On Netflix on January 16 is ‘The Rip’ a new police thriller that reunites Ben Affleck (‘Argo’) and Matt Damon (‘The Departed’) for the story of Miami law enforcement who stumble on a giant stash of drug cash, and the chaotic moral quandary that opens up between their team.
Following their successful reunion on ‘Air,’ Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have re-teamed on screen for this new cop thriller, handled by veteran director Joe Carnahan.
Looking to fit squarely into the gritty, brutal law enforcement genre, it lets them go full macho –– but has more going on than you might think at first glance.
Carnahan, who wrote the script based on a story by Michael McGrale, has here found a project so ideally in his wheelhouse he might as well have his name written across it.
The story crackles with acronym-heavy police action and plenty of testosterone, but it also finds time for nuance.
And though you might not guess the Miami setting beyond some opening shots (and dialogue drops) given that the scenes are mostly at night in a cul-de-sac, there is plenty of style on display here, particularly as things ramp up in the third act.
Affleck and Damon naturally work well off of each other, finding a dynamic that works as longtime cop friends whose connection is pushed to the limit here.
Around them, the likes of Teyana Taylor (even if she doesn’t get nearly as much to do as in ‘One Battle After Another’), Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler contribute superb moments.
‘The Rip’ won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you enjoy your thrillers hard-edged and unexpectedly crafted, it’s certainly got something. And we don’t just mean an unexpected haul of drug money.
A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and director Joe Carnahan about his work on ‘The Rip’, bringing the project to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, working with them on set, their characters’ relationship, the supporting cast, building suspense for the twists and turns, the action sequences, working with Netflix, and why he’s not disappointed that the movie isn’t going to be shown in theaters.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Carnahan, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Sasha Calle.
Moviefone: To begin with, I understand that you brought this project yourself to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s company, Artists Equity. Can you talk about that? Also, at a Netflix event last year Affleck told a story about you pitching this project to him as ‘Heat’ meets ‘Training Day’ and his response was, “Kind of like ‘The Town’?” Did that really happen?
Joe Carnahan: That is inaccurate. I don’t know where he got that. No, you know what it was? Matt and Ben and I are all the same age. So, all the films that we loved as kids, ‘Serpico’ and ‘Heat’ and you know, ‘Lethal Weapon’. Like, these types of movies, and I think we wanted to make something like that that was kind of crowd pleasing and in the cop genre, which I love and have had some success with. Someone at Actors Equity got a hold of the script. I had not gone out wide with it. Matt and Ben and I have been friends for many years. The AE executive said, “Let me get it to them”. It got to Matt within 24 hours, and he called me 24 hours later, and then Ben called me. They were like, “What are you thinking for the cast?” I’m like, “What do you mean? Come on, I want you guys.” So, it was just a dream to have guys that were running the studio that could put the wheels in motion here. At the same time, these two are movie stars. They are two guys that grew up together that happened to be movie stars. It doesn’t happen like that. So, it was a joy from start to finish. It really was.
MF: Obviously, Affleck is an accomplished director in his own right, and he and Damon are also Oscar winning screenwriters. What was it like having two veteran actors and experienced filmmakers on your set and working with them to create this movie?
JC: I know. Having them say my lines, these guys who have little gold statues for their writing. It was incredible. Again, they’re both wonderful filmmakers. They understand it. They see it from a 30,000-foot vantage, right? They get what you’re up against. They get what the challenges are, and they get what the obstacles would be. So, I found them to be nothing but lovely and helpful. Especially Ben, who’s coming out of a directorial background. He’s walked the same roads I’ve walked. He’s put in those hours behind a camera. He understands. He’s a world-class filmmaker. He really is. So, to have that level of competency, I could be a fool and still get to the finish line. But they gave me this wonderful grace and room to try things and they were game for stuff. We had a blast, man. We really did.
MF: Can you talk about how their long friendship together and how that really plays into these characters, and was there ever any talk of them flipping roles? Because they both could have easily played the other part.
JC: You know what they asked me, “Who do you want us to play?” I always had in mind that Matt would play Dumars. That is the slightly senior guy. But they absolutely could have gone the other way, which is an interesting role reversal. I’m sure AI will be capable of flipping Matt and Ben’s roles next month. But again, I’m trading on a 40-year plus friendship. The sense of that and the gravitational pull of that is something you could feel when you’re watching them. You know what I mean? You can’t say that about everybody. Not only do they have natural chemistry, but these are two people who love each other. Then once you get in there, now you’re messing with not only that personal history, but you’re messing with who they are as movie stars. You’re messing with their cinematic presence, which is very different. But it was the moving between one and the other, and then sometimes coexisting at the same time, which was fantastic. Again, I think that’s what gives all their scenes this real authentic sense because they do care deeply for each other. Then there are moments where you feel like one of them is betraying the other one, and that lands with that much more presence and weight. So, that was great.
MF: Without giving anything away, the film keeps you guessing the whole time as to who the good guys are and who are the bad guys. Can you talk about creating that suspense and building to the twists and turns?
JC: Yeah, it was a lot of Mike McGrale and I really sitting down and structuring this in the outline stage, which can be tedious and time consuming. But ultimately, it’ll give you the greatest dividends because you’ve really leaned into the technical aspects of screenwriting, which can be tricky. But I think once we did that groundwork, and once the script was done, I wrote it fast. It was like five weeks to write the script. But all of this was rigorously thought out and planned and machined in that outline stage. Then once you knew that it’s like a Rube Goldberg device, like this trip trips that and drops some mouse traps. So, it’s a lot of fun because once you know it’s working on the page, then it just becomes execution on the day. I always say this, it’s like there’s three films. There’s a film you write. There’s a film you shoot and there’s a film you cut, and oftentimes they’re wildly different. This was consistent throughout, I think if anything, it got leaner. We cut down information as we went on because we felt like we understand. I don’t want to pander to the audience. If I feel like we’re condescending, then let’s keep it moving.
MF: Can you talk about executing the action sequences?
JC: I had a second unit director, Scott Rogers, who I just adore, who’s talented and did a lot of work with me and the DP and are a really great group of guys who understood. It’s like, “Here are the boards, here’s what we want, here’s the shots we want, and then anything after that you get, knock yourself out.” Of course, they always give you fantastic stuff on top of that. So, it was a lot of planning. We use this Libra Head, which is this expensive stabilized head for our shots. If we shot sticks or handheld, we’d use the Libra Head. To do that kind percussive seismic thing when the gunfight starts to make you feel like, “Oh, my God.” I wanted to just feel it in your chest. We would destabilize those things. We did what’s called seizure wheels. We just did these kinds of wild shots, but it created this unsettling effect. That’s always what you’re trying to do. You don’t want to feel like you’re treading over the same ground repeatedly and the familiar. You want to mess with it and see what you can do. I think we did some interesting kind of innovative things in that and the action.
MF: We’ve talked about Ben and Matt, but can you talk about putting together the rest of the supporting cast including Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Kyle Chandler, and Scott Adkins?
JC:Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas cast us, and they just did a phenomenal job. I think casting is sometimes 90% of your work. Like, who do you put in this movie? Everyone from Catalina Sandino Moreno to Steve, to Scott, to Néstor Carbonell, who I’ve worked with before. I have a history with a lot of these people. Again, you just get these people working at such a high level. Scott Atkins, who’s not seen the film yet, he will see it tonight. I think he’s just going to be blown away because I didn’t require him to blade kick anyone in the head, which is kind of his stock and trade. So, it’s exciting. When you, when you have this collection of talented people and you get good material, it’s hard to screw that up. You’ve got to work extra hard to screw that up.
MF: Finally, what was your experience like working with Netflix and are you disappointed that the film will not have a theatrical release?
JC: You know what? No, because I think what’s happened is, you know, we used to live and die by Friday night and the weekend box office. It’s like, “My movie didn’t work, and it is dead in the water.” I like that we’ve eliminated that undue tension of, “what if I’m not number one?”. I never liked the box office stakes. Unless you win, then you’re happy. But I think that so many homes now have mini theaters. They have very sophisticated televisions that aren’t that expensive. They have very sophisticated sound systems that aren’t that expensive. I know in my house; I’ve got this great room that is all blacked out with bean bags, and that’s where you watch movies. That movie in that room would play just as well as anything else. Like, that communal experience of being in a dark room with strangers and sharing something, that’s never going away. I certainly love it. I don’t ever want theaters to go, and we’re going to see it tonight in theater. So, we get the best of both worlds. I do think it’s strong, but it’s strong regardless. Netflix has been a dream. Honest to God, I can’t say enough good things about those guys. From the marketing to the publicity, they have been top of the top, and just amazing.
A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.
Scott Adkins as “Kris Chaney” in the action film ‘DIablo’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Scott Adkins about his work on ‘Diablo’, creating the story with Marko Zaror, his role as a producer on the project, the short shooting schedule, his character, working with actress Alana De La Rossa, executing the action sequences, what he learned from working on ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’, why he’s happy the Oscars will soon offer a stunt award, and what it was like working with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon on next year’s ‘The RIP’.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video above to watch our interview.
Scott Adkins as “Kris Chaney” in the action film ‘DIablo’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about how this project came together and your roles as an actor, co-writer and producer on the film?
Scott Adkins: I was working on ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ with Marko Zaror. We spent a lot of time together because we’re good friends anyway and we started talking about a potential movie that we could star in together. We came up with this idea and then we got Ernesto (Díaz Espinoza) involved, who’s the director, and he does a lot of films with Marko in Chile. So, the three of us came up with a story and then we brought in Matt Samson and developed the story some more and got him to write it. My manager, Craig Baumgarten, also produces movies. So, we took it to him. He took it to some people like Clay Epstein, and we found a place to shoot it in Colombia because we wanted it to be in South America. Originally, we were thinking Chile. So, we ended up in Colombia shooting it with a great production team. We got a lot of support and had a fantastic stunt team behind us that really wanted to work with me and Marko because they’re not used to doing as much fight-based stuff. But we got some great stunts in there like car hits and high falls and all the rest of it. They were fantastic. We ended up with an amazing actress, Alana (De La Rossa), who’s Colombian, and she’s the heart of the movie. It’s a great cast. We didn’t have a lot of time to shoot it, but we’re very happy with the result.
MF: Is being a producer on projects you appear in something you want to pursue moving forward?
SA: Honestly, it’s a massive headache that I could do without. I’m a creative producer. I like to create my projects. But when it comes to dealing with the banks, the finance and the day in day out of dealing with all of that … Ignorance is bliss. I’d rather not know what’s going on behind the scenes because sometimes it’s stressful. So really, I’m a creative producer. But it’s nice to be in a position where if there is a problem and something needs to be addressed, I can pull the producer card out and go, “Hang on a second.”
Scott Adkins as “Kris Chaney” in the action film ‘DIablo’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: How would you describe your character Kris Chaney, and did he change from development to production?
SA: Well, honestly, as simple as it sounds, me and Marko were just riffing on an idea of ‘No Country for Old Men’ and how we could do our version, where I’m like Josh Brolin and he’s Javier Bardem. You can see that now. You see the movie and you’d understand where I’m coming from. We just wanted a chase movie where I’m pursuing him, he’s pursuing me, and what is it? Is it a bag of money? We ended up coming up with the idea for it to be the girl, and everything came from there. As far as my character goes, he is a bit of a blank page, and you learn about my character through the eyes of Elisa. The audience learns about me the way that the story goes, as she does. So, the film’s very much from her perspective. That’s where we went with it. I think the film’s got a lot of heart and really, we were very lucky to get Alana to play the part. Without her being such an amazing actress, it would not be what it is.
MF: Did you have time to rehearse with actress Alana De La Rossa or did you have to dive right in due to a short production schedule?
SA: Well, this is it. She doesn’t know me, so we didn’t need a bond. But we did get some rehearsal time and she quickly proved that she was the best actor in the room. So, I was like, “Okay. Just do that.” But there’s not a lot of backstories because to do that, the way the story is, it would be too expositional. We just got to talk about it and it’s just a lot of talking. It’s more about who these characters are and how they relate to one another on the journey that they’re on. We discussed having some flashbacks to flesh out the backstory, but we just felt it didn’t need it. These characters, that’s who they are. This is the situation they’re in, and this is the journey they’re going on.
(L to R) Alanna De La Rossa as “Elisa” and Scott Adkins as “Kris Chaney” in the action film ‘Diablo’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Does having a compressed shooting schedule give you a feeling of urgency on the set, and does that translate onto the screen in the action sequences?
SA: You can’t second-guess yourself. If you decide something, you’ve got to go with it because there’s no time to do anything different. You’ve got to hopefully turn up with a tight script that’s ready to shoot if you start making a lot of changes. You always do, but you don’t want to make too many. As far as the action goes, it must be structured. There’s no room for rehearsal, there’s no room for improvisation. Marko designed the action, and it’s pre-vised in a gym. It’s pre-vised in a gym when we’ve got time and we’re not spending as much money to do it. Then we get to the location and then time is money. So, you’ve just got to shoot those pieces, and you want to stick to the structure of what that is, really.
MF: Can you talk about coordinating and shooting the action sequences with Marko Zaror?
SA: We wanted it to be gritty and realistic, to a degree. We want to put a bit of flash in there sometimes, but we didn’t want people flying around on wires or doing somersaults because it would take away from the tone of the movie. It’s important to know what the tone of the film is and stick to it with the action. So, the camera work fits in with that. It’s got a high shutter frame rate and gives it that gritty ‘Saving Private Ryan’ feel. It’s important to us to just let the camera show the action and not just turn into an edited mess. We’re quite good at that. We know what we’re doing. The one thing we don’t have and that we need is time, especially with the action sequences, because it just takes time to get the various angles. You can always do better, but it’s knowing on a budget like this, that, “Okay, that’s the best we’re going to get. Can we live with it? Okay, let’s move on.” Because we want quality action, but we also want a lot of it. When you’ve only got 22 days to shoot the movie, you can’t have everything the way you want it. But me and Marko are obviously very used to doing that sort of stuff.
(L to R) Scott Adkins as “Kris Chaney” and Marko Zaror as “El Corvo” in the action film ‘Diablo’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Can you talk about how action sequences and fight scenes have changed since the ‘John Wick’ series, and having worked on that franchise yourself, do you feel pressure to enhance the action and fight scenes that you are involved with?
SA: Yeah, it’s got better and better. Hollywood’s got better at making actors without martial arts experience look like they have martial arts experience. So, you can’t get away with just being a badass and not really being able to act anymore because that can make Brad Pitt look like a badass these days. Fight-wise, it’s hard not to copy people. When somebody comes along like Gareth Evans and creates a new style, you want to lean into that, ‘John Wick’ comes along with that style, and you want to lean in. It is hard to reinvent the wheel, but sometimes guys do it. Then when it does happen, it’s hard not to copy them because anything less looks dated. I’m really impressed when people find a new style, which I can’t say that I’ve come across yet. It’d be interesting to see what the new style is, whatever that will be.
MF: As someone who works closely with the stunt team, how do you feel about the recent news that the Academy Awards are introducing a stunt category in the future?
SA: It’s about damn time. These guys put their lives on the line. Obviously, they try to be as safe as possible. But nobody ever died sewing a costume as far as I’m aware. So, I think it’s high time that it happened. I’ll be interested to see how they structure it, because there’s so many different facets of stunt work. I think maybe that’s why it hasn’t happened for a bit. But yeah, I’m looking forward to it and these guys, they deserve it.
MF: Finally, you also have ‘The RIP’ coming out next year with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. What was it like working with them and making that movie?
SA: Wow, what a thrill. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, incredible actors. Extremely smart guys. I played Ben’s brother in the movie. Joe Carnahan‘s the director. He wrote an incredible script. I don’t want to say too much about it, but it’s just a thrill to be working with the caliber of talent that I was able to work with. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Editorial Note: Don Kaye conducted this interview and contributed to this article.
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What is the plot of ‘Diablo’?
After his release from prison, one man makes it his mission to right a terrible wrong by revealing a secret that could end his life. Scott Adkins stars as Kris Chaney, a warrior who seizes the daughter of a Colombian gangster to fulfill a noble promise to the young girl’s mother. When her father enlists both the criminal underworld and the terrifying psychotic killer El Corvo (Marko Zaror) to exact his revenge, Kris will need to draw upon everything he has ever learned — in and out of lockup — to stay alive and keep his word.
(L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella star in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella to talk about their work on ‘The Killer’s Game’, their first reaction to the screenplay, their characters, the action, the romance, and working with Sir Ben Kingsley.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Bautista, Boutella and director J.J. Perry.
Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Moviefone: To begin with, Dave, what was your first reaction to reading the screenplay and having the opportunity to play a character that’s different than anything we’ve seen you play before.
Dave Bautista: The first reaction would’ve been years and years ago, and I loved it right off the bat because I thought it was like a rom com disguised as an action film. At that time, I really didn’t want to do action films. I just wanted to pursue interesting action roles, and this would’ve been something new for me. So, I was really excited about it. I thought it was fun. It’s something I’ve been really searching for. A couple years ago, I made a conscious decision to stop, not to stop, but to really limit my supporting roles because I felt like if I keep accepting supporting roles, I’m not going to get leading roles. So, I had to really start searching and holding out for leading roles. This is kind of that first leading man, almost cliche leading man, where I just kick ass and I get the girl. So, it was like, “Hey, it’s a new venture for me.” I was nervous about it. I was self-conscious about it. I’m still nervous about it, and I hope people receive it. But I had so much fun doing it, and I’m very proud of it. It was a great learning experience and hopefully the first of many.
MF: Sofia, can you talk about your approach to playing Maize and how your dancing background prepared you to play this character?
Sofia Boutella: First, I always say that my dancing background helps me with anything I do in my life and even in things that aren’t physical because of how I think about projects and the physicality, just the discipline of what I must execute, period. But I was really attracted to working with David, and to be in an action film where I don’t do any action and just fall in love on screen. I’ve never played a character that is that soft and that just has romance in her life. I haven’t got a chance to explore that. So, I’m happy that I got a chance to do that and dance again, which I was terrified about because I haven’t done it in a long time.
(L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
MF: Sofia, can you talk about the relationship between Joe and Maize and what was it like playing those romantic scenes on screen with Dave?
SB: I loved it. I just loved how much of an introvert he was and how much Maize wants to get it out of him. I think she sees through the facade, and she finds that tenderness very appealing because he’s just so imposing and he’s just so tough and big, but then she sees the softness inside of him. So, this was fun for me and to play also just such a giddy character. When you get to the place where he’s breaking her heart. You don’t expect him to do that, and she knows that he’s not capable of that. So, it’s all very confusing. But all of that was very fun.
MF: Dave, can you talk about shooting the action sequences and what it was like working with director J.J. Perry, who is a former stunt coordinator himself?
DB: It was great, and I say that because we were so limited on time shooting this film. Because J.J. understands action so well, it just made it easy for me. Also, we didn’t have the luxury of going in and rehearsing action sequences for weeks like I did on Bond (‘Spectre’). I rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed and over rehearsed. With this, a lot of times it was coming to set, and because J.J. is so experienced in this, he knows exactly what he needs. So, we just need these few beats, and we need these few beats, and then we need these few beats. So, it’s stuff that I could learn just very fast, right there on the day. Which it just wouldn’t have worked if we had some money, less experience, it just wouldn’t have worked because we had 42 days to shoot this whole film and a lot of stuff. A lot of times we had two units running at once because he knew exactly what he needed, and he’s so prepared. He just made it very easy. I mean, it just wouldn’t have worked without J.J.
Sir Ben Kingsley in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
MF: Dave, what is it like having Sir Ben Kingsley as a scene partner?
DB: It was nerve-racking, man. It was intimidating as you’d imagine, for me, especially because I’ve got such a chip on my shoulder to prove myself as an actor. I want to feel like I deserve to be there, sharing scenes with Sir Ben. It’s very validating for me. But at the same time, the energy was very different when Sir Ben was on set. That’s the thing. It’s just such a respect factor. The energy doesn’t change because he is intentionally trying to be intimidating or he’s high maintenance. It’s just the respect factor and they love him and respect him so much. So, everybody just wants to cater to him, and it always comes from a good place. But he’s just such a sweet, loving human being, which makes it even more like you just want to give him all that respect.
MF: Finally, Sofia, what was your experience like working with Sir Ben Kingsley?
SB: Everybody was nervous the day he came on set. Everybody was like, “He’s here. Remember, call him sir.” No, it was an honor, really. When you see the body of work that he has and how talented he is, and the charisma that comes with his presence is monumental. But he was also very sweet, very kind, and chill. But he is Sir Ben Kingsley.
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What is the plot of ‘The Killer’s Game’?
A veteran assassin (Dave Bautista) fends off a hit he placed on himself after learning the terminal medical diagnosis he received was incorrect.
Sofia Boutella in an exclusive photo from ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Preview:
Take an exclusive first look at Sofia Boutella in ‘The Killer’s Game’.
She stars alongside Dave Bautista in the action comedy thriller.
J.J. Perry directed the movie.
If you were wondering when you might get an exclusive look at the new action comedy thriller starring Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella, your wait is over.
Moviefone is excited to debut a new image from the film, featuring Boutella as Maize, a key character in the story (see above).
With a cast brimming with action icons and character favorites, it promises plenty of crazy set-pieces and entertaining performances as it answers the question “what would happen if a hitman learned they’re dying and put a hit out on themselves. But… Oops! Turns out the diagnosis is wrong, but now they still have to deal with everyone trying to kill them.”
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What’s the story of ‘The Killer’s Game’?
Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
The new action comedy kicks off when top hitman Joe Flood (Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and he decides to take matters into his own hands –– by taking a hit out on himself.
But when he both learns he was misdiagnosed and the very hitmen he hired also target his ex–girlfriend (Boutella), he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.
Pom Klementieff in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
The new movie has been in development for a long time. But it has finally found like thanks to Lionsgate, which acquired the script in 2023 and hired ‘Day Shift’ director J.J. Perry to oversee it.
Dave Bautista talks ‘The Killer’s Game’ and his co-star
(L to R) Dave Bautista and Sofia Boutella in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Bautista was recently asked about the choice of Boutella as Maize by The Hollywood Reporter.
This is what he had to say:
“They brought forth other actresses, and I just kept turning them down, saying, ‘No, I just can’t wrap my head around anybody else other than Sofia,’ ”So then I said, ‘Let’s not look for another actress. Let’s just try to move schedules around so we can make Sofia work.’ It took a lot of doing from producers and agents and managers, and Sofia being willing to fly back and forth from Budapest to London while she was on two projects.”
When will ‘The Killer’s Game’ be in theaters?
You’ll be able to catch all the action when ‘The Killer’s Game’ arrives in theaters on Friday, September 13th.
Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
(L to R) Scott Adkins as “Don ‘The Reaper’ Richter,” Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” and Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
In theaters, On Digital, and On Demand on Friday, February 16th ‘Lights Out’ is the latest movie from prolific action director Christian Sesma, who has rounded up a solid cast –– some of them repeating from his previous work –– for the story of a man looking to atone for his violent past by… punching people?
Suffice to say, given that Frank Grillo is starring, there is certainly a lot of that.
Does ‘Lights Out’ strike fast?
Dermot Mulroney as “Sage Parker” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
‘Lights Out’ is a superb examination of past trauma, family issues and is loaded with memorable scenes. Unfortunately, we’d only be able to say that if we were talking about David F. Sandberg’s impressive feature directorial debut, which came out in 2016 and launched a successful career in horror and beyond for him.
Instead, this new movie from Christian Sesma has very little to recommend it.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” and Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Given how much of ‘Lights Out’ feels like it was derived from other (honestly better) movies, it’s a surprise to learn that it took two writers –– Chad Law and Garry Charles, with additional writing from Brandon Burrows –– to come up with the basic concept. Because it is indeed a very basic concept that doesn’t really develop all that much.
We’ve seen the story of a drifter who has a difficult past. We’ve seen underground fight clubs (they became something of a trope for TV series in the late 1990s and early 2000s). The story of a criminal who needs to go straight to help his family is nothing new. There are any number of movies about veterans who make tough decisions on the big screen. And don’t get us started on crooked cops.
This story doesn’t do any of them justice. It’s as if the writers compiled a pack of cliches and strung them together in place of a story.
Jaime King as “Detective Ellen Ridgeway” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
As for Sesma’s directorial style, the self-taught filmmaker does what he can with the screenplay, but there are moments that simply ring hollow. Some of the characters are completely underused (pity poor Jaime King, who barely has anything do other than scowl) and the whole thing is shot in a less-than-compelling style.
And for someone with a hefty back catalogue that frequently finds creative ways to create action with lower budgets, here the set pieces are embarrassingly amateurish, even with the likes of Frank Grillo and Scott Adkins in the cast (we really can’t blame that duo, who have appeared in the likes of Marvel and ‘John Wick’ movies for what transpires here).
Performances
(L to R) Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” and Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Frank Grillo plays Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield, whose traumatic time in the military overseas launches the film. But even he can’t overcome the less than memorable character he’s saddled with here. Grillo can certainly handle himself in the fight scenes, and knows how to handle weapons convincingly, but the drama lets him down severely, mealy-mouthed sentiments clashing with tough nut proclamations.
Mekhi Pfifer, as Max, has a little more to do, since he’s juggling his criminal ties with concerns about his sister and niece, but even on that front, it comes across as a well-trodden story with nothing new to offer –– the sister has the dodgy ex, the family is put under threat when Max tries to go straight. You’ve seen it done better many times before.
Scott Adkins as “Don ‘The Reaper’ Richter” in the action/thriller, ‘Light Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Scott Adkins, meanwhile, has an embarrassingly tiny role as an old friend of Duffy’s who is drafted in near the end to help with… Well, that would be a spoiler, but given Adkins’ action resume and martial arts experience, you can well imagine. But he’s so badly served here that you wonder why he agreed beyond a favor to Sesma.
Outside of the main pair, everyone else is mostly left floundering in underwritten roles. Dermot Mulroney probably comes off best as crooked cop Sage Parker, while Jaime King, as previously mentioned, has so little to do that she could have sent her stand-in to perform the role instead. The actors do what they can, but the film offers them little.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” and Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
‘Lights Out’ is not a movie we can truly recommend unless you’re a Christian Sesma completist (and this is far from his best effort), or you have a low bar to hurdle when it comes to action movies.
There are far better examples of the genre you could be using your precious time to check out. If you’re a big Frank Grillo fan, there are lots of other movies to choose from in his own considerable cinematic resume.
‘Lights Out’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.
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What is the Plot of ‘Lights Out’?
A drifting ex-soldier (Frank Grillo) turns underground fighter with the help of a just released ex-con (Mekhi Phifer), pitting them both against corrupt cops (Jamie King) and hired killers (Dermot Mulroney) gunning for them and all those they care about.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Frank Grillo about his work on ‘Lights Out,’ his first reaction to the screenplay, why Duffy was a perfect character for him to play, Duffy’s friendship with Max, working with Mekhi Phifer, and shooting the fight sequences.
(L to R) Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” and Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
The actor also talked about his work on DC Studio’s upcoming animated series ‘Creature Commandos,’ if he’s finished recording and who he recorded with, when it will be released, when we might see him reprise his character in future DCU live-action projects, and a conformation that he will definitely not be in ‘Superman: Legacy.’
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jamie King and director Christian Sesma.
(L to R) Scott Adkins as “Don ‘The Reaper’ Richter,” Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” and Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay, and did you realize admittedly that Duffy was a perfect Frank Grillo character?
Frank Grillo: The screenplay was a solid C+ when I first read it. It was okay, but it was a home run for me. I knew I could knock this one out of the park, so I was not concerned with that. I wanted to get the script to a place where it made sense, and it worked. Look, my buddy Stallone did a movie called ‘Rambo,’ and it’s that guy that I love. It’s that exact kind of character. I’m not comparing myself to the great Sylvester Stallone, but it’s that world.
MF: To follow up, what were some of the changes you wanted made to the script so that this it would work for you?
FG: There was some structural stuff. I can’t get into all of it, but I needed the script to flow a little differently. Then there were some tropes and cliches that needed to come out and kind of make it where people talk less and do more, which I find makes action movies a little bit more interesting. Then to build a relationship with Mekhi’s character and my character, because I thought that was the heart and the core of the film. So, stuff like that, but you got all those great actors. I knew everybody was capable.
(L to R) Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” and Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
MF: Can you talk about that relationship between Max and Duffy, why Duffy chooses to help this man that he hardly knows, and what it was like working with Mekhi Phifer?
FG: I think he chooses to help him because I truly think there’s something about Mekhi that draws him in. I think Duffy needs a purpose. He wants to get a headstone for his mother. That’s kind of a reason for him to make believe he wants to go to a certain place, but he finds somebody who gives him a purpose. We never feel more enlightened than when we’re helping somebody else. I think it gives him a sense of that. Mekhi is, as charming as he is on-screen, he’s 10 times as charming in person, and we’re both New Yorkers. I fell in love with Mekhi the minute I met him, I mean immediately. It was a 30-year relationship in 12 minutes. So, I knew on screen, much like I did with Anthony Mackie when we did ‘Point Blank’ together, it would be this cool combination. I love movies where there’s a black guy and a white guy. I just love it culturally when they mix it up. I’m Italian and we’re both from New York, and I think it comes across really cool on screen. I love that dynamic. I really do. I know everybody’s politically correct, but Mekhi and I even got a chance to kind of play with that thing, you know what I mean? That’s what life is about. Then after that, we did another movie together. I had another movie that I put together, a bigger movie, and he was my choice. He was my guy. I said, “Please come and do this,” and he did. We went to Columbia and Puerto Rico together and that’s the kind of relationship that it blossomed into.
MF: Can you talk about preparing and working out the choreography for the fight sequences?
FG: I mean, at this point I didn’t know the fight coordinator well, although he was good. My stunt coordinator, my double, comes with me on every movie, Greg Fitzpatrick, who’s done stuff with Robert Downey Jr. He’s been with Downey for a long time, and all of Ben Stiller‘s stuff. He’s so amazing. I know we didn’t have a lot of time, so we came in and choreographed at least all my stuff, all the fights, to make them authentic. This is about underground fighting. It shouldn’t look like ‘John Wick.’ Hats off to Brandon Burrows, the producer, because once I saw the original cut and the fights, I said, no Bueno. This all looks fake, and you got to make this so that the one judicious guy in the back who knows fighting says,” I believe that.” I think that’s what we kind of were able to pull off. It was Herculean to get it to the place that it is, but when I saw the final cut, I’m like, “Wow, I’m impressed.” If people knew the effort that it took to get it to that, you’d have to appreciate it a bunch more, and Brandon, the producer, was a big part of this.
DC Studios’ ‘Creature Commandos.’ Photo: DC and Warner Bros.
MF: The last time we spoke you revealed that you will be starring in the animated series ‘Creature Commandos,’ which will be the first TV series from James Gunn’s new DC Universe. Have you finished recording for the first season, and were you able to record with the other actors?
FG: Yes. I recorded with (David) Harbour and I may have recorded with Maria (Bakalova). But it’s great. I love James Gunn and Peter Safran and what they’re doing at DC and for the DCU, and these characters are living in all their movies. I’m going to be around for a while, and I wish I could tell you what I have coming up with them, but I can’t. But it’s exciting. I was just with the RussoBrothers, Kevin Feige and Lou D’Esposito and it’s kind of like, “I miss those guys, but you blew it.” Now we’re going over here.
MF: Do you know when the series will premiere?
FG: Yes. I believe Sean Gunn just said something (about it). I believe around end of the summer, beginning of the fall.
Writer, director, co-chairmen and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn. Photo courtesy of James Gunn’s Twitter account.
FG: Yes, I do. Again, in a world filled with great talent, actors and famous movie stars, I mean what James Gunn and Peter Safran has entrusted in me with this character and with the future of what they’re doing in that company, I’m humbled.
MF: Finally, is it possible we’ll see you in ‘Superman: Legacy’?
FG: No. I wish.
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What is the Plot of ‘Lights Out’?
A drifting ex-soldier (Frank Grillo) turns underground fighter with the help of a just released ex-con (Mekhi Phifer), pitting them both against corrupt cops (Jamie King) and hired killers (Dermot Mulroney) gunning for them and all those they care about.
(L to R) Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” and Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Sometime after the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has recovered from his injuries and seeks to kill the leader of the High Table, while Winston Scott (Ian McShane) must face the consequences of his actions. The new leader of the High Table, Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), wants Wick dead and hires hundreds of assassins to kill him, including a tracker named Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), and Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind assassin who is old friends with Wick.
Aided by another old friend, Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), Wick agrees to Winston’s dangerous plan to earn him his freedom, which involves Wick rejoining the Ruska Roma, assassinating German High Table member Killa (Scott Adkins), and challenging Marquis Vincent de Gramont to a duel to the death. But first John Wick will need to survive till sunrise if he wants a chance at getting his life back.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Skarsgård about his work on ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ how he was a fan before joining the franchise, creating his villainess character, and working with Keanu Reeves.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch.
Moviefone: To begin with, were you a fan of the ‘John Wick’ movies before joining the franchise?
Bill Skarsgård: Yeah, I was a fan of the franchise. I’d seen at least the first two films, possibly all three of them before I was approached to join the fun. It’s special that way, when you’re very familiar with the world as a fan, and then all of a sudden you are on set acting opposite John Wick himself. It’s very strange.
(L to R) Director Chad Stahelski and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
MF: Your character has a very specific look. The way he walks, talks and dresses is very specific. Can you talk about your approach to creating the character?
BS: I mean, they don’t go into any details of who this guy really is or where he comes from. He just appears in the movie. I enjoyed the script, I really enjoyed Chad, and I read it and I think it was initially conceived for an older actor. I was like, “Okay, this is an interesting choice.” I just wanted to play him because there’s no real backstory and I can invent whatever I want with it. I had a bunch of ideas going into who he is and there’s quirkiness, strangeness and delicious sinister moments. I was like, “Okay, he’s in Paris. He’s called the Marquis Vincent de Gramont. Is he French or is he from a French colony somewhere?” I mean, I just went with it and created. Chad really, just gave me the freedom of creating this thing that’s in the movie. I really enjoy that part of it. The franchise is very stylized and Chad had a great concept. It was just such a pleasure to be a part of it.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
MF: Finally, what was it like working with Keanu Reeves?
BS: I’ve been a fan of his since I was eight when the first ‘Matrix’ came out. It was truly an honor to be a part of his movie and his franchise, and he couldn’t be a nicer guy. It was surreal acting opposite him, but just the nicest, sweetest guy and such a hard worker, and a genuinely caring actor, and a caring individual. It was just a treat.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Following the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ John Wick (Keanu Reeves) seeks to kill the leader of the High Table, and Winston Scott (Ian McShane) must face the consequences of his actions. The new leader of the High Table, Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), wants Wick dead and hires hundreds of assassins to kill him, including a tracker named Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), and Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind assassin who is old friends with Wick.
Aided by another old friend, Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), Wick agrees to Winston’s dangerous plan to earn him his freedom, which involves Wick rejoining the Ruska Roma, assassinating German High Table member Killa (Scott Adkins), and challenging Marquis Vincent de Gramont to a duel to the death. But first John Wick will need to survive until sunrise if he wants a chance at getting his life back.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Initial Thoughts
With over-the-top action, more character development, and a satisfying conclusion, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is the best of the ‘John Wick’ sequels and is on par with the original film. Keanu Reeves excels in his signature role, and Donnie Yen is finally given a part in an American film worthy of his great talents.
The Story, the Action and the Direction
2014’s ‘John Wick’ was a revolutionary film for the action genre and helped to rejuvenate Keanu Reeves’ career (more on that later). What felt like a perfect stand-alone action movie was eventually transformed into a huge franchise, thanks to the success of its sequels and upcoming spinoffs. While ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ was a strong sequel that expanded the “Wick Universe,” ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ while a good movie in its own right, was ultimately not as satisfying a conclusion to the series as expected as it basically ended with a “To Be Continued.”
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is absolutely a satisfying ending to the title character’s story (at least for now) and one that fans of the series truly deserve. With the exception of the introduction of Halle Berry’s great character Sofia Al-Azwar in ‘Parabellum,’ who unfortunately does not appear in ‘Chapter 4,’ the third movie does not seem that relevant anymore, as most of the new film follows the same story beats: Wick and Winston atoning for their actions in ‘Chapter 2.’ While I think a trilogy would have made the series stronger in the long run, I understand the studio wanting to stretch it out given its success, and I guess ‘Parabellum’ needed to set up the upcoming spinoff ‘Ballerina.’
Director and former stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski, who upped the game for action movies with the first ‘John Wick’ ups his action game again with this film, which truly contains some amazing fight sequences. And it’s not just the scenes with what Reeves has called “Gun-Fu,” the movie also has “Car-Fun,” as well as “Sword-Fu” moments. The scenes are shot incredibly well and fluid, and allows the audience to follow the wild action without missing a beat. Particularly impressive is a massive gun and sword fight that takes place at the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the final set-piece, a 10-minute-plus long fight sequence that takes place on a steep set of outdoor stairs.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston, Keanu Reeves as John Wick, and director Chad Stahelski on the set of ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Keanu Reeves is one of our most beloved, and at times, underrated actors. Reeves has starred in countless modern classics like ‘Point Break,’ ‘Speed,’ and of course ‘The Matrix,’ but it seems like he didn’t finally receive the respect he deserved for his impressive career until he starred in the surprise hit ‘John Wick,’ which completely changed everything for the actor. Keanu is now a national treasure, and his dedication to the role of John Wick, as demonstrated in his training videos on YouTube, shows just how much this role has meant to him, and just how talented an actor he really is.
John Wick was never your typical action character, as his origin story began with the death of his wife (to an illness, not assassination) and his motivation was to avenge the death of the dog she gave him before she died. From inception, this gave the character more depth and made him more emotionally vulnerable than most action heroes. Reeves’ deep emotional connection as an actor is part of what makes him so good as this character and that is only elevated by the new movie. While in some ways he will always be remembered for playing Neo in ‘The Matrix’ series, it’s safe to say John Wick is now Reeves’ signature character. With ‘Chapter 4’ the actor not only brings his character to a satisfying conclusion, but also seems to be at the apex of his talents and career.
Donnie Yen as Caine in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Donnie Yen’s Caine
Best known for his work on the ‘Ip Man’ series, actor and martial artist Donnie Yen has only appeared in a few American films such as ‘Rogue One’ and ‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage,’ and he has not really been given a chance to show off his talents until now. In ‘Chapter 4,’ Donnie Yen is truly brilliant as Wick’s old friend and adversary Caine, and absolutely shines in the role. He creates a fully formed character as the blind assassin, and is completely believable in the role. His action sequences are some of the best in the film, and he brings a lot of humor to the part, and has great onscreen chemistry with Reeves. There are some hints in the movie that Caine may continue on in future installments or spinoffs, and I for one would love to see Yen return to the role.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The Villains
While not necessarily a villain, like Caine, Shamier Anderson’s Mr. Nobody is an adversary to Wick and one of the great new characters this film introduces. He is mysterious at first, and we’re not quite sure who’s side he is really on, which makes him more interesting to follow throughout the film. His physicality and skills are a match for Wick, but their mutual love of dogs is key to them possibly calling a truce before film’s end. I was not that familiar with Anderson’s work previous to this movie, but was impressed with his portrayal of the character and would love to see him appear in the franchise again.
Although he is really only in one sequence, action star Scott Adkins steals his scene as Killa, a physically massive German High Table member that poses a threat to Wick. The actor is heavily made-up and physically imposing, while his martial arts skills are well on display, regardless of the character’s size. Character actor Clancy Brown is always good when he appears in small but pivotal roles, and has another strong one here as the Harbinger, who works for the High Table.
But the true villain of the movie is the Marquis Vincent de Gramont, played by Bill Skarsgård. The actor does his best with the material, but like Alfie Allen’s Tarasov in the first movie, and Riccardo Scamarcio’s Santino D’Antonio in the second, the character comes off as a spoiled brat, and without the power of the High Table, one on one, is no threat for Wick, which does play out in the final scenes of the movie. He’s your standard “Bond Villain” behind the scenes pulling the strings, and I would have liked a main villain that could really be a physical threat for our hero, but perhaps that is why they cast Yen and Adkins in their roles.
Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The Supporting Cast
The ‘Matrix’ reunion is cut short again as Laurence Fishburne does return as the Bowery King but has limited screen time. However, it is always nice to see Fishburne and Reeves share the frame again, and his role is pivotal to Wick’s success. Actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Rina Sawayama are great additions to the franchise as Shimazu Koji and his daughter Akira, respectively, and it was fascinating to see the Osaka version of the Continental Hotel.
Tragically, actor Lance Reddick, who has played Charon, the concierge of the Continental Hotel in New York, in all four ‘Wick’ movies died this past week, just before the film’s release. Unfortunately, the actor’s role is limited in the new movie, but his performance now has new context as it will be one of his last. Reddick’s character was a staple of the series, always having great chemistry with McShane and Reeves, particularly in ‘Parabellum,’ and the actor will definitely be missed.
But in many ways it is Ian McShane’s Winston Scott who has the biggest upgrade in ‘Chapter 4.’ The character played an important but small role in the original, and that role has grown in each new installment. Winston’s power is threatened in this film, and like a scared animal backed into a corner, we learn what happens when you cross the character. It’s his plan that could help John regain his freedom, and in turn help himself return to power, but McShane allows the character to come across in a way that you feel he is motivated by his friendship and respect for Wick as much as he is by his own self-preservation. And again, his lovely moments with Reddick as Charon will take on more resonance now that the actor is gone.
(L to R) Lance Reddick as Charon and Ian McShane as Winston Scott in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
Is ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ the last one, or will there be a ‘John Wick 5?’
Without giving anything away, there definitely is a finality to ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ or at least a satisfying conclusion to the main character’s story arc. Regardless of the movie’s outcome, rest assured that the franchise will not end here. While there are plans for a ‘John Wick: Chapter 5,’ director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves have both said recently that they plan to take a break from the character and the franchise for a while.
But no matter what happens with the flagship ‘Wick’ series, the franchise and especially ‘Chapter 4’ have created such a big world with so many interesting characters that it will go on for the foreseeable future. Already in production is ‘Ballerina,’ based on characters introduced in ‘Parabellum,’ including Unity Phelan’s Rooney (now played by Oscar nominee Ana de Armas) and Anjelica Huston’s “The Director.” The movie is helmed by ‘Underworld’s Len Wiseman and will also feature Reeves, McShane and Reddick, reprising their roles, and it is said to be set between ‘Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4.’
There has also been talk of a spinoff featuring Halle Berry’s ‘Parabellum’ character, and a possible crossover with Bob Odenkirk’s ‘Nobody’ series. Not to mention the upcoming series adaption called ‘The Continental,’ which is an origin story for the Winston Scott character, featuring Colin Woodell playing a young Winston, as well as Oscar winner Mel Gibson.
Final Thoughts
In the end, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is an action-packed and emotional rollercoaster with fantastic new characters and a satisfying conclusion to the title character’s arc. Keanu Reeves reminds us why we love him playing his beloved signature character, and Donnie Yen dazzles creating a new character you’ll want to see again, while director Chad Stahelski delivers the best sequel in the series.
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ receives 9.5 out of 10 stars.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Directed by The Kirby Brothers (George and Harry Kirby), the new sequel sees the return of Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon, who must beat the top assassins in the world to protect the ungrateful son of a mafia boss (George Fouracres), save the life of his only friend (Perry Benson) and rekindle his relationship with his maniacal father figure (Ray Stevenson).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Scott Adkins about ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ making the sequel, its new story, new characters, returning to the role, the fight scenes, reuniting with Ray Stevenson, why the Kirby Brothers were the right filmmakers to direct this movie, and working with Keanu Reeves on the upcoming ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Scott Adkins about ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday.’
Moviefone: To begin with, when making the first film, at what point did you realize that these characters and this story would make a great sequel and franchise?
Scott Adkins: Well, when I was a kid, it was a comic book. I grew up reading it, and I always thought it would make a great film. So, I must admit that making the first one, I was hoping that it would do well, because I knew it could be a franchise if the public responded to it well. So, that was always there in the back of my head, but you don’t want to tempt fate, do you?
It took us a few years since the first one to get the second one across the finish line, to be honest. The pandemic didn’t help and other reasons. But for sure, ‘Accident Man’ works as a franchise. There’re many more stories to be told.
MF: As an actor, what do you like about playing Mike Fallon?
SA: First of all, he’s an expert martial artist, and that’s kind of my bag, so I knew I could do that. What I loved about the comic was how British it was, and how violent and funny it was at the same time. Comics were like that back in the day, but you never used to make movies like that. Everyone was scared to make those sorts of movies, and it was hard for me to get producers to sign on to it for a while.
But I think when ‘Deadpool’ came out, that really showed that it’s okay to have a lot of fun and be a little bit rude, and have violence, and swear words, and that people are going to have a good time watching it. Because growing up in England, reading things like ‘2000 AD,’ that’s the way comic books were. They were quite adult in many ways, and that was the vision for the thing. We wrote ‘Accident Man’ before ‘Deadpool’ came out, by the way.
(L to R) Beau Fowler as Paco The Killer Clown and Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Can you talk about filming the action scenes in ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ and working out the fight choreography with the stunt coordinators and the other actors?
SA: I was a lot more involved this time around. I’m always very involved with the fights, of course, but I was even more involved this time because my go-to guy, Tim Mann, who did the fights in the first one, we couldn’t get him. He had already choreographed some fights, and then he took another project. So, we were kind of scrambling. Andy Long choreographed the fights that I have with him, and he also choreographed and shot another fight that happens with Sarah Chang‘s character.
But then it was a mix and match. The directors, there’s Harry and there’s George, and George is a stuntman himself. In fact, the first time I met him was on ‘Doctor Strange’ because he was stunt doubling Benedict Cumberbatch. So, they are really clued up with the action as well. It was a lot of people just mucking into choreographing it and shooting these action sequences.
They’re all daunting because I know that they’re all going to hurt. It’s like you wake up in the morning, you have a fight scene day, and you’re like, “Oh my God, this is going to suck.” You’ve just got to grit your teeth and get through it. They’re all daunting, man. People get hurt. It is painful. If it’s not painful, you’re not doing it right. I do loads of them, of course. It’s all part of it. I’m a lifelong martial artist.
You condition your body to get hit, and that’s part of the gig. Sometimes you get hit hard in the face by accident, or accidents happen. On this one, the action was sort of front loaded the first week. It was all the end stuff we did first. So, finishing the first week, going into the second week of a four-week shoot, I was already injured. I hurt my knee, and that really sucks when you’re injured. But, if you do enough action films, you’re going to be injured for a few of them.
(L to R) Perry Benson as Finicky Fred and Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Can you talk about Mike’s friendship with Finicky Fred and how that forwards the plot?
SA: In the first one, he kills all of his friends. He thinks they’re his friends, but he ends up killing most of them. So, we wanted this film to be about finding the importance of having friends and family in your life, even though you may be a stone-cold killer. We all need friends, we all need mates, we all need people to rely on, and that’s essentially his arc through this story. Of course, Fred, Perry’s character, is integral to the telling of that arc.
MF: Was the relationship between Mike and Siu-ling, played by Sarah Chang, inspired by Inspector Clouseau and Cato’s relationship in the original ‘Pink Panther’ movies?
SA: Absolutely. I’m a big fan of ‘The Pink Panther’ movies. I’m a big fan of Peter Sellers. Some of those fights in those movies, they’re so funny. Ours is a bit more highlighting the action rather than the comedy, but that was essentially what I wanted to do.
I wanted to make Sarah’s character kind of be like my Cato but in an updated sort of way, but have the fun of that, and that you never know when she’s going to strike. We’re probably around the same age. Our generation are going to know, but I think the kids coming up today, they probably haven’t seen those movies, and they absolutely should.
(L to R) Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon and Sarah Chang as Wong Siu-ling in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Can you also talk about working with the Kirby Brothers, and when you are making a movie like this, is it helpful to work with filmmakers who have a background in stunts and fight coordinating?
SA: Yeah, absolutely. When I first conceived the idea of making ‘Accident Man’ as a film, I wanted it to have a Matthew Vaughn or Edgar Wright feel to it. As directors, they definitely have that sensibility. They’re very visually stylistic, and they’re English. They come from the world of stunts, so they ticked all the boxes in what I wanted ‘Accident Man’ to be.
MF: What was it like reuniting with Ray Stevenson on this movie?
SA: Ray’s great. He’s a consummate professional, an amazing actor, and a real team player. We were just lucky to have him in the film. He brings that gravitas to that character, and he’s got a scene where he has to explain the whole plot, and you need a great actor for something like that. Ray’s the man. He’s great.
Ray Stevenson as Big Ray in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Finally, what was it like for you to join the ‘John Wick’ franchise and work with Keanu Reeves on ‘John Wick: Chapter 4?’
SA: I’m a big fan of the ‘John Wick’ films. I think they are the best action films going at the moment when it comes to what Hollywood is doing. It’s a massive thrill to be involved.
Keanu is just, as everyone says, the nicest guy. Chad Stahelski‘s an incredible director, and it was amazing to watch him work. I can’t wait for it to come out. I’m as disappointed as everyone that it’s been delayed till March. I can’t wait to see it!
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
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