Interview: Werewolves Director & Frank Grillo Talk Practical Effects, The Purge Comparisons
ComingSoon spoke to Werewolves director Steven C. Miller and star Frank Grillo about the new creature feature. The duo discussed the horror movie’s use of practical effects, its sequel potential, and more. Werewolves is out in theaters on December 6 from Briarcliff Entertainment.
“In Werewolves, a supermoon event has triggered a latent gene in every human on the planet, turning anyone who entered the moonlight into a werewolf for that one night. Chaos ensued and close to a billion people died. Now, a year later, the supermoon is back…” says the synopsis.
Tyler Treese: Frank, you’ve done all kinds of action films and superhero films, but how special is it when you actually get to interact with a real practical effect, like these great werewolves in this movie, versus having to imagine it with CGI?
Frank Grillo: It’s night and day. I didn’t realize how different it was until we did it. We had these giant seven-foot dudes in wolf costumes, and to work with the guy standing across from me was exponentially better. I think the result of [the practical effects] is that the movie looks big. I think that’s because everybody was so dialed in because it was practical wolves.
Steven, I wanted to ask you about establishing the tone because that’s always tricky with these kind of movies. Things are kind of naturally heightened because there are werewolves. You have the supernatural element. How’s it finding that balance where there is fun, you’ve got thrills, but it doesn’t veer into self-parody?
Steven C. Miller: Yeah. I think it’s important when you’re dealing with these kind of movies, especially when you have a practical werewolf on set. It can be really bad. So, I think that’s important when you’re trying to shoot it. We had a great DP, Brandon Cox, who was really trying to help me find that tone. That goes into how you shoot them and feeling like you’re really getting these monsters on screen the correct way. But trying to ride that line for me was something I really enjoyed. It was in the script always, even when we were dealing with Frank and talking about how far could we push that line. We just kept pushing the movie, trying to keep the movie intense, trying to keep the movie scary without falling into something that was cheesy.
Grillo: Yeah. There is an element of fear because you do have these guys in costumes. In the moment, you’re like, “How are we gonna pull this off?” This is like old-school movie-making. When I saw the finished cut and what these guys did in post, I was blown away.
Miller: ‘Cause you gotta remember, you have not just the wolves on set, but you have all the animatronic guys, who are dealing with all of the wolf features and how they move and things like that. So all of that is such an intricate dance to try to get them all to work correctly. That goes into how that tone works.
Frank, what also helps the story move on is you have that real emotional core where you want to protect your brother’s family. You’ve got a sister-in-law. That’s the heart there. Can you speak to that element? Obviously, we’re there to see you fight werewolves, but it’s good to have the stakes really established there with the family.
Grillo: In film, I often say this, if there’s no story behind the action or behind the scares, it’ll fall flat every time. I did a little movie called Wheelman, which was me in a car for 90 minutes, but the story was about me and my daughter, right? We talked about this, and it’s if we don’t attach ourselves to my character and Ilfenesh’s character andthe child, my brother’s daughter, if we don’t attach ourselves to that, it’s a scramble of just action and wolves and blood. That is the heart of the story, and that’s what will get people to get invested. We need that. You need that. So, that element was very important to us.
Miller: It was something we loved from the very beginning of the script too, because that’s what I loved about the movie is it dropped us into the moment immediately where the stakes are already high. Frank’s characters having to basically board up the house, get it ready for everybody. I feel like that kind of emotional stakes is set up so early that the audience is already on board.
Grillo: In the movie, I really wasn’t a family guy. Do you know what I mean? I was a scientist and a soldier, and this is all kind of fish outta water. Now. I’m taking care of my brother’s kid, my niece, and my sister-in-law. It’s kind of me discovering myself as a man, which is wrapped around this werewolf story.
Miller: Yeah. Learning how to take care of his family.
Steven, I wanted to ask you about this shot near the end of the movie. You get Frank shirtless in this film. He looks insanely ripped, but he gets this superhero-like entrance where the light is glimmering off his abs. It’s hilarious.
Grillo: That’s the only time we used CGI [laughs].
Miller: No, no, that is all Frank. That is all Frank. Let me tell you, I think we had that shot planned from day one, to be quite honest. Even when talking to Frank and telling him we were gonna do it, I think he was like, “Okay.” But Frank’s jacked. I mean, look at the guy. He looks great.
Grillo: I’m old and jacked.
It’s a great shot. It is very funny out of context, but it works within the film for sure.
Grillo: I did a little homage to Brad Pitt leaning back. Yeah.
Miller: He gave us the leanback from Fight Club.
Grillo: And we laughed about it. Obviously, it’s in the movie, and it is kind of out of context, but somehow, it works because of what happens next.
Miller: I think emotionally, because of all of the things that are happening, you kind of go with it because you’ve also seen these werewolves who have great abs.
Grillo: They do. They have some really good abs. Werewolves are known to have great abs.
Miller: So, you kind of just go, “Of course, Frank has great abs.”
Grillo: You know, I was single at the time. I needed to find a girlfriend.
Frank, what really stood out about Steven’s approach to action? Because there’s some really great scenes here. We see this in the trailer too, but you get on that machine gun, you’re just mowing down these werewolves.
Grillo: I have to tell you something, he’s as good of a director in this genre as anybody I’ve worked with. He really understands the genre. He understands how to deal with his actors, he hires the right actors. I’m just hoping we get to do more of these because there’s more story to be told. I think I found my Scorsese in Steven Miller.
Miller: Oh, look man, I can only do my job as well as Frank does his, and Frank is one of those guys that shows up. He’s a pro. He knows exactly what he needs to do. He encourages everyone else around him. He sort of rallies the troops, and that’s what you need with your lead actor who you’re gonna go to battle with for a few months. So I love that about Frank. I love that everyone loves to be around Frank, and for me, that was an easy thing.
Grillo: Not my ex-wife [laughs].
Miller: Well, I’m not his ex-wife. I love being around Frank, and he’s right. We’re gonna have a blast. We’re gonna make some more of these. It’s gonna be a good time.
Steven, you assembled a really great supporting cast around Frank, too. How was it working with Lou Diamond Phillips? He’s given some good exposition here, and those are tricky parts when you’re dealing with scientific jargon, but he pulls it off.
Miller: Yeah. We were just talking about Lou and how he sort of brings a gravitas to the movie and also gives it a little bit of nostalgia, which I love. He’s just one of those guys that honestly, he’s so sweet. He is just such a great guy.
Grillo: I mean, he’s Lou Diamond Phillips. He’s a legend, you know, and he does lend this nostalgic feel to the movie. Like if this would’ve been made in the eighties, he would’ve been the star.
Miller: Yeah. He just brings something to the role that was different, and it wasn’t so classic scientist. He had something different about him, which I love.
Frank, this reminded me a bit of The Purge movies. There’s one crazy night with a lot of violence.
Grillo: 12 hours this time. It’s a supermoon and werewolves.
Did that hit you while filming?
Grillo: Yeah, I mean, this is how I described the movie to everybody. I said It’s The Purge meets werewolves.
Miller: Frank called me when he first read it and said, “Dude, this is The Purge.”
Grillo: I mean, it really is The Purge, especially Anarchy. It reminded me a lot of just the structure of it reminded me of [the film]. ‘Cause it was originally called Year Two. We already knew what happened the year before, so I said, “Wow, we gotta work hard not to make this The Purge.”
Miller: That’s right. We did. I think we did. Actually, there were a lot of little revisions we did to make sure it didn’t feel like that. But for sure, it was an easy sell. When you say The Purge meets werewolves, that’s what it was.
Grillo: If there’s an audience out there that likes The Purge, they’re gonna love this.
Thanks to Frank Grillo and Steven C. Miller for taking the time to talk about Werewolves.
Source: Comingsoon.net