There's a lot going on right now.

Mounting economic inequality, threats to democracy, environmental disaster, the sour stench of chaos in the air.

I'm Brooke Gladstone, host of WNYC's On the Media.

Want to understand the reasons and the meanings of the narratives that led us here and maybe how to head them off at the

pass? That's on the media's specialty. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts.

This is Jane Pauley.

Marlon Wayans may be best known for his comic collaboration with his brothers on television and in the movies.

But now, be very afraid.

Marlon Wayans has made a horror film and telling Sunday mornings Tracy Smith all about it.

Did you talk to God about this movie before you decided to be in it? Every day. I was prayed up. I was prayed up. I was covered. I read my scripture.

I would have to.

This movie was dark.

And, you know, I would often pray before I went to set and, and, and, and, and, and, and

pray in the car, you know, just to, not even to protect me.

I'm always protected, you know. I'm my father's child and my

mother's child in there adored by God. And so I'm always going to be protected. I'm always

going to be covered. So I don't worry about losing myself in that way. Because a lot of times

you do dark roles, like, and you get sucked in, especially when you're

a very committed actor, like, you know, Heath Ledger, for example.

Similar, right?

That darkness, that place you have to go to create this dark character.

I just am grateful that through his whisper, don't be me, be better than me.

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