Exclusive interview: Director Michael E. Satrazemis talks The Walking Dead ‘Guardians’

What was it like when Ryan finally arrived on set?

Well everyone knew Ryan was in, because people talk and they hear things. But the initial reaction was, not even for the Beta part – even though we have mega-fans of the comics and the show in the crew – it was more like ‘Ryan Hurst, this is amazing!’ And then seeing him as Beta is really impressive. I mean, he’s a force. Between the mask and the persona and the mask and taking on that low grumbly whisper, all of that was super impressive. He made Beta, Beta. And he made it so true to the graphic novel, too. And when and actor is so excited about a role, and the depth of character that they get, it’s so much fun to create. You’re already raising the bar the second you leave the gate and everyone keeps raising it and it keeps getting richer and stronger.

(Author’s note: You can read what Satrazemis had to say about Hurst filming the scene with Henry here)

Satrazemis continued his praise for Samantha Morton as Alpha and also talked about how the Whisperers’ silence hearkens back to that sense of old school horror:

Every time you look at that group of Whisperers and you’re looking at the background trying to figure out the dynamics and the way that Samantha lures people over. It’s a very creepy thing. It oversimplifies it to to compare it to wolves or dogs, the Alpha thing, but it’s very similar. And the silence is what creeps you out. There is no conversation or direct communication with words or language and that automatically creates such an eerie atmosphere with the hollowness and the silence. It’s very unique to the show and to any group of survivors and it really adds to the old school horror: What you don’t hear and can’t figure out is terrifying. It’s far scarier than someone walking around and using their voice because there you know it’s coming. With the Whisperers you don’t know it’s coming.