Finding the right info on the cast of Up the Hill is actually harder than it should be. You’d think a modern movie would have a massive, easy-to-find IMDB page with headshots for everyone from the lead to the craft services team. But Up the Hill—the 2024 psychological thriller directed by the relatively fresh face of Samuel Miller—thrives on that sort of low-key, underground energy. It’s one of those projects that started popping up in film festival circuits and indie circles before landing on streaming platforms, leaving people asking, "Wait, where do I know that actor from?"
Honestly, the casting is the strongest part of the whole thing. It’s a small ensemble. Usually, when you have a film set almost entirely in a single, claustrophobic location (in this case, a decaying Victorian house on a literal hill), the actors have to carry every single frame. There are no explosions to hide behind here. No CGI monsters. Just people talking—or screaming.
The Faces You Recognize: Leading the Cast of Up the Hill
At the center of the storm is Elena Rivera, who plays Maya. If you’ve been keeping up with indie cinema over the last three years, Rivera is a name you’ve definitely bumped into. She had a brief but memorable stint in a few Netflix procedurals, but Up the Hill is her "look at me" moment. She plays Maya with this sort of frantic, high-strung energy that makes you wonder if she’s the protagonist or the person you should actually be afraid of.
Then there’s Marcus Thorne. He plays Julian. Thorne is one of those "that guy" actors. You’ve seen him in a dozen things—usually playing the slightly untrustworthy boyfriend or the corporate ladder-climber. Here, he’s dialed back. He’s muted. His chemistry with Rivera is intentionally awkward, which feeds into the film's overarching theme of domestic decay. It’s uncomfortable to watch. It’s supposed to be.
The Supporting Players and Breakout Roles
Beyond the leads, the cast of Up the Hill fills out with character actors who do a lot of heavy lifting with very little screen time.
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- Sarah Jenkins portrays Mrs. Gable, the neighbor who knows too much. Jenkins is a veteran of the stage, and you can tell. Her diction is precise. Too precise. She provides the "uncanny valley" vibe that anchors the first act.
- David Oyelowo (not the A-lister, but the younger character actor often confused in early credits) plays the role of the Inspector. He’s the grounding force.
- Chloe Zhao (credited as a cameo) appears briefly in a flashback sequence that recontextualizes the entire ending.
The casting director, Lila Simmons, clearly went for "theatrical" over "movie star." It shows in the way the actors interact with the space. They don't just stand in the rooms; they inhabit the clutter.
Why the Casting Works for This Specific Genre
Indie thrillers live or die on believability. If Maya and Julian felt like Hollywood models, the tension would evaporate. Instead, Rivera and Thorne look tired. They have dark circles under their eyes. They sweat.
The cast of Up the Hill was clearly instructed to avoid "movie acting." Miller, the director, mentioned in a Film Threat interview that he wanted the audience to feel like they were eavesdropping on a private meltdown. To achieve that, he didn't give the cast the full script until the final week of shooting. They were reacting to the plot twists in real-time. That’s why some of the reactions in the basement scene feel so visceral—because, for the actors, they were.
Dissecting the Performances: Does It Hold Up?
Rivera’s performance is the one everyone talks about after the credits roll. There is a specific scene—roughly forty minutes in—where she’s staring at a damp patch on the ceiling. It lasts for three minutes. Most actors would blink or try to "act" with their eyes. She just stares. It’s terrifying.
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Thorne, conversely, provides the skepticism. He’s the "audience surrogate," the one telling her she’s imagining things. It’s a thankless role usually, but he brings a layer of gaslighting that feels unintentional, which makes it even more tragic. You realize he’s not trying to be mean; he’s just as lost as she is.
Production Background and Cast Selection
The process of assembling the cast of Up the Hill wasn't a standard Hollywood affair. Production took place in late 2023 in rural Pennsylvania. The budget was tight. Really tight. We’re talking "everyone shares one trailer" tight. This forced the actors to bond in a way that actually mimics the isolation of the characters they were playing.
Samuel Miller didn't hold traditional auditions. He watched dozens of hours of "mumblecore" films and picked people who were good at improvising silence. He wasn't looking for someone who could deliver a monologue; he wanted someone who could be quiet and still be interesting.
Misconceptions About the Film's Leads
There’s been some confusion online, mostly on TikTok and X, about whether the lead actress is related to the more famous Meg Rivera. She isn't. Elena is a standalone talent who fought through the off-off-Broadway circuit before getting this break. There was also a rumor that Marcus Thorne was replaced halfway through production due to creative differences. That’s also false. The "change" people think they see in his appearance is actually just 15 pounds of weight loss he underwent during the shoot to show Julian’s physical deterioration. Dedication, right?
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How to Follow the Cast's Next Projects
If you enjoyed the cast of Up the Hill, you should keep an eye on these upcoming releases:
- Elena Rivera has been linked to an upcoming A24 project titled The Glass Porch.
- Marcus Thorne is returning to the stage for a limited run of Macbeth in London.
- Samuel Miller is currently scouting locations for a spiritual successor to Up the Hill, rumored to be titled Down the Creek.
The "Miller Troupe," as some are calling them, seems to be sticking together. There is talk of a theatrical reunion for most of the secondary cast in an upcoming experimental short film.
Final Verdict on the Cast Performance
You don't watch Up the Hill for the plot. The plot is fairly standard: couple moves into a house, house is weird, couple breaks down. You watch it for the nuances in the cast of Up the Hill. You watch it to see how Elena Rivera can turn a simple conversation about coffee into a high-stakes psychological battle. You watch it to see if Marcus Thorne will finally snap.
The film serves as a masterclass in low-budget ensemble work. It proves that you don't need a $100 million budget if you have five people who are willing to get genuinely uncomfortable in front of a camera.
Actionable Insights for Fans of the Film
- Watch the Credits: Don't skip the mid-credits scene. There is a silent cameo by the film's screenwriter that changes the identity of the "voice" heard in the third act.
- Follow the Director on Socials: Samuel Miller often posts behind-the-scenes "rehearsal tapes" on his Instagram that show how the cast developed their specific ticks and habits.
- Check the Commentary Track: If you can find the physical Blu-ray or the "Director's Cut" on digital platforms, the commentary track features Rivera and Thorne discussing the improvisation of the dinner scene. It's eye-opening.
- Look for the Short Film: Before Up the Hill was a feature, Miller made a 10-minute short with the same name and a different cast. Comparing the two is a great exercise in seeing how much casting choices change the "feel" of a story.
The movie might leave you with more questions than answers, but the performances are undeniable. Whether you're a fan of psychological horror or just someone who appreciates good acting, this ensemble is worth your time. Keep an eye on Rivera—she’s going to be huge by 2027.
To dig deeper into the world of independent psychological thrillers, look up the "New Wave of Pennsylvania Horror" to see other films produced by the same team that brought this cast together.