Sean Gunn is a king of the weirdos, and his new role as Clinto Binto in Chris Marrs Piliero’s APPOFENIACS is no different. The new horror thriller follows the paranoia and violence that stems from deepfakes and the people who believe that they’re true. By making us all question what’s real, APPOFENIACS kicks off the Halloween season with a bang. On the weekend of the film’s release, Gunn joined RUE MORGUE to talk about weirdness, technology
horror and good old-fashioned gore.
From Kirk in Gilmore Girls to Kraglin in the MCU, you always tend to go for — and I mean this in the absolute best possible way — the weirdo roles.
Ha, yeah!
What drew you to the role of Clinto Binto and APPOFENIACS? Besides, of course, adding to your already incredible lineup of characters.
I appreciate that. I don’t know if I’m drawn to the weirdo roles as much as they are drawn to me! When I read APPOFENIACS, I thought that the script was sharp and it was really current. I believed that I could do justice to that character. Clinto Binto makes high-end accessories for cosplayers and I’m very familiar with that world. I’ve been doing conventions for over a decade now, so I know people who do that job for a living. I know how serious they are about their work and what incredible artisans they are. So I just really responded to the character. But beyond that, just the script itself, I thought, was really strong and very current. And I wanted to try to help that movie get made.
This is your first credit as an executive producer for a feature film. How was it balancing your role as an actor and your role as an executive producer?
That’s a good question. For the most part, the best thing to do as an EP, once I’m on board also as an actor, [is to] have discussions with the director about certain things. I was certainly a sounding board for him if he had questions. But for the most part, it’s a low budget movie. You’ve got to trust the director and kind of set him up and let him cook.
Absolutely.
It was just trusting that he knew what he was doing as far as making the movie, you know? What an executive producer does is very different for every movie, really. You can do a whole show on that! What an executive producer does is different from what a producer-producer does who’s actually producing the movie. So for the most part, I’m just doing my work, letting him do his thing. Most of my work comes after the movie was shot, in terms of watching edits and things like that. Then helping [the film] find a home and getting it in front of the eyeballs of the people who will enjoy it and want to watch it.
You mentioned that the film is super relevant. I absolutely agree — with our age of deepfakes and AI right now, it probably couldn’t get any more relevant. But how do you think the film speaks to these issues?
It does what good horror movies do, which is present a scenario. It certainly plays into fears that we already have, which makes it topical. A lot of people are afraid of what can be done with this technology. And it lets you see what happens when this stuff gets into the wrong hands. One of my favorite things about the movie is that the violence doesn’t come from a masked psychopath with a knife, it comes from some garden-variety, internet dipshit who is just doing whatever to throw people’s lives into turmoil.
I think that the movie can spark conversations. If you go see it with a group of friends, you can have a pretty good conversation after it’s over about what it’s showing. I don’t think it’s the job of sentiment to make a definitive statement about if this is wrong or right. It’s more the job to present something and let you take it from there.
I know that when I finished watching it, I was thinking, “Do I need to delete every social media I’ve ever had?”
Yeah, and it’s scary! It’s not just what can be done, but how does it affect our behavior and not trusting anything. That you can see a video and be like, “I don’t know if this is real or not.” Anybody could make any video at this point. It makes technology in general scary and maybe teetering towards obsolete.
They said that we were never truly stupid until computers got involved.
That’s very appropriate.
We’ve talked about the technology and the social horror aspect, but the film also has some great gory moments. Was there one that sticks out to you as a favorite?
For fans of horror who like interesting kills, there are several really good ones! I actually love one of the first ones…let’s just say a window is involved.
You mentioned your character creates incredible cosplay accessories: swords, shields — you name it. Was there anything that you wanted to take home and hang over the proverbial mantle?
Well if there’s a sequel, he’s gonna need all that stuff, right? I’m a lover, not a fighter! I don’t know that I want any weapons — fictional or otherwise — in my home. I’d rather chill out with my cat.
APPOFENIACS is currently playing in select theaters.
