Coming
to Bluray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD from director Guillermo del Toro and Disney is
the story of a man who lives through NIGHTMARE ALLEY.
Stanton
Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is a man without a home. Wandering into a carnival,
he meets Clem Hoatley (Willem Dafoe) who offers him a hot meal and a place to
rest in exchange for doing labor work. Getting ready to move to their next
location, Stanton becomes friendly with Zeena the Seer (Toni Collette) and love
Pete (David Strathairn). Their specialty is reading minds to the crowds who
are mesmerized at what they know.
Also
in the carnival is Molly Cahill (Rooney Mara) and Stanton is smitten with her.
Protective over the young girl is Bruno (Ron Perlman) and the Major (Mark
Povinelli) who are suspicious of the young man. To make the time pass, Stanton
asks Pete to train him in the con of mind reading and the elder performer is
more than happy to oblige.
When
the local police come calling, Stanton realizes it is time to move on, but he
wants to do that with Molly. Convincing her that there is a life out their
waiting and with the skill he learned from Pete, they could succeed in the big
world. At first, they do well with a show that gives them a better life than
they could have imagined.
That
is until meeting Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) who wants to climb inside
Stanton’s mind in exchange for information about Ezra Grindle (Richard Jenkins)
who wants to contact someone who is deceased. Making Grindle happy, Stanton
gets larger and larger sums of money until he learns what Grindle really wants,
the appearance of someone he lost.
Molly
discovers what Stanton is doing and who with and decides she has had enough but
will help Stanton one more time. What happens next brings Stanton full circle
as lies and deceptions bring destruction.
Cooper
as Stanton lets his stunning blue eyes do a lot of the talking in the film.
Giving people the stare down hides his characters life. Never wanting to tell
anyone about his own pain, Dr. Ritter wants to be the one to find out those
secrets. Cooper plays his character as straight as one could with the intention
of being anything but straight. I felt like his character was consistently in
survival mode which brought on poor decisions and trust based on a nice set of
red lips. It is Bradley’s final scene that is finally shows the full-on
heartbreak of a man who cannot hide any longer.
Mara
as Molly is the sweet and innocent young girl who has been protected most of
her life. Believing that Stanton could bring her life something safe and
different, she goes willingly. It is when Stanton’s demeanor changes does she
realize that she was motivated more by love than reason. Collette as Zeena
tries to keep everyone focused on the real and not so much the deception of the
carnival. Caring for Stanton it is clear she wants to steer him away from the
place Pete tried to keep him from. Collette is straight forward and perceptive
in her role.
Blanchett
as Dr. Ritter comes in with the elegance and grace of a starlet of the times.
Her moves and speech are deliberate, and man can she control a room. I just
love watching her glide through the deception to get what she wants. Blanchett
has the amazing ability to play both a sweet and gentle role with the same ease
as one that is not so much. Of course, she will always be Galadriel the
ethereal to me!
Jenkins
as Grindle is a man that Ritter warns Stanton about as being unstable. Telling
his secrets, Stanton plays into his grief and guilt about something in his
past. Grindle wants more and the more is what sets up a chain reaction that is
horrendous. Jenkins gives his character moments of a combination of sheer
desperation and sheer threat. A combination this actor has no problem
portraying or making believable.
Strathairn
as Pete is a man who has seen what going too far looks like in the mind reading
world. Each of te carnies have their demons and reasons for being where they
are, and Pete is no exception. Stanton actually seems to care about the elder
performer, and I actually enjoyed watching the two characters interact.
Perlman
as Bruno wants to fulfill his obligation to Molly’s father by keeping an eye on
her and Stanton is not his idea of a future husband.Povinelli as Major it equally concerned about
the young lady and never takes his eyes off the carnival usurper.
Other
cast includes Peter MacNeill as Judge Kimball, Holt McCallany as Anderson, Lara
Chorostecki as Louise, Jim Beaver as Sheriff Judd, Clifton Collins Jr. as Funhouse
Jack, and Mary Steenburgen as Mrs. Kimball.
Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to bring quality programming to
kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including
SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families
coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own
family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!
Bonus
Features include Del Toro’s Neo Noir – Writer-director Guillermo del
Toro and his standout cast decipher the dark, complicated world of Nightmare
Alley. The filmmaker reveals how his take on noir is rooted in classic cinema
but offers an accessible, modern narrative.
Beneath
the Tarp
– Production designer Tamara Deverell and her talented team skillfully
delivered both a decaying traveling carnival world and a gilded Art Deco high
society with striking visuals. We explore how this design supported del Toro’s
genre-bending filmmaking.
Also
included is What Exists in the Fringe – Costume designer Luis Sequeira
unravels his collaboration with Guillermo del Toro and reveals the symbolism
that’s constantly at play in the film’s carefully crafted wardrobe’s design.
The
1947 version of NIGHTMARE ALLEY with Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell has always
been on my favorite black and white noir list. I love Sundays curled up in the
quiet of my home watching ‘old’ films and it is because of the style, grace and
majesty they bring. Truly not a huge fan of remakes and del Toro did give it a
lux feel, but still, black and white would have been stunning.
That
being said, the cast of NIGHTMARE ALLEY gave their own version of style and
grace. Every move is calculated and every role in the carnivals beginning has
its place in settling up the fall of one of their own. I love a good art-nouveau-cigarette-sharing-stiff-drink-suspenseful-what’s-going-to-happen-next
piece. Pull up a comfy sofa and let the carnival world take you away.
On DVD from creators Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan,
Carlton Cuse and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes the epic
final season with THE STRAIN: The Complete Fourth Season.
Since Eph’s (Corey Stoll) son Zach (Max Charles) detonated a
bomb that has brought a nuclear winter, nine months have passed. Strigoi have
created “The Partnership” trying to show everyone a togetherness with humans.
Fet (Kevin Durand) and Quinlan (Rupert Penry-Jones) are looking for another
nuclear weapon to use on the Master (Robin Downes) and learn about a missile
silo that may have one.
Eph is in Philadelphia trying to survive when the Strigoi
find him but with the help of Jason, they manage to get away. The Master is
still favoring Zach and Eichhorst (Richard Sammel) isn’t exactly happy about
it. But that isn’t all Eichhorst isn’t happy about as Sanjay’s (Sanjay Desai)
project is moving too slow and Dutch (Ruta Gedmintas) is one of their captives.
Gus (Miguel Gomez) and Alonso (Jamie Hector) have spent the
last months building back up their black market business and that will come in
handy for Eph and the group. Fet and Quinlan are having problems once they get
their hands on the nuclear bomb and Eph discovers a poison that might just slow
down a large population of the strigoi.
Zach meets a young maid who works for the Master but there
comes a moment when he must decide where is loyalties actually lie. Sanjay’s
project must now speed up, as Eichhorst wants the women who are captive to
produce children. Dutch has another plan and comes face to face with Desai and
a processing facility for humans but Eichhorst is onto Dutch and she learns
that he has Setrakian (David Bradley). They escape to get the Lumen and
Setrakian discovers what he didn’t see before.
Now, the story of Quinlan is told beginning in the 19th
Century with Louisa along with daughter Lydia. Enjoying having a family in his
own way, it all turns when the Master causes nothing but pain.
The gang comes back together for an attack of a different
kind and one no one saw coming. A plan is put together that brings about
attacks from all sides bringing them all into the most danger they have ever
faced. Eph comes to terms with the fate of his relationship with Zach when it
becomes clear that the Master is using every trick in the book.
The Master forgot one thing – humanity always finds a way to
survive against evil!
Stoll as Ephraim Goodweather began the series as a man
broken with the arrival of the Master and the Strigoi. What makes his character
to unique to the story if that I could never tell which way the wind was going
to blow his behavior. His anger ruled his drinking and his drinking actually
brought out some amazing ideas. Not that I suggest drinking as an answer to
problems but where blood sucking big tongued vampires are concerned, I can see
the need.
Bradley as Setrakian is just superb! As his story and
history with the Master unfolds, it is told so strongly and shows what
motivates Setrakians need to wipe every bit of this evil off the planet.
Bradley is amazing and through is gruffness is a sense of strength that
requires no nonsense and secrets.
Durand as Fet is the different character of the bunch. He
has a story to tell as well about where he comes from and what motivates him –
and it isn’t just rats. He never gives up and isn’t about to let anything stop
him from accomplishing his goal – stopping the new rats from taking the people
and place he loves.
Sammel as Eichhorst is as evil as he wants to be. From the
moment this character comes on screen it isn’t going to end well for anyone who
comes into contact with him. His story also unfolds and it is clear why
Setrakian gets under his skin – so to speak. The Master may rule the strigoi
but it is Eichhorst who is the face of evil.
Gedmintas as Dutch has a lot in common with Fet in that she
is tough, strong and very, very smart. She takes to Setrakian and Fet as they
share a lot in common with a fighting spirit. Charles as Zach is a kid who is
taken early enough to be influenced – so much so that Zach is willing to fry
the world to prove he doesn’t need anyone but the Master. That kid drove me
insane!
Penry-Jones as Quinlan has to be the most angrily
charismatic intelligent straight villain I’ve ever seen. He knows what needs to
be done but also realizes he can’t accomplish it without the help of humans.
His history with the Master is intense and filled with personal pain that he
doesn’t share with anyone. There are even moments where I think this character
is amused with the silliness of humanity at times.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings
award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital
HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own
home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have
please visit www.fox.com.
The DVD contains the final ten episodes including The Worm
Turns, The Blood Tax, One Shot, New Horizons, Belly of the Beast, Tainted Love,
Ouroboros, Extraction, The Traitor, and The Last Stand. Also, the
Special Features include Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, Coping with THE STRAIN: A
Therapy Session and so much more!
The Strain written by del Toro was first published in
2012 in two volumes followed by The Strain: The Fall in volumes 3 &
4. The Strain: The Night Eternal Volume 5 & 6 were released in 2016.
THE STRAIN is another of the fantastic series that landed on
the FX channel! From the first episode to the last, fans were absolutely
involved in the characters and storyline of these different vampires and their
plans for humanity. Of course the mind of del Toro brought us every minute of
horror and cheering for humanity – oh the duality of suspense. The ensemble
cast brought about a story worthy of being followed until the very satisfying
end.
It’s time to revisit the fight as 20th Century
Fox Home Entertainment brings THE STRAIN: The Complete Fourth Season to DVD.
In the end – they will do anything to save humanity!
This Friday from the masterful writer/director Guillermo del
Toro and Fox Searchlight comes a story that captures the heart when becoming a
part of THE SHAPE OF WATER.
In 1962, Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is a young mute woman living
in a quiet world of her own. Living her life day to day in a repeating pattern,
it includes visiting her neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins) for a little
television and being watched over at work by friend Zelda (Octavia Spencer).
Working as a cleaning lady in a government facility, one day
a strange container arrives. Being fairly invisible, Elisa is curious about
what they are working on. Hearing that whatever is in the container is
highly-classified, it doesn’t stop her from taking a look for herself.
That’s when she discovers a creature (Doug Jones) submerged
in a tank pool, yet not truly afraid of what she sees. Instead, Elisa seems to
sense that the creature is afraid and she discovers ways to put it at ease.
Through patience, Elisa and her webbed friend begin to have a friendship that
is quietly beautiful.
Keeping an eye on the laboratory is the very aggressive
Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) who is feared by most everyone. Watching
over the experiments is Dr. Robert Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) who isn’t a
fan of Strickland’s either and has his own secrets to keep.
Elisa sees that her creature friend is suffering and decides
she is going to do whatever it takes to help. Enlisting Giles proves to be a
challenge and a plan is made. What surprises Elisa the most is who comes out of
no where to make sure the plan works perfectly!
Strickland becomes even more hostile and ballistic and is
about to make sure every human being within his earshot suffers until the
creature is found. There is no mercy for anyone as he investigates every person
working at the laboratory. Elisa knows that time may not be on their side but
can’t turn away from her feelings.
It is a friendship that embraces their differences!
Hawkins as Elisa is absolutely endearing, lovely, heart
wrenching, soulful, playful and a dreamer of epic proportions. Every part of
Elisa’s character is in her eyes and smile which brought smiles to my own face
before I could help myself. In the life she has created, finding someone who is
also mute yet full of emotion, Elisa just dances over this film effortlessly.
Hawkins is on my list for any award she wants – yes, including an Oscar.
Jenkins as Giles is such a lovely man who is creative in a
time when things are ever changing. He loves his old movies and the friendship
with Elisa and even though he might be a tad afraid of the unknown, he is
challenged by Elisa’s will to be humane. Jenkins can portray characters that
are so sweet and harmless and Giles is such a character done so well.
Spencer as Zelda is funny, no-nonsense and protective of
Elisa. I love her monologues while mopping with Elisa and straight faced one
liners and quips when up against Strickland. I mean seriously, would expect
anything less from Spencer? Stuhlbarg as Dr. Robert Hoffstetler is definitely a
conflicted character and for reasons you will discover for yourself. I do love
his performance because I have seen Stuhlbarg be both good guy and bad and here
he mixes the two and I adore the outcome.
There are two actors in this film that we must discuss,
first Shannon as Richard Strickland is as
frightening as I know he can be. There are so many dimensions to Shannon as an actor and he always manages to surprise me.
Yes, he can be the scariest and meanest badass ever to grace a film but Shannon
never does it the same way twice or even three or four times for that matter.
Here Strickland is a complex hater of a human being and only Shannon
could have done it – and done it right.
Second, the every amazing and continually exceptional work
of Doug Jones as the creature. Jones has been at the forefront of some of the
most amazing characters and yet never seeing his face. In the 2004 film HELLBOY
he was Abe Sapien, teaming up with Del Torro in the 2006 film PAN’S LABYRINTH
he was the Pale Man, in 2007 he starred in FANTASTIC 4: Rise of the Silver
Surfer as the Silver Surfer, in 2010’s LEGION he was the Ice Cream Man
(creepier than all get out people!) and back with Del Torro in the 2015 horror
offering of CRIMSON PEAK.
Let us not forget television when in 2014 he played one of
my favorite characters in the series Falling
Skies as Cochise, gave us a new vampire in the FX series The Strain as one of The Ancient’s and
is now part of the trekkie family with Star
Trek: Discovery.
Now, in THE SHAPE OF WATER, Jones once again portrays a
character that is all about the physicality of storytelling. Over all that
costuming, a persona comes to life that is easy to love and want to protect.
That’s what Jones brings out in us all with this performance. In case you might
be wondering, I had the opportunity to speak with Doug last year when he was
promoting the space film SPACE COMMAND. All I can say is that he is lovely,
charming and funny so perhaps I have more of a bit of a soft spot for his portrayal
of this endearing creature. Amazing performance Doug and congratulations for
making us all fall in love with love again!
Other cast include David Hewlett as Fleming, Nick Searcy as
General Hoyt, Stewart Arnott as Bernard, Nigel Bennett as Mihalkov, Lauren Lee
Smith as Elaine Strickland, Martin Roach as Brewster Fuller, Allegra Fulton as
Yolanda and John Kapelos as Mr. Arzoumanian.
THE SHAPE OF WATER is a film that is so magnificently shot
with nuances that I couldn’t get enough of. The story is one of beauty,
loneliness, fear, courage, music, caring, anger, betrayal, secrets, friendships
and about every human emotion on the spectrum.
It is just a beautiful story that is covered in a cast that
makes every moment theatre worthy. Crafted in the del Toro magic, there is so
much to enjoy and not necessarily garbled with words but instead pure emotion
and an endless supply of love
In the end – it is a fairy tale for troubled times!
Coming to Bluray and you NEED to have it is creators
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s ancient vampyric tale of THE STRAIN: The
Complete Third Season.
This season brings a lot of the groups issues into the
forefront starting out with Eph (Corey Stoll) hitting the bottle harder than
usual. The Master has Eichhorst (Richard Sammel) kidnap his son Zach (Max
Charles) and it’s too much for him. What is keeping him going is working on a
bioweapon to stop the Strigoi.
Fet (Kevin Durand) is helping those who need his knowledge
of the tunnels but Eichhorst is once again ahead of the game. Setrakian (David
Bradley) is working on the translation of the Occio Lumen looking for ancient answers to stop the madness.
Quinlan (Rupert Penry-Jones) is watching the humans and agrees to help
begrudgingly.
Palmer (Jonathan Hyde) is still trying to get the magical
‘white’ from The Master and wants to live forever as promised. When Quinlan
offers to work together with Eph to switch the Lumen for Zack but also
confesses to his vampyric bloodline and what will happen once The Master is
dead. Gus (Miguel Gomez) has a secret of his own and it’s discovered by Angel (Joaquin
Cosio) much to his sadness.
Palmer’s health is going down rapidly and Eichhorst brings
in Sanjay Desai (Cas Anvar). Now the strigoi have managed to take over Manhattan and are using the underground tunnels to take
over all of New York.
There is a huge battle as the group begins to scatter to keep Eichhorst and The
Master from tracking them all but it doesn’t stop Eichhorst and Dutch makes a
quick move to help them escape.
Fet and Setrakian know they have to get to The Master’s
sarcophagus and use silver to trap the strigoi leader. They also discover that
a signal they believe is his voice but need a comparison. Palmer is discovered
on a cargo ship by Setrakian who gives him one dose of the white with the
promise of his help.
Desai is using humans as live subjects but Eichhorst wants
quicker results. Even more disturbing is Palmer admitting to Setrakian and Fet
that there is blood processing centers everywhere. Eichhorst discovers where
the Ancient’s are hiding and does what he always does, his worst!
Palmer discovers a nuclear bomb and fights Eichhorst for it
only to work with Setrakian to lure The Master into his silver lined
sarcophagus. What Palmer doesn’t see coming is that he needs a new host and
gains Palmer’s memories. Placing the bomb at the Statue of Liberty, Zach has
been with the strigoi Kelly-Mom and Eph wants his son. Not to be stopped by the
creature he takes matters into his own hands. Zach is furious and takes revenge
on Eph in the worst and most tragic way possible.
Stoll as Eph has gone through several transformations as
each of the traumatic events puts him to the test. This actor has taken his
character to dark places and makes, shall we say, ‘human’ decisions that are
totally done out of emotion. Where his son is concerned he is somewhat blind to
the truths that are obvious to others. This season Stoll is seriously put to
the test with an end result that is horrific.
Sammel as Eichhorst is just a villain to the bone and he
does it beautifully (and makes it look easy). There are very few moments where
Eichhorst shows his emotion but more-so amused by the humans every move. Of
course it’s because of his history so don’t expect him to go soft on the humans
any time soon.
Durand as Fet is strong, consistent and the guy I’d want on
my side of any fight. He doesn’t take crap from anyone and even though he shows
heart, it doesn’t mean much gets past him. Always on his toes and stands up for
the human race I love this character and that Durand brings it.
Bradley as Setrakian is a man who has lived well beyond his
years. In those years comes knowledge that is engrained in mystery he knows
only he can unravel. I love Bradley’s straight forward gravely voice that tells
the group exactly how it is and what they can expect from the enemy they are
trying to destroy.
Penry-Jones as Quinlan is my hero! Seen by most as the
creature that could turn any time he wants to, I see Quinlan as their only
hope. He is strong, introspective, ancient on his own terms and doesn’t stand a
fool. Keeping his distance from caring about his human counter parts, there are
moments where it is easy to see how he could care and the reasons he can’t.
Well done Penry-Jones, absolutely well done!
Other cast include: Natalie Brown as Kelly, Ruta Gedmintas
as Dutch, Samantha Mathis as Judtine Feraldo, Jack Kesey as The Master.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings
award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital
HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own
home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have
please visit www.fox.com.
THE STRAIN: The Complete Third Season contains the Special
Features Under Siege Companion Series
Into with Carlton
Cruse, The Strain: Under Siege Companion Series, Vamp Boom Music Video, Deleted
Scenes and a hilarious Gag Reel!
This series is in its final season, yes, I realize that is
almost bringing fans to the point of tears. This has been an amazing ride and
it’s hard to believe it’s almost over. We have all come to go along for the
ride and invest in these characters – even the horrible ones. Nothing is ever
as it seems and with the last season I can certainly say it’s all happening so
fast and is jaw dropping.
That is what makes Season Three so thrilling to watch. The
twists and turns come into play but it all comes together seamlessly but not
obvious. Most of us were raised to see vampires in a certain Bella
Lugosi-Christopher Lee way, Guillermo Del Toro introduced a vampire like no
other and gives us a creature that won’t soon be forgotten.
THE STRAIN has been awarded the Critics Choice Television
Award, Satellite Award, Saturn Award (three times), Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
(twice), Golden Reel Award, Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award, Golden
Maple Awards, Visual Effects Society Awards and Visual Effects Society Award.
There should be a category for just plain sheer awesomeness award and I’d be
giving that one out.
Watch THE STRAIN’s final season every Sunday night at 10
p.m. on FX!
In the end – they will save humanity at all costs!
The wait is over! FX has kept us waiting long enough for all
the answers to their highest rated sci-fi television show filled with vampires
and human endurance for survival from THE STRAIN.
For those who may not know about this fantastic series, let
me catch you up. Guillermo del Toro’s hands decided to bring the novel to
series and enlisted the help of Chuck Hogan. In 2009 fans were introduced to The Strain followed by The Fall and The Night Eternal in 2010 and 2011.
Bringing the story to FX was an incredible idea that brings
this storyline – a jet landing at JFKInternationalAirport
is filled with people who are infected with a parasitic worm. Dr. Ephraim
Goodweather (Corey Stoll) and Dr. Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) investigate
finding four people alive. What they don’t realize is that in the cargo hold is
a large mysterious box that holds the key to everything.
Enter Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley), an elderly man who
informs them that the bodies on the plane must be immediately destroyed as well
as the intricately carved box that was found in the cargo hold. That isn’t
about to happen as far as Thomas Eichhorst (Richard Sammel) is concerned as he
takes control of the box.
From that moment on the city and the people begin to change
as a fight for survival begins. A race of vampires are on the lose and no one
is safe as it becomes every human for himself. That includes Eldritch Palmer
(Jonathan Hyde) a very sick man who will do anything for immortality and makes
a deal with Palmer and The Master, an Ancient vampire who is out for revenge
and the world.
Eph and Vasility Fet (Kevin Durand), a vermin terminator,
begin a quest to save who they can and find a way to destroy The Master and all
vampires before there is nothing left of the human race.
Cas Anvar is returning to reprise his role as Sanjay Desai,
right-hand man to the evil freaky eyed blinking Eichhorst played by the amazing
Richard Sammel. Sanjay is a character who knows how to get the job done in
bringing world domination to the vampires. This is a character that is hard to
read because he keeps his emotions away from the vampires staying in survival
mode every step of the way.
This actor has been keeping the pace with roles in both film
and television. In film he began in 2000 as Zakir in the film SEDUCING MAARYA
with his most recently film AS Deep Panday in MISS INDIA AMERICA.
In television I first saw him in 2010 as Omer Jarrah in
another series I can watch a million times over with LOST. This year he has
been doing double with is role as Alex Kamal in the series THE EXPANSE and now
his return as Sanjay Desai in the FX final season of THE STRAIN.
I had the opportunity to speak with Cas about his role,
returning to finish the job (so to speak) and all things THE STRAIN and a bit
of THE EXPANSE!
Jeri Jacquin: Hi Cas, thanks for taking the time to speak
with us today, especially since you are doing double duty between THE STRAIN
and a new season of THE EXPANSE. You are a busy man.
Cas Anvar: Yes, it has been a very good year and I’ve been
very fortunate. I’m enjoying it all.
JJ: You have to tell me how did you get involved with THE
STRAIN? I am really a huge, huge fan of the series.
CA: Yes? You are a little bit of a dark horse are you?
JJ: Yes, really dark. I have the Masters head on my desk
does that tell you anything?
CA: Oh my gawd.
JJ: But he’s next to Yoda so it’s kind of a yin/yang thing,
good and evil you know?
CA: That is so weird, I don’t think even Guillermo has the
Masters head on his desk.
JJ: Well, there is Darth Vadar, Buddha, Yoda and the Master
all lined up.
CA: Buddha? What! Oh my gawd.
JJ: See how it evens out?
CA: The duality, no I get it. I actually don’t really want
to know what’s going on in your head; it’s kind of scary <laughing>
JJ: Here’s the thing, I’m 56 years old but I’m young and
twisted at heart.
CA: You sound definitely, definitely…something <still
laughing>
JJ: So you know with Comic Con coming it’s the light of my
life.
CA: I can only imagine.
JJ: Back to business sir, how did you get involved with THE
STRAIN?
CA: I was very lucky; I was working on THE EXPANSE and April
Webster, a casting director that knows me very well casting me in LOST and a
few other things. She knows my work and they were looking for someone to play
this character in THE STRAIN. Desai wasn’t originally the character written for
the show and they changed it for me. She pitched me to the producers Carlton
Cuse and the gang. I don’t know how it happened but they offered me the role
without me reading for it. They saw my work and by the time they got to me they
changed the character from what ever it was to Sanjay Desai. They modified it
and customized it for me. From what I understand the character is a copulation
from a couple of different characters from the books. It was suppose to be a
completely different name and they thought I could do a good job of this and
the rest is history. I walked in and was excited about the role because it’s
the antithesis of what I’m doing on THE EXPANSE. Everything about it fell into
place, the shooting seasons were completely opposite so as one show is ending
the other begins, the characters are the opposite and the shows are very
different. It is a wonderful gift as an actor to play these totally diverse and
different characters.
JJ: What did you think when you read not only your role but
the part he plays in this crazy world that is THE STRAIN?
CA: I was excited because I think this is one of the darkest
roles I’ve had to do. I’ve played a lot of bad guys but this is a very fleshed
out, very realistic bad guy, not some two dimensional villain going on a
killing rampage. This character truly believes in survival and will do what
ever it takes to be on the winning team. What’s scary about it is how realistic
it is. If you look at our world right now, we are surrounded by examples of
self-serving individuals that will do or say what ever they have to to get what
they want.
JJ: Palmer is a prime example of someone we all know
<both of us are laughing now> that will say one thing to one person and
do something different to another. Anything to get that one thing that he wants
– in his case immortality.
CA: Absolutely. He reinvents history in every different
situation to just suit their own selfish needs and agenda. It is an important
show in that respect. Sure it is a horror genre and fantasy world but the
issues they are dealing with and the people they are dealing with are very
realistic and very much based on the world we are living in today.
JJ: The thing about the way the cast works together is that
not only do you see this survivalist mode, whether good, bad or indifferent,
but you see that they also haven’t forgotten how to be human. Like when Eph is
dealing with his drinking and the traits before all of this went down.
CA: Yes, they’ve kept all their human flaws.
JJ: Exactly. For your character, were you surprised when
they said ‘hey, come on back’?
CA: I was both surprised and excited because it ended in a very
questionable way and we didn’t know what was going to happen. I think they just
liked what I did and they gave me a complex character and I attacked it. I mean
I loved doing it, I loved the people and working with Richard Sammel who plays
Thomas Eichhorst. That combination of the writers, directors and producers and
co-stars was very inspiring and I had a really good time. I put my heart and
soul into making this a very-well fleshed out nasty three dimensional
character. I think by the time we came to the end of season three there was
room for him to come back. I think there are things in the book they decided to
merge with my character.
JJ: Sometimes that’s a really good idea because not
everything translates really well from book to screen. You have to be willing
to compromise.
CA: I think in a book it is a lot easier to have more
characters for a reader to follow a more complex story line. On television you
tend to consolidate a little more by having a cast of characters a little more
manageable.
JJ: I know you can’t tell us anything about what is going to
happen but for you and your character, do you feel like everything is wrapped
up neatly for fans or is there a little opening?
CA: Lets put it this way, we all knew season four was coming
and the last season of THE STRAIN. The writers had free reign to have the best
story possible while honoring the characters. They are no longer restricted by
the restrictions of an ongoing series; they have the books as a guideline.
JJ: There is something freeing about that don’t you think?
CA: Yes, it allows you to take it and push the boundaries of
a story and what ever happens to the characters happens but it honors the over
all story. It allows for you to do some really amazing dramatic work. In the
case of Sanjay, man oh man, they took him on a roller coaster. What I can tell
you is that this character is based on and what excited me about this character
in the beginning was it was based on real people that existed during the World
War II. They were called “collaborators”; these are people who worked with the
Nazi’s to set up what would become Nazi Germany, the Reich and the
concentration camps. These are people that betrayed their own people for their
own good, their own survival, wealth and status. Fifty years later when they
are interviewed, these collaborators who were never put in the camps, they
can’t face what they did. They won’t admit that they did anything wrong and
somehow have managed to convince themselves they did not wrong.
JJ: A mental survival mode.
CA: Yes, they have somehow told themselves they made the
best of a bad situation. They attitude of ‘at least I saved a few people’ but
they participated in it and betrayed their own people to survive. That to me
fascinated me, this character who can go there and do that staying that
completely oblivious – a willful oblivion. Sanjay is a highly intelligent guy;
he’s a smart man who is driven and passionate.
JJ: But you also can’t see on his face what is going on. For
me it was hard to know what he was thinking or planning. Some characters you
can see on their faces the hamster turning the wheel and you go along with a
characters thought process; with Sanjay I couldn’t really do that because he
showed … nothing!
CA: Because he knows who he is dealing with and he knows how
incredibly perceptive the Strigoi (the vampires), especially Eichhorst are.
Sanjay is such a survivor so he doesn’t show his cards because he knows the
Strigoi can smell it. If he is scared he knows they will smell it. If he is planning
his own thing he knows they will smell it. He knows he has to keep everything
close to his chest and only give them bits and pieces so nobody knows what is
really going on in his head. The Strigoi are too smart, they are too
perceptive.
JJ: Absolutely, that’s what makes it all so difficult.
CA: Yes, he has to protect himself. In season three when
Eichhorst demonstrated the inefficiency of the machinery using my assistant,
that was a very brutal scene.
JJ: Absolutely brutal!
CA: If you watch that scene again you will see a bit of a
reaction, you can see some stuff going on but by the end of the scene when
Sanjay realizes who he is dealing with because he hasn’t had a lot of
experience with Eichhorst up to that point. He hasn’t spent a lot of time with
him or really seen him demonstrate his true power till that moment. So being a
survivor is like being in prison right? They tell you ‘don’t look scared’ or
‘don’t make eye contact’ – you have to look somewhere in the middle so that
people don’t target you. You have to learn this language of survival that makes
you not a threat but not prey either. Sanjay is a survivor, Sanjay is the guy
who knows how to read people and keep himself outside of the zone where people
are targeted. He had to think really quick in that scene as to how to interact
with Eichhorst so as not to show weakness and not lose his sh*t because of what
just happened.
JJ: That’s an amazing way to sum it up because with these
characters by the end of each season you become aware of their strengths and
weaknesses, every one of them. To have Sanjay come back it’s going to be ‘great
I have to figure him out for sure now’!
CA: Exactly, you are going to get a lot. They gave me a gift
in season four in terms of what they gave Sanjay to do. You aren’t going to
like him, far from it, but you are going to understand him a lot better.
JJ: That’s going to be fun, I’m excited.
CA: He gets put through the ringer I can tell you that.
JJ: And I’m okay with that! If I’m going invest my time in a
series, it better be dang well worth it. I’ve met Guillermo and he is one of
the most amazing people you can sit and talk to about creativity. This series
didn’t surprise me and he was first talking about it, but to see how far it’s
come from concept to book to series has been just an awesomely fun, intense and
gruesome ride.
CA: You’ve like it I see.
JJ: Absolutely, anytime you can get something that’s
original and filled with talented actors giving every bit to a storyline that
is just plain jaw dropping? Oh yea, I’m in. I know there is horror and gore,
and it may sound strange for me to say this but Guillermo puts it in THE STRAIN
and it isn’t senseless gore – wow that does sound strange.
CA: No, you are right, absolutely, it is a violent and dark
show but it’s surrounded by an amazingly rich crafted story. It’s not just gratuitous
stuff, the violence in his shows … it’s very poignant in that it’s all there
because it’s meant to shock and it’s meant to be difficult. The world is not as
pretty as we want to believe and sometimes that’s an important slap in the face
that we need to feel. You don’t want to be facing that 24/7 but it’s not
necessarily a bad lesson.
JJ: It’s an amazingly crazy world that has been created
that’s for sure. I’m going to be sad to see it go.
CA: Yes, I know, but it ends only for something new to take
its place.
JJ: And we still get to see you on THE EXPANSE, how is that
going?
CA: Amazing, we just finished the first few days with
episodes one and two. We are already stoked and nervous because season two went
really well and we delivered a powerful season two finale. The show is a big
show and it’s really hard for us wondering how to top it. I mean how do we go
to the next level? Season one is an introduction to all of the characters and
absorbing all the information and feel the universe and provide action that
doesn’t overload people’s brains. Then season two was nice because it was all
character and explore them and further the action in the plot. Now in season
three we have built the universe and really explore the characters because we
have got the plot going. How do we take it to the next level? Season three is
going to be about the characters everyone has fallen in love with and being
metaphorically split apart. We have fought to stay alive and fought to stay
together and we needed each other to survive. Now we are all grounded and
rooted in our life and in our world. We are surrounded by chaos but we are no
longer fighting just to breathe and survive, we are actually going to make
choices for ourselves. Everyone has individual believes and personalities and
they are able to come into play in terms of the direction the characters take.
It’s not just about the family that has come together to survive but
individuals in the group who have a voice.
JJ: So now you have gone from THE STRAIN knowing you can go
freely because it’s a final season, you are back to the other side where you
are restricted a bit trying to keep the story going from season to season.
CA: I know, exactly.
JJ: What a rollercoaster ride for you!
CA: Yes, it’s an actors dream right? To be able to play
these characters that are so different. I mean how different can Sanjay Desai
and Alex Kamal be. Its two completely opposite ends of the spectrum.
JJ: And you are digging it every step of the way.
CA: Oh man, I’m loving it. I was so lucky because the shows
shot at exactly opposite ends of the schedule. There was no overlap with THE
STRAIN starts Sunday and when it ends THE EXPANSE begins. One is horror and one
is sci-fi and I’m thrilled.
JJ: And you were meant to do both.
CA: I was meant to do both and it was wonderful and a gift
for me. Now what am I going to do?
JJ: Sit back and enjoy it a little.
CA: <insert colorful outburst here> I mean what am I
going to do once THE EXPANSE is done shooting? Jeez
<this is the time where the laughing has gotten contagious with
seriously good humor as if it hasn’t been the case the whole interview
right?>
JJ: Look dude, I think playing both these roles and being
seen, I don’t think you will be sitting around on your butt for too long.
CA: Awwww, that’s very sweet. I have huge aspirations for
THE EXPANSE. We have material for like ten seasons and there will be nine
novels by the end of it. There are already six or seven that have been written.
It’s like GAME OF THRONES; there is a huge bank of material and huge fan base.
I think we have the potential of having a series that will last a long time.
JJ: So what are you worried about?
CA: Every year, every year it’s the waiting game. It’s like
the lottery; fingers crossed waiting with baited breath waiting to hear. But
that’s my hope with THE EXPANSE, that we go for a nice long successful run and
then – feature films! I’m talking THE EXPANSE to go into feature films. Can you
imagine going the STAR TREK route? We are doing amazing work, when you look at
it on the big screen it looks like a feature film. I watched the premier of
season two in New Jersey at the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre on this gorgeous
massive like IMAX screen with Dolby surround sound and amazing imagery and I
walked into the theatre and I was like this looks like a feature film! Holy
moly! I wanted everyone who watches on their phones to get a huge flat panel
t.v. to see the awesomeness of show at the very least!
JJ: A series like THE EXPANSE and THE STRAIN…the bigger the
t.v. the better and put a sound bar on that puppy and crank it up.
CA: Go big or go home!
JJ: I don’t care if my neighbors ask ‘what’s all that
screaming’?
CA: Yea, call the cops!
JJ: You are hilarious!
CA: So feature film, that’s my call so you come back in
eight years and say ‘you were right’!
JJ: Trust me; I don’t plan to go anywhere for a few years so
I’m going to keep my eye on your happy little self. It was such a joy talking
to you this morning and I appreciate you letting me geek out a little bit.
CA: Oh absolutely!
JJ: Congratulations on both THE STRAIN and THE EXPANSE. Both
shows are uber-cool and you can take a bow for your part in both.
CA: Thank you so much Jeri. You have to let me know what you
think of Sanjay.
JJ: I’ll make sure to do that. I can’t wait, it’s going to
be nuts.
And that my friends was the conversation I had with Cas
Anvar this morning filled with craziness, fun, insight, doing good work and all
without spoilers – we don’t do that here folks. I’m always saying it because
it’s true, talking to an actor who not only loves talking about a project and
character but has a sense of humor it just priceless.
After this talk I will not only be watching Cas doing his
Sanjay thang in the final season of THE STRAIN beginning this Sunday but am
excited about the next season of Alex Kamal in THE EXPANSE. Well done sir!
This Sunday on FX is the final season of one of the craziest
and not-teen-angst vampire stories with a ride through history and intensely
complex characters I’ve ever seen or experiences with the final season of THE
STRAIN.
Prepare to get your Strigoi on because it’s going to be
epic!
