Actors go to extreme extents to transform themselves into characters. And that’s what Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough did as they underwent an astounding transformation to play their respective characters in David Zellner and Nathan Zellner-directed Sasquatch Sunset.
Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough’s new movie Sasquatch Sunset premiered on Friday at the Sundance Film Festival. This absurdist comedy has no dialogue or narration, just a true depiction of what the Sasquatch do in their daily life.
Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough Went Through A Lot for Their Roles in Sasquatch Sunset
The film, which has zero dialogue or narration but plenty of grunts, captures an immersive, “true” depiction of the daily life of the Sasquatch. That involves s*x, mast**bation, vomiting, and such gory acts.
As per Variety, some people at the premiere event said that this was the weirdest movie ever. There’s nothing to argue with this statement as well since the Zellner brothers earlier told Variety that Sasquatch Sunset is “one of the craziest things we’ve ever done.”
Riley Keough teased that “for a chunk of the movie, people won’t know the difference between the actors.”
“It was one of the more challenging things I’ve ever done, like, physically,” Keough said. “If you took a few steps in the suit, you were out of breath.” (Via Variety)
“We were rehearsing and looking to have some cohesive movement so it looked like we were part of the same family,” Jesse Eisenberg said. “The mime teacher went through movements and eating and nuances of living day to day as a Sasquatch.”
However, a lot of technical hardship occurred even after so much preparation. “You had to relearn how to move your face,” Keough said.
Eisenberg said:
“You act 10% or 30% more than you normally would [compared to] a movie that’s picking up the nuance of your face muscles,” Eisenberg said. “You have to exaggerate.”
The directors confessed that they have a lifelong fascination with the Bigfoot.
Directors David Zellner and Nathan Zellner Talked About the Film
This film is their fifth feature film and the second Yeti-based movie the duo has brought to the film festival. Before this, it was the short surrealist film Sasquatch Birth Journal 2.
“We worked with primatologists and anthropologists,” while introducing the movie, David Zellner said. “Everything in this film is 100% authentic to how Sasquatches are in real life — even the weird stuff. Just trust us.”
“We wanted a film where you’re really invested in the characters. Sasquatch represents the grey area between human and animal behavior,” David Zellner said.
In an exclusive interview with Deadline, when asked about what they expect from the audiences, the director duo said that they want people to enjoy the movie, to laugh, and to engage emotionally.
Sasquatch Sunset is scheduled to be released on April 12, 2024, by Bleecker Street.
