THE HORROR OF DOLORES ROACH, based on the hit Spotify podcast series of the same name, is a contemporary Sweeney Todd-inspired urban legend of love, betrayal, weed, cannibalism, and survival of the fittest. Dolores Roach (Justina Machado) is released after an unjust 16-year prison sentence, and she returns to a gentrified Washington Heights.

Dolores reunites with an old stoner friend, Luis (Alejandro Hernandez), who lets her live and work as a masseuse in the basement under his empanada shop. When the promise of her newfound stability is quickly threatened, “Magic Hands” Dolores is driven to shocking extremes to survive.

For the release of THE HORROR OF DOLORES ROACH, Shannon spoke with actor Justina Machado. During their interviews they discussed everything from embodying Dolores Roach, acquiring massage techniques for the role, and even delving into the subject of cannibalism.

Thank you so much for speaking with me today, Justina! I loved this entire series and was wondering what drew you to the role of Dolores and what your favorite part about playing her was?

Justina Machado: I loved the podcast. I thought it was great. The first time I heard it I said, whoa, what a part. Daphne Rubin-Vega is so lucky to do this. When I got the script, I just started mouthing the words and I thought, this is brilliant. This is funny. This is scary and unexpected. The freedom to play a character like that is really what drew me. I always say that it doesn’t matter what color, race, ethnicity, or nationality [as a person is]. As a woman, to play a part like that is a big deal because it’s usually a white man, you know? Just all of that was so exciting.

As someone who was a professional massage therapist for five years, I loved seeing the profession on screen in this context. That being said, in preparation for Dolores, did you have the opportunity to learn specific massage techniques? 

Justina Machado: I had a bunch of sessions with a massage therapist. They taught me how to stand. They taught me how to move my hands. I did a lot of massaging on that show. I was like, what the hell, man? I’m massaging everybody! [Laughs]. I swear to God, I think I massaged like 10 background actors and it would go on for like five minutes. I gave everybody a five-minute massage. I was like, what? I didn’t sign up for this! [Laughs].

I love how this series has such a comedic approach to the horrors that are unfolding. How did you navigate the balance between portraying the seriousness of Dolores’ situation while also infusing humor into her? 

Justina Machado: I think there’s humor in everything. I just play the truth of the scene, that’s it. If it’s a serious scene, I’m gonna play the truth of it. If it’s something outrageous, I’m gonna play the truth of that. Things are funny not because people make it funny by making us a voice, but they’re funny because there’s humor in the truth of the story that they’re telling. That’s not a hard thing to do if you’re really living in that moment. For me, it’s not. You play everything and you don’t judge it and you don’t try to figure things out if you just kind of do it.

Hypothetically speaking, if you were offered a copious amount of weed with the assurance of complete safety and then got the munchies, would you consider indulging in a rather unconventional culinary experience involving human meat? I will say, one of your contemporaries did say yes.

Justina Machado: No. No. Whoever said yes to you is sick [Laughs]. I would never do that. But I guess that’s how vegans/vegetarians feel about animals. So, I respect that.

The show touches upon a lot of hard-hitting topics such as gentrification and the need for prison reform. Along with the entertaining aspect of the series, is there anything you hope people take away from this? 

Justina Machado: I don’t really hope they take anything away from it. What I hope is that they’re entertained and they love it and they want to see more. There are themes that are important, you know, post-incarceration, gentrification, a little bit of mental health, anxiety attacks, and how you deal with the world when you’re lonely and have nowhere to go. You have nobody and you don’t know what to do or how to survive. There are important themes in [the series] but more importantly, I just want people to enjoy it, love it, and see something different that they’ve never seen before and want to see more of.

THE HORROR OF DOLORES ROACH is now available to stream exclusively on Prime Video. For more on the series, check out our review.

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Shannon McGrew

Founder/Co-Owner at Nightmarish Conjurings

Shannon is the Founder of Nightmarish Conjurings and a lover of all things horror and haunt related. When she's not obsessively collecting all things "Trick 'R Treat" related, or trying to convince everyone that "Hereditary" is one of the greatest horror films ever made, you can find her designing interiors for commercial restaurants. An avid haunt fan, Shannon spends the entire year visiting haunts and immersive experiences throughout the Southern California area and hopes to one day design her own haunted attraction.

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