Case Study: Slotherhouse - Character Voice
Slotherhouse
Voice Acting for a Killer Sloth
In Slotherhouse, a 2023 comedy-horror feature film, Rudi Rok was tasked with voicing the film’s main antagonist: a killer sloth named Alpha. The character needed to shift between being both charmingly cute and terrifyingly dangerous, and Rudi’s expertise in voice acting brought this unique blend to life.
The brief was simple yet demanding—Alpha needed a voice that could carry the emotional range of a villain while still sounding like an animal. Rudi was asked to create a vocal performance that would highlight Alpha’s dual nature, switching seamlessly between affectionate and menacing. Drawing on his background in sound design and voice acting, Rudi researched real sloth sounds and expanded them into something both recognizable and emotionally expressive.
THE CREATIVE CHALLENGE
Rudi recorded Alpha’s voice in Finland with his trusted local team, while the director and producers participated remotely from the U.S. The sessions were a highly collaborative process, with Rudi physically embodying the character’s slow, deliberate movements during recording. This physicality was crucial in helping him capture the sloth’s personality and ensure that the voice matched the on-screen action.
The character’s journey—from a seemingly lovable pet to a feared predator—required careful attention to detail in the voice performance. The team’s reaction after each session reflected the success of Rudi’s work, with Alpha becoming an integral part of the film’s dark, comedic tone.
THE PROSESS
THE RESULTS
Rudi’s voice work was central to Alpha’s character, making the sloth both endearing and frightening. The film, released in August 2023, gained attention for its quirky premise, with Rudi’s performance standing out as a key element in bringing the character to life. His voice acting helped define the balance between humor and horror that made Slotherhouse memorable.