However, this time, the killer they encounter is a man-eating shark.
I’ve been there many times.
It’s always nice to get a script that says shooting in Hawaii.
It’s definitely appealing, but we shot this movie in 18 days on a very small budget.
We had a mechanical shark with puppeteers.
[With the] weather conditions, water conditions, it was an enormous, challenging movie to make.
It certainly did, but it felt really good after the fact.
You had a mechanical shark?
Did that ever mess up at all during the shooting?
It was very hard.
It’s an enormous head … three times the size of my body.
The sheer weight of this thing in the water, and holding it up, it’s no joke.
It was really a challenge.
The team did such a good job.
To be part of that process, it’s old school movie making.
You had Trace Adkins and Shane West.
What was it like working with the cast and the crew?
Do you have any fun memories from set?
Every day was such an adventure, to be honest with you.
I’m a huge fan of Trace Adkins.
He is such a badass to work with.
He suits this role so much.
Working with him was really fun.
Shane West, all the cast, we had a blast.
And as challenging as it was, we had such great energy.
It kicked my ass, but I loved it.
Was there any routine that you did to get ready for this film?
I should have [swum] more.
I was out of breath.
I was gasping for air …
I should have jumped in a pool a few times before I thought I could come and do this.
I don’t think I can do it again, it’s exhausting me."
He did, like a badass baller, he made it happen.
I would lay on the sand and stare at the sky.
I would sleep very well at night.
I would be exhausted by the end of the day.
It was good for me.
It’s constantly pushing myself.
I wasn’t ready for that, so I was very grateful at the end of shooting.
What’s worse, sharks or alligators?
I’m not afraid of sharks in real life.
Sharks are beautiful, and I love sharks.
On the other hand, I’ve not dealt with crocodiles in my life.
It’s interesting you say that.
It’s pretty ballsy.
I’ll still dive in the water pretty much anywhere.
I think that’s the Australian girl in me.
Crocodiles, I don’t know a lot about them.
I didn’t grow up in an environment with them.
I know most people may not agree, but that’s just me, personally.
I’ll say crocodiles.
They can go in water and land, so I agree with you.
Between “Maneater” and “The Best Man,” what’s youradvice for weddingsgone wrong?
Don’t get married.
These wedding movies, I didn’t really think of it.
Weddings tend to have a lot of drama brought to them.
I don’t know what my advice would be.
Get a really good wedding planner.
Whelan on the importance of being on Neighbours
You also played Pepper on “Neighbours.”
What was it like being on such an iconic soap opera?
Do you have any fond memories from your time on the show?
To be on Ramsey Street, it was such a cool experience.
It’s got this incredible audience all over the world.
It was … really emotional about the show ending even though I’ve not been there for 15 years.
I’ve been over in America.
To hear that it’s ending it started the careers of so many incredible actors in the business.
My memories, they were so much fun.
There’s a huge age range of people.
I learned so much.
I’m still very close with a lot of the actors from the show.
I remember walking through London, just as I had finished the show.
I was walking down the street, and you would’ve thought people are running up to me.
“Pepper, Pepper.”
That was like, “My goodness.
This show has an impact on people.”
It was a very special thing to be a part of in my career.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
