Trevor Newlin has carved his own monster-sized niche in Hollywood – it’s safe to draw conclusions about what part the Sabine native might be playing in a horror movie.
That said, he’s tight-lipped when it comes to spoilers. Newlin would much rather audiences discover his role for themselves when they watch a movie like “The Cycle.”
The recently-released horror film hits the silver screen of 4 Star Cinema at 7 p.m. Thursday night. It’s a special sneak preview for local film fans, and tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis via @KilgoreCurrent and @4StarCinemaKilgore.
Suffice it to say, the Liberty City local spent up to eight-and-a-half hours in the makeup chair each time he filmed scenes for the flick, directed by Jordan Downey and streaming now on Shudder as well as AMC+. There were just shy of a dozen makeup sessions, and they involved as many as six people working at once.
Newlin, who portrayed the Xenomorph in 2024’s “Alien: Romulus,” The Monstrosity in “Smile 2” and Mr. Handsome in James Gunn’s 2025 “Superman,” is particularly proud of his latest transformation.
“This is by far my favorite project that I’ve worked on,” he said last week, fresh off the Oct. 24 premiere of “The Cycle” in Astoria, Oregon. “Not only is the role itself a really cool and unique role, what we did with it hasn’t been done.”
He won’t say much more, always wary of giving too much away about the part he plays.
“Anytime I’m attached to something these days, people know that there’s something going on.”
“The Cycle” stars Deborah Ann Woll (“True Blood,” “Daredevil”) and Jeffrey Donovan, best known for his leading role in “Burn Notice.” The new film follows a woman investigating her father’s mysterious past after his body, missing for 36 years, turns up at a horrific crime scene.
Plenty of effort went into bringing the fiend of “The Cycle” to life, especially after the filmmakers opted to rely on proven practical effects rather than computer-generated imagery.
When Downey sent him the script, alongside co-writer Kevin Stewart, Newlin was immediately in. The commitment to creating the film’s effects physically, capturing them on camera, helped seal the deal.
“We were taking something that pretty much everybody knows and doing something people haven’t seen before.”
Working with special effects artist Patrick Magee and his team, Newlin was glad to endure the longest makeup sessions of his career, so far. It was always a team effort, and including promotional appearances, he’s undergone the elaborate makeup process 11 times.
The demanding physical transformation was only part of the process.
“Jordan gave me the ability to play and really create this creature and character, working with the special effects and makeup team,” Newlin said, “also to be able to do a lot of stuff that was freeform and to make it my own.”
It’s an opportunity the Kilgore College Theatre alum relished.
Newlin’s career in creature performance stretches from a stint inside a Wookiee suit in “The Mandalorian” to bringing the Amazon Yeti to life for a national advertising campaign then joining the “Alien” franchise.
For “The Cycle,” the emphasis on practical effects extended throughout the production, which Newlin said accomplished a great deal despite a comparatively modest budget.
“I think it’s just a testament to Jordan’s directing, the way Kevin shot it and how Patrick Magee and his team and myself combined, we did something really special, and it’s been a lot of fun to see people react to it.”
Newlin also enjoyed working alongside Woll, a fellow advocate for practical filmmaking.
“She’s such a big vocal voice for practical effects and doing things real on camera. She was just awesome to work with,” he said. “She and I had a lot of fun in the cold Oregon weather out there.”
The production took the cast and crew to Astoria, a coastal community familiar to moviegoers as the setting for “The Goonies” and “Kindergarten Cop.”
“It was cool to bring another film back to Astoria and use those iconic places and create something.”
The film’s hometown premiere centered on the historic Liberty Theatre, which hosted the first screening of “The Goonies.”
Newlin had only a couple of days to catch his breath following the Pacific Northwest premiere before heading overseas to work on another independent film in France.
Meanwhile, “The Cycle” has been building an audience since its Oct. 23 streaming release on Shudder, with Newlin pleased by the response to the filmmakers’ unusual approach to a familiar genre.
“It’s a little bit of a smaller release, but it’s kind of been gaining momentum, because it’s something unique,” he said. “It’s something that audiences are loving.”
In addition to its initial streaming platforms, digital rental and purchase options are ahead along with an eventual physical release.
For East Texas moviegoers, Thursday’s special screening at 4 Star Cinema offers a chance to see Newlin’s work on the big screen. Seating is limited, and interested viewers should reach out ASAP to reserve a spot: contact the Kilgore Current or 4 Star Cinema via Facebook Messenger or email marketing@4starcinema.com.
Newlin’s eager to hear what folks here think of his favorite project to date.
“I’m excited for you guys to see it,” he said. “It’s a really fun film.”
And for those wondering just what sort of monster awaits them?
“You’re going to see the creature a lot in this film,” Newlin said. “There’s a lot of really cool stuff, and I’ll just leave it at that for now.”
