant: Oh yeah. I was going to ask if you at least enjoyed filming the movie.

Matthew Daddario: Oh, yeah, come on. I spent weeks out in Cornwall in a great little town that I had a great time at that I loved. It was awesome. A wonderful experience. Filming on this boat out on the ocean, seeing all of Cornwall, the people...just awesome. And great actors and great crew. It was an awesome experience, honestly. Really, really great.

Screen Rant: So how much were you actually on the water for? Were you docked anywhere for certain parts of the movie? Or are you out there all day?

Matthew Daddario: You're out there in the ocean. Look, if you're out in the ocean when you point that camera, you gotta look out and you gotta see the ocean, right? You can't see land unless that's part of the line, right? So we had to go out far enough that we're not surrounded by land? And then we've got to monitor the boat so it doesn't just move around, because the wind sure does like to move the boat and sometimes the sail's up.

So we're out there. Yeah, we were out there. And we did a couple of weeks, three weeks, I want to say, out at sea. Two weeks? I don't know. And then two weeks, inside. Maybe three weeks. See, I don't remember. But we were really out in that boat. And the ocean is relentless and unforgiving, but it was very kind to us while we were there. So it was alright.

Screen Rant: Technically, your character is a sailor. Have you ever sailed before?

Matthew Daddario: When I was a kid, I did some sailing on those little...I think they're called Sunfishes. It's like a little two person and one person little boat and you go on a lake with them. And it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed that. It was cool to learn how. So I got the basics of that boat. But then after that, in the course of your life nowadays, you're not really going on boats.

Unless you're, you know, going on vacation and you get on a boat. Unless you're part of like a boating culture along the water, you're not doing that a lot. And I don't live near any kind of boating culture. So I don't really get on a lot of boats. So when they told me, "Hey, we're gonna be getting on this boat in the harbor," I said, "Sounds awesome." Sure, I like boats, whatever, you know, I'll be fine. Okay. But then you're out in the ocean and you're like, "Oh wow. How do people do this?" Gives you a lot of a lot of respect for the people that make their livelihoods on the ocean. Because that is...it's tough. It's tough.

Screen Rant: That boat is small. How was it filming in such a confined space?

Matthew Daddario: On the inside, yeah. You know, it's funny. The boat is really cool. It's actually a British Channel Cutter...British...Oh, God, what's the word? Something-something Channel Cutter. And it's some sort of historic example of this kind of boat. It's a pretty significant boat and then beautifully maintained and restored. It's quite large and long. But you're right. Underneath is quite cramped. So filming in those areas is actually quite cool because it starts to change how you film things, and you're kind of in this claustrophobic, tight environment.

And so it alters how you try to act for camera because it's a little bit tighter, you know. You have to consider lots of things. One thing you don't think about is that, and now I'm saying this and people are gonna look for it, I'm sure we screwed up every now and then. But when we're underneath, we're filming not actually out in the ocean. We're filming on set for underneath. But that means that the boat is still moving. And sometimes we're cutting right from the top where the boat is rocking.

So that means when we're underground, we're on flat ground, and we've got to pretend that the boat is moving. So things are swinging and we're sort of walking wobbly. And you have to consider that the whole time. So there's an added layer of filming. Every now and then holding onto things...pretending that your legs are sort of unsteady. It was amusing. I think some of us were better at it than others. I kept forgetting. So look for it. Go out there and watch it and say, "Hey, look at him. What an idiot. He's not even pretending like he's on a moving boat."

Screen Rant: I'm sure people will look for it. I'm sure they will. Well, the cast is essentially just you, Jess, and Lexie. How was it working with a cast this size?

Matthew Daddario: It's great. That's one thing—I'm very happy that it was the two of them. Because if we had even one person who was not willing to deal with the somewhat harsh circumstances of filming on a boat...it's not the easiest environment in the world. Filming outside is always difficult, but on a boat, especially so. They were extremely patient, they were very tough.

And thanks to that, we were able to always have a good time filming when it's possible that it could have gone to a negative place. So it was really an honor to work with them and I'm really happy it was the two of them. So it worked out great. We always were working with each other, we were always sort of supporting each other while we were on set, and that was nice, along with the director and the rest of the crew. We were always very close—physically, obviously. So it was great that everybody was so professional and likable.

Screen Rant: Okay...there is a Jet Ski in this movie. Did you get to ride it at all?

Matthew Daddario: No, I didn't! I'm gonna tell you, I wasn't even there when they filmed the Jet Ski riding scene. Somehow, I was not there for those moments. So I missed the moments when they're on the Jet Ski, except for when it's up against the side of the boat. And I want to file a grievance about that.

Screen Rant: I was hoping they at least gave you a test drive or something!

Matthew Daddario: Yeah, come on! It's a Jet Ski! I think the entirety of southern Florida is based off of the economy of Jet Skis. I know that's not true. It's a hyperbole. But I'm just saying...Jet Skis are awesome. People love them. It's a lot of fun. And it's a shame I didn't go out and ride one. I could have just gone somewhere and done it. You know, I'm sure there are Jet Skis available to me.

Screen Rant: It's not the same though.

Matthew Daddario: No, it's not. I want to do it on the movie Jet Ski. But I'm sure there's some insurance reasons—very good insurance reasons—not to let me do that.

Matthew Daddario, Ella-Rae Smith, and Jessica Alexander in Into the Deep

Screen Rant: Is the thriller genre one you're a part of often? Or is this something that you're newly getting involved in?

Matthew Daddario: I like revenge thrillers. This is a little bit different. So Into the Deep...the revenge element is not exactly clear and the motivations for it are not exactly clear. It kind of keeps you guessing. I don't really know what you would call this. It's sort of an interesting thing because you're always wondering who exactly is...you know that something's up with Ben. He's not totally on the level. But you don't really know what's going on with Jess's character and exactly what is driving her.

So that kind of constant questioning really provides a little bit of stress through the film, and I quite like that. But I really like the revenge thriller. I love when there's a character in the beginning who's wronged in a serious, serious way, especially when it's a family-oriented thing, and then you just see that person go on that hunt. And it's just the best, honestly. It just satisfies something in you, you know? I'm not really motivated by revenge, but I sure do like to watch it.

Screen Rant: I mean, that's fair. I like to watch it too. Thrillers are a genre that people like so...

Matthew Daddario: Yeah, why not? It's awesome. It has thrill in the name!

Screen Rant: Exactly

Matthew Daddario: It's implied by the name. We understand—thrilling. It's thrilling! Go see Into the Deep because it's thrilling. It's a thriller, it says it and implies it. It's on a boat out in Cornwall.

Screen Rant: That would make a great byline. "It's a thriller."

Matthew Daddario: Thriller. You'll be thrilled to see it.

Screen Rant: While I have you, I know Shadowhunters ended a few years ago, but the fandom is still very active. There's still a lot of love for the show. In this world of reboots and revivals, if there was ever an opportunity to go back to that world, would you take it?

Matthew Daddario: It depends on so many factors. You need to have good material. You need to have good people involved. You need to have good production. Then you need to somehow organize all of that. There's a lot that would play into that. But if somebody decided this is the kind of thing that they want to do—they want to make—I'd certainly consider it. I'd evaluate it the same way I'd evaluate anything else—except with a little more enthusiasm, obviously.