‘The Surfer’ Director Lorcan Finnegan on Why Nicolas Cage Kept a Rat in His Pocket, and Why You Shouldn’t Tickle a Snake

As a seasoned movie critic with a deep appreciation for the bizarre and the uncanny, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing some truly unique cinematic experiences throughout my career. Lorcan Finnegan‘s “The Surfer,” which premiered at Cannes and graced the screens of Taormina Film Festival, is one such experience that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on audiences.

Lorcan Finnegan’s “The Surfer,” which is set to be screened at Taormina Film Festival after its debut at Cannes, is anticipated to be one of the most unusual and popular films of the year. The movie, a unique blend of Kafka’s surrealism and Ozploitation’s eccentricity, showcases a later career Cage performance and a darkly comic narrative that seems even more ominous against the backdrop of a sunny Mediterranean setting. The Irish filmmaker behind “Vivarium” and “Nocebo” shared his insights with EbMaster as the shimmering waters in the distance beckoned enticingly.

Were you familiar with surfing culture before making the film?

I don’t consider myself a surfer; instead, I identify as a skateboarder, and therefore, I wasn’t familiar with that specific culture. The concept of toxic masculinity never drew me in, yet I didn’t wish to dismiss it solely due to my lack of knowledge. It presents an intriguing predicament for me.

Why did you choose Australia as the setting?

Instead of “It was going to be California, but I just imagined Australia. I had been there a few times for commercial shoots and such. I also hold a strong affection for Australian New Wave films like ‘Wake in Fright,’ ‘The Long Weekend,’ and ‘Walkabout.’ Some of the most notable ones were helmed by foreign directors, including Canadian Ted Kotcheff, who directed ‘Wake in Fright,’ and the British Nic Roeg. Peter Weir’s ‘The Last Wave’ greatly influenced ‘The Surfer,’ particularly its ending.”

When did Nic Cage get involved?

When we made the decision that our character was American, I immediately envisioned him in my mind. With the desire to avoid sweltering heat, we planned to film the initial summer scenes during the Australian spring. His schedule worked out perfectly for us, so we took a chance and sent him the script. Surprisingly, he had previously watched “Vivarium” and “Nocebo” and was deeply moved by them. Once he read our script, he exclaimed, “I understand now. This is Kafka.” We clicked during our Zoom call and hit it off instantly.

What did he bring to the film?

As a movie buff, I’d say: When I joined the team, we spent months fine-tuning the script with numerous revisions. His suggestions were gold, enhancing the story in subtle yet significant ways. During filming, we hit it off and shared plenty of laughs. Our working styles clicked – we both prefer a fast pace.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of Nicolas Cage movies, I must share my excitement upon encountering yet another iconic moment from “The Surfer.” The scene where a dead rat is introduced, fated to become a classic meme, never fails to bring a smile to my face. This experience, coupled with my passion for both cinema and the quirks of Cage’s acting, makes me cherish these moments in his films that leave us all pondering “who came up with this?”

I’ve worked on many film sets over the years, and I’ve seen some unusual things. But one incident that comes to mind is the time Nic, our lead actor, became unexpectedly attached to a rat prop. We were filming a scene where his character was supposed to kill the rat to survive.

Chekhov’s rat?

Sure thing. Nic recalled a particular moment from the movie “Sabrina” starring Humphrey Bogart. In this scene, a man feeds an olive to another character and says, “You have the olive.”

It’s his tribute to Billy Wilder?

I’ve had the pleasure of working with some truly extraordinary individuals during my career as a filmmaker, and Nic is undeniably one of them. His creativity knows no bounds, and his ability to tap into something deep within himself to bring a scene to life is nothing short of mesmerizing.

Okay. What?

In this scenario, there’s a moment when we see Nic reaching out to touch a snake that’s lying still in his hand. Given his experience with reptiles, he felt confident in handling it on his own. However, it was past midnight, and the snake wasn’t showing much activity. I turned to the handler nearby and asked if there was a way to make it more lively. She suggested playfully, “Try tickling its tail.” So Nic did just that, and the snake reacted suddenly, causing Nic to yelp in surprise as it drew blood from his hand. The snake wasn’t venomous, but the experience left Nic shaken. The handler then explained casually, “They can get quite defensive when you provoke them like that and may bite.”

Would you like to work with him again?

Yeah, hopefully. We’re looking at some things.

What’s next?

I’ve been working on a film project titled “Goliath” that we’ll be shooting in Greece coming spring. This is a story I’ve been nurturing for quite some time now. It’s set in a not-too-distant future, and it explores the dark side of human nature through the lens of a dystopian fable. The narrative revolves around the creation of monsters as tools to ignite wars and plunder natural resources. However, it is presented as a timeless tale.

2024-07-20 16:47

‘The Surfer’ Director Lorcan Finnegan on Why Nicolas Cage Kept a Rat in His Pocket, and Why You Shouldn’t Tickle a Snake

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