Exploring Trauma and Terror: Rebekah Kennedy Talks TRAUMATIKA

Demon in the horror film, TRAUMATIKA, a Saban Films release | Photo courtesy of Saban Films

By Shannon McGrew

In Pierre Tsigaridis’ latest film, TRAUMATIKA, a young boy named Mikey (Ramen Navat) begins experiencing night terrors that become reality when his mother, Abigail (Rebekah Kennedy), begins showing signs of demonic possession. What he’s about to experience will haunt him for the rest of his life and claim countless lives across generations.

For the upcoming release of TRAUMATIKA, Creepy Kingdom’s Shannon McGrew spoke with actor Rebekah Kennedy about her role as Abigail. During their chat, they discussed everything from reuniting with director Pierre Tsigaridis to the challenges of embodying a possessed demon and the deeper themes of trauma woven into the story.  

Thank you so much for speaking with me today, Rebekah! This isn’t your first time working with director Pierre Tsigaridis, as you have worked with him on his film Two Witches. What was it like teaming up with him again for TRAUMATIKA? 

Rebekah Kennedy: He’s incredible. He creates such a safe, supportive, encouraging environment. I knew that even though the material was going to be really rough and hard to film, I could trust him. We trust each other explicitly. I trust him as a director. He trusts me as an actor. I knew that coming onto set, he would ensure I could do what I needed to do and go to the places I needed to go without feeling unsafe. It’s always a pleasure working with him, and he has so many crazy, great ideas that I love. He’s so collaborative in that way, especially if I need another take or something isn’t working, or we need to make something scarier. He’s just open to anything that we come up with. 

What I love is that you have this striking presence, yet you often take on roles that transform you into terrifying characters. In TRAUMATIKA, your character goes through some intense changes. What was that process like for you? 

Rebekah Kennedy: It was challenging because of the makeup. Ramen Navat plays Mikey, and I think he was six at the time that we were filming, so he never saw me in the makeup. We protected him. I don’t think he even knew we were making a horror film. We told him whatever we needed to tell him to elicit whatever reaction. A lot of it was challenging because I was working alone, so I was reacting to scaring a kid who wasn’t there. A lot of it was Pierre and me running around a house with the camera. 

The makeup took an hour and a half to two hours every day, which was really draining. But it also gives you a chance to think about the day, get into character, and start to figure out what you’re doing for the day. We’re a smaller indie film, so you don’t have the luxury of rehearsing for weeks. As a result, a lot of what you’re doing, you’re finding out on the day. That allows us to discuss and figure out what we’re doing and how we’re going to film something. It was a challenge doing some of those scenes, but it’s weird to say, it's rewarding at the end because you grow as an actor and as a human, and you do things you never thought you could do. That’s why I’m an actor, you know?

Rebekah Kennedy as "Abigail" in the horror film, TRAUMATIKA, a Saban Films release | Photo courtesy of Saban Films

The film explores some heavy themes, especially in the relationship between Abigail and her father. How did you prepare for those moments while still protecting yourself from getting lost in the role?

Rebekah Kennedy: That’s a great question. One thing that helped me was that I’d worked with Sean O’Bryan before. He played my dad in The Veil, and he’s so generous as an actor. He’s so supportive, encouraging, and always asks if I’m okay and need anything. There was never a question of whether I would be safe doing what I needed to do. They just create a very calming, peaceful environment. I’ll be in a bed, and they’ll step out and have me let them know when I’m ready. They let me do what I need to do to create my best work. Even though it’s not fun to film, it feels good as an actor to know that I’m walking into a space that is respectful and they respect me and my craft and what I need to do. 

What do you hope audiences take away from TRAUMATIKA, and what has it been like for you to attend screenings and witness those reactions firsthand? 

Rebekah Kennedy: Watching it with an audience is really fun. During the premiere, we sat further back so I could see the audience in front of me, watching them jump in the right places and laugh at the right moments. This allowed for some reprieves to give the audience a break before diving back into it. It’s really fun because you never know when filming will work out. Is it going to be scary? Are the jokes going to land? Seeing that for the filmmakers and us as a team is really rewarding. 

I hope that when people leave the theater, they're discussing it in some way. It has made an impact on them, leaving something memorable, and it opens up a conversation about what is happening underneath everything as well. It’s a horror film, so of course it’s a fun ride, but underneath that are a lot of other things going on, especially with my character, what’s happened to her, and the abuse and trauma, and moving onto the next generation and what that looks like for a character. I want it to be as respectful as possible, and hopefully that comes through as well. 

TRAUMATIKA arrives in theaters September 12, 2025.