Interview: Lucy Hale, Virginia Gardner and Laura Murphy on ‘F Marry Kill’
F*** Marry Kill follows true-crime junkie Eva Vaugh (Lucy Hale), who is suddenly shoved into the dating app world by her besties on her 30th birthday, where she suddenly finds herself at the center of a real-life murder case. As new details about the murders are revealed on her favorite podcast, she realizes that one of the three men she’s dating could be the infamous “Swipe Right Killer” terrorizing the city! Now it’s up to Eva and her ride-or-die friends to figure out which date is a f***boy, a potential husband, or a killer in this comedy-thriller.
We recently had the chance to speak to director Laura Murphy, and stars Lucy Hale and Virginia Gardner about the film, which is now playing in select theaters and is also on digital.
Film Updates: This film is funny and romantic but also scary and thrilling at the same while still managing to stay cohesive despite the blending of genres. How would you describe the film in your own words?
Lucy Hale: It is really nice to hear that it is cohesive because I think that – not that it was ever a struggle, but the challenge with this movie is wow, these are some really serious themes, heavy themes, but how do we blend that in a seamless way with the comedy? So I would describe it as thrilling, fun, sexy, cohesive.
Laura Murphy: And hilarious!
Lucy Hale: And perfect.
Film Updates: This film combines two things people are very obsessed with today, the first being rom-coms and the second being true-crime podcasts, shows and documentaries. What’s your favorite rom-com?
Lucy Hale: Mine is When Harry Met Sally.
Virginia Gardner: That’s mine [too], yeah.
Laura Murphy: That’s a classic. I gotta go with that too. You can’t really beat it.
Virginia Gardner: It can’t be topped.
Lucy Hale: But also You’ve Got Mail. Anything Meg Ryan. Sleepless in Seattle.
Laura Murphy: She’s the master of the rom-com. Would you say Mr. Mom counts as a rom-com? Watch Mr. Mom! I think it’s a rom-com!
Film Updates: To follow up on that question, what’s your favorite true-crime show or documentary?
Lucy Hale: I’ve seen all of them. I tend to veer more into cults. I love the cult documentaries. Wild Wild Country, the Mother God one that came out on Max. The one about the woman who – they called her Mother God.
Virginia Gardner: You got me hooked on one while we were filming! The Curious Case of Natalia Grace. You got me hooked on that while we were filming! It was so good.
Laura Murphy: I feel like Serial was the gateway podcast into true-crime podcasts. I feel like that really made a splash.
Lucy Hale: The Jinx!
Virginia Gardner: The Jinx was perfect! That one was so good! Making a Murderer was [also] one of the OGs.
Laura Murphy: And then Dateline. Shout out to Dateline.
Lucy Hale: And then Forensic Files. That was the OG for me.
Film Updates: You guys looked like you had so much fun filming this movie. Was filming it as much fun as it looked on screen?
Lucy Hale: Man, we really did have so much fun. And that’s rare! We’ve all been working a long time, on many different projects, and I usually have a good time, but it’s rare that everyone’s having a great time and everyone’s excited to be there.
Laura Murphy: We laughed a lot!
Lucy Hale: We did laugh. Arguably too much!
Laura Murphy: There were certainly some take that that got ruined cause you’re laughing so hard. But I think that’s a good sign! I feel like if everybody’s laughing – if the grips are laughing – it’s like we’re onto something! So I feel like the process was fun.
Lucy Hale: But I think that was a testament to you. You really set the tone; this is a movie, we should be having fun.
Laura Murphy: I’m a firm believer that the process should be as fun as the end product. We’re spending two or three months of our lives [making this]. It should be fun, we’re making a comedy. I think that came through on the screen in the end.
F*** MARRY KILL is now playing in select theaters and is also available on digital.