Horror Actor Dante B. Salazar on the Doomsday Cult Horror Feature Grace of God

Grace of God, the new doomsday cult horror feature from BayView Entertainment, is now available on VOD. Horror actor Dante B. Salazar, known for his roles in The Arkansas Pigman Massacre alongside Eric Roberts, Don't Make a Sound, Amityverse, and Ouija Clown, stars as Malachi. We caught up with Salazar to discuss the film, his love of horror, and his career in independent genre cinema.

Q&A with Dante B. Salazar

In Grace of God, you play Malachi. What drew you to the character, and what was the biggest challenge in bringing him to life?

Malachi immediately stood out to me because he isn’t a typical horror character. He’s deeply committed to his beliefs, and what makes him compelling is that, from his perspective, everything he does is completely justified. I was fascinated by exploring that mindset rather than playing him as simply a villain or a fanatic.

The biggest challenge was finding the humanity beneath his devotion. In a slow-burn film like Grace of God, so much of the performance relies on subtle expressions, silence, and internal conflict instead of big dramatic moments. I wanted every glance, pause, and decision to feel like it came from someone whose faith and loyalty had shaped every part of his identity.

Without giving away any spoilers, what was your favorite scene to film in Grace of God, and what made it so memorable?

Without a question, the hunting scenes. Barefoot, I felt very connected to nature.

You’ve appeared in several horror films over the years. What keeps bringing you back to the horror genre?

What keeps bringing me back to horror is that it allows for an incredibly honest kind of storytelling. Even when the stories are heightened or supernatural, the emotions underneath are very real fear, guilt, obsession, belief. Horror also gives you space to explore psychology in a way few other genres do, especially in slow-burn films where tension is built through character rather than spectacle. I’m drawn to that intimacy with the audience, where so much is communicated in silence, in atmosphere, and in what isn’t said. That’s what keeps drawing me back to horror.

What first made you fall in love with horror movies, and what’s your all-time favorite horror film?

To sneak down and watch television after dark as a kid was always a thrill. I read a lot and got very much into Stephen King, and when I first saw Carrie, I was hooked. So I guess that would be my all-time favorite horror movie.

Is there a horror actor or actress whose work has inspired you the most?

All of the '80s slasher actors. Jamie Lee Curtis as the queen of final girls, but also Kane Hodder's performance as Jason is up there.

You’ve filmed your fair share of intense horror scenes. What’s the bloodiest, creepiest, or most disturbing scene you’ve ever had to shoot?

The Arkansas Pigman Massacre was a bloody and messy one. Having a pig eating my guts was a bit disturbing. 

If you could work with any horror director, who would it be and why?

Without a doubt, Wes Craven. His slashers are some of my favorite horror movies. It would be an honor to feature in one of his movies, even as roadkill or victim.

If someone gave you the chance to join any horror franchise, which one would you choose?

Probably Scream or maybe Saw. Completely different genres within horror, but both are very polished in their own way.

What’s one underrated horror film that you think every horror fan should see?

All movies by David Lynch are definitely a trip. Lost Highway and Inland Empire are underrated gems that every horror fan should watch.

After making so many horror movies, what actually scares you in real life?

As for what actually scares me in real life, I think it’s a lot more grounded than anything I’ve done on screen. It’s the idea of losing the people I love, or not being able to protect them from things that are completely out of my control. There’s also something unsettling about how unpredictable life can be—how quickly things can shift without warning. Horror films let you externalize fear into monsters or supernatural forces, but in reality, it’s often the quieter, more human uncertainties that stay with me.

What kind of horror character or role would you still love to play that you haven’t had the chance to do yet?

I do love to get to wear the mask or play more villains. Most are iconic, and they always seem to dress better.

Finally, what’s your favorite horror movie quote?

"We all go a little mad sometimes." by Anthony Perkins, Psycho