Directing duo Jonathan Milott & Cary Murnion made quite the impression with their last two genre films. In 2014, they released Cooties – the Elijah Wood led film about a mysterious virus which hit an isolated elementary school, transforming the kids into a feral swarm of mass savages. It was the fun and absurd kind of ’80s style romp you’d see Joe Bob Briggs highlight on Drive-In Theater.
Following that, the two made a statement with Bushwick. Based partly on thoughts and ideas from a post-9/11 New York, the themes seems darkly prophetic, if not a cautionary tale. Thankfully, it’s fiction, but what was true is the dynamic and amazing performance from Dave Bautista. Milott & Murnion subverted audiences expectations by casting him in the lead (opposite Brittany Snow) and that, plus the amazing long takes and Aesop Rock’s score were standout parts of the film.
This year, the duo unleash their next genre film which is the perfect kind of midnight movie. In Becky, a teenager’s weekend at a lake house with her father takes a turn for the worse when a group of convicts wreaks havoc on their lives. It’s a good mix of horror, revenge and comedy (something that would bring down the house at Fantastic Fest) but what makes it greater than the sum of its parts are the performances by Lulu Wilson and Kevin James.
The four of us dive into how Jonathan and Cary met in design school, working on their first films, and that leads us all into discussions about Bushwick and Cooties. We also drive all the way through Becky and discuss the casting, the score, fun anecdotes from the set, working with former pro-wrestlers and casting comedians in dramatic/unexpected roles. Enjoy the show!!
Quiver Distribution and RedBox Entertainment will unleash Becky in Drive-In theaters, On Demand and Digital on June 5, 2020.
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