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Robert Eggers’ Nosferatuwhich hits theaters tomorrow, is not what you would call a traditional Christmas release. Instead of holiday cheer or gifts, it’s more about fomenting terror and monstrous murder. This contrast made for easy fodder in a recent interview by Nicholas Hoult with talk show host Seth Meyers, who jokingly referred to the film as a “Christmas play,” but the conversation took a hard turn into the frightening when the actor discussed a real-life experience of fear during the filming of the new horror film.

Last week Nicholas Hoult was a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyersand during a discussion about the depiction of terror in a performance that Superman Star revealed that a particular scene in the film didn’t actually require any acting. There’s a scene in Nosferatu where his character, real estate agent Thomas Hutter, is hunted by wolves unleashed by Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok, and real animals were used on the set. Hoult said:

Robert Eggers, the director, is incredible, so I trusted him. There was a time when there was real fear when we have these wolves in the film. They chased me out a window as I tried to escape Count Orlok’s castle. And I’m like I’m running in place looking forward to the shot and they’re like they’re on a leash holding me back and barking like they have death in their eyes. They want to eat.

In the Nosferatu In this sequence, Thomas Hutter is chased through narrow corridors and makes his way through a window, but in one shot Nicholas Hoult stumbles a bit. The production had to be reset and reshot because the actor was making a goofy face at that moment, but as Hoult watched the replay he found himself feeling real fear because he realized he didn’t know what would have happened , if the wolves had actually caught him. He continued:

I was like, “Phew, OK, that’s intense.” And then there’s a time where I’m running and I slip, and I almost don’t make it out the window while they’re chasing me because they’re acting like they are let loose on me. And I got out, but then Rob said, “Cut, cut, cut.” No, you made a stupid face. We can’t use that.’ He said, “Come see what your face did.” And my face goes, “Wheeew.” I thought, “Yeah, that’s not great, but that’s real fear.” Because I realized that I didn’t ask what would happen if the wolves got me.

Nicholas Hoult also admits that he never received an answer to this particular, important question. That’s a little scary when you think about it – but it also means he came close; The wolves never caught up with him.

Starting tomorrow, viewers around the world will be able to experience this moment of extreme fear for themselves Nosferatu will be in theaters everywhere on December 25th. Starring Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin and Willem Dafoe, the film has received high marks from critics, and if you’re not entirely convinced whether or not to watch it, read my four Star-winning CinemaBlend review of the dark vampire film and see if it wins you over one way or another.