Anna Kendrick Calls Twilight Set the Weirdest – Here’s Why a Corpse Scene Stands Out

Anna Kendrick’s career is marked by a diverse range of roles, from her breakthrough performance in Twilight to critically acclaimed films like Up in the Air and Pitch Perfect. With her sharp wit and undeniable talent, Kendrick has captivated audiences across genres, but some of her most memorable moments come from her reflections on the “weirdest” experiences she had while filming. Among these, the standout oddity comes from her time on the Twilight set, where Kendrick played a corpse in a dream sequence, a moment she describes as both surreal and strangely enjoyable.

The Context of Kendrick’s Career and Twilight Involvement

Kendrick’s journey into the world of film began at a young age, with a Tony nomination at just 12 years old for her performance in High Society (1998). As her career blossomed, she gained wider recognition in films like Up in the Air (2009), for which she received an Academy Award nomination, and the Pitch Perfect series (2012–2017). However, it was her role as Jessica Stanley in the Twilight saga (2008–2011) that placed her in the spotlight of a massive global phenomenon. Despite her significant presence in the films, Kendrick often described her role as more peripheral, noting that she enjoyed “all the fun with none of the consequences” compared to her co-stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

While the Twilight films were a cultural juggernaut, Kendrick has since spoken candidly about her time on set, particularly the odd and uncomfortable conditions she endured. The Twilight set was notorious for its chilly, wet conditions in Portland, Oregon, where Kendrick recalled filming in “miserable” weather, but nothing quite compares to the bizarre scene she was involved in—the corpse scene.

The Corpse Scene: A Surreal Experience

One of the most bizarre and memorable moments of Kendrick’s time on Twilight was when she played a corpse in a dream sequence. Filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this scene saw Kendrick flown in for just one day of shooting, a situation that added an unusual layer to the experience. In an interview with Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2016, Kendrick recalled the surreal nature of the scene: characters were dressed in white, casually lined up as though at the DMV, and then sprayed with fake blood by a crew member wielding a plant mister. She described it as “one of my favorite days of filming a movie, maybe ever,” calling it physically and emotionally surreal. The juxtaposition of the casual setting and the macabre transformation of being doused in fake blood created a uniquely odd experience for the actress.

The dream sequence was likely part of a larger Twilight narrative, possibly from New Moon or Eclipse, where Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) experiences vivid dreams involving characters from her life. For Kendrick, this sequence embodied the eccentric and offbeat vibe that characterized the Twilight set, and it was certainly an outlier among the typical acting tasks she had encountered in her career.

Other Unusual On-Set Moments

While the corpse scene is undoubtedly the weirdest, other incidents on various sets help frame Kendrick’s time on Twilight as an especially strange experience. During her Twilight days, Kendrick also discussed the discomfort of filming in cold, wet conditions, which fostered a sense of camaraderie but also led to an odd sense of being an outsider to the core Twilight phenomenon. Her supporting role allowed her to observe the frenzy around the leads while providing plenty of room for snarky remarks and distance from the intense media scrutiny that surrounded Stewart and Pattinson.

Kendrick has also shared other quirky moments from her career. For example, during the filming of Drinking Buddies (2013), she drank real beer on set, which she admitted affected her performance. In her 2024 film Woman of the Hour, Kendrick drew inspiration from a director’s odd and embarrassing comment about her body when she was 19, which she turned into a memorable moment for her character. However, while these moments were notable for their oddity, they centered more around interactions or circumstances rather than actions she directly performed, making them less weird in comparison to the corpse scene.

Comparing the Weirdness

When we look at the variety of strange experiences Kendrick has had on set, the corpse scene in Twilight stands out not only for its physical transformation but also for its surreal nature. Being flown in for a single day of filming, turning into a bloodied corpse, and participating in a dream sequence are factors that combined to make it the weirdest of her on-set experiences. While other moments, such as drinking on set or reflecting on awkward director comments, were interesting, they lacked the physical and emotional oddity of playing a corpse in a Twilight dream sequence.

Conclusion: A Unique and Memorable Moment

In reflecting on her career, Anna Kendrick’s time on the Twilight set stands out as a time filled with bizarre and memorable moments, with the corpse scene being the most notable. It’s not just a moment of oddity in her career—it’s a perfect example of the unique experiences she has encountered throughout her journey in Hollywood. The surreal nature of the scene, paired with Kendrick’s own fondness for the day, highlights the unorthodox path she’s taken in her acting career and how she’s been able to find the humor and joy even in the weirdest moments on set.