Haligonian actor features in Eli Roth-produced horror anthology

Nick Smyth originally hails from Halifax, but he'll soon reach a worldwide audience for his next horror anthology project.

Urban Legend – produced by Hostel and Cabin Fever director Eli Roth – is set to premiere on Crave and Discovery+ at the end of the month, and Smyth is excited to be part of the project.

“It's this amazing anthology series. Imagine if Eli Roth did his own Twilight Zone. Each episode is a different story, and I come in during the series finale,” he said.

“It's this really intense thing. I'm a father who ends up getting caught in a forest fire. As I fight the blazing inferno, things just keep getting bloodier. My character works to get home to his daughter in this big survival story.”

One thing that surprised Smyth during filming was the minimal use of CGI for the high-concept project.

“There was some in post-production, I'm sure. But while we were shooting it, they leaned heavily on practical effects. It was more than anticipated, and it was incredible. You just feel surrounded by forest that truly looks on fire,” he said.

“I was surrounded by smoke. It could have easily been a visual trick, but horror can be so much better when things are practical. I grew up watching horror with practical effects, and it's so impressive to see.”

It was Smyth's previous work that combined to get him noticed for the role. He's taken a turn from his Street Smarts and Video On Trial beginnings to do horror roles, including in For The Sake Of Vicious and Motherly in the last few years.

“The makers of the show got a look at my older stuff, and especially the horror I've done in the last few years. Someone in the production recommended me, and I went in for an audition. It went from there,” he said.

It didn't take much for Smyth to find reasons to get excited about the project. Case-in-point was the producer Roth, known for his polarizing, brutal and gory work, including Hostel, The Green Inferno, and more.

“First and foremost, Eli Roth's involvement was just massive for me. I'm such a horror head, and all of his work just speaks for itself. It's a dream come true to work with people you grew up watching. He's a master at what he does. His role in Inglourious Basterds was so fun, and he just doesn't hold back,” he said.

“It's so surreal. There are going to be a lot of eyes on this project. One thing I love is when you get to work on a project you'd watch yourself. I'd tune in for this, and it's perfect for the Halloween season.”

Smyth is a huge fan of the genre and student of the craft, and remembers he fell in love with horror at 12 years of age when he saw The Exorcist for the first time.

“I remember having a blanket over my head, and since then, I couldn't get enough. I grew up on Freddy and Jason, and I love it all. Dahmer (the Netflix show) is so popular right now. But I have no interest,” he said.

“It's too real and too intense for me. Horror movies – even with the make-up, blood and tension – they have a funness to them. There's a thing in the back of your head telling you it's make-believe, and it's a roller coaster ride. To now be working on horror films and this series is so surreal.”

Smyth is excited to see how people respond and can't wait for everyone to get a glimpse of the anticipated series.

“You always hope people like what you make. I love that with Eli Roth's name attached, there's a built-in audience. It will be so interesting for sure,” he said.

You can catch Smyth in Urban Legend, starting October 28 on Crave and Discovery+. For an entirely different change of pace, see Smyth shed his spooky persona as a lead in romance film Last Resort, on Apple TV now.