Interview by Paul Salfen
By Paul Salfen
In the sweltering heat of Houston, Texas, something sticky and sinister is brewing—and no, it’s not just the humidity. Award-winning director Joseph Kahn, fresh off his 2017 TIFF Audience Award win for Bodied, returns to the Midnight Madness section with ICK, a genre-bending horror-comedy that’s equal parts nostalgic teen drama, romantic entanglement, and grotesque creature feature. Starring Brandon Routh as Hank, a washed-up ex-jock turned science teacher, and Mena Suvari as his childhood sweetheart Stacey, the film follows Hank’s reluctant reunion with Stacey’s daughter Grace (Malina Weissman) amid a town-wide outbreak of a mysterious, dormant substance dubbed the “ICK.” What starts as a personal reckoning spirals into a battle for survival, pitting Hank and his apathetic students against a rapidly spreading horror that tests their courage and connections.
I caught up with stars Mena Suvari and Brandon Routh for an exclusive chat about bringing this wild ride to life. From sweating through stunts in triple-digit heat to channeling their inner cheerleaders and superheroes, the duo shared laughs, insights, and a few surreal moments from the set. Here’s the scoop on what made ICK stick.
Sweating It Out in Houston: Fun Amid the Humidity
Filming in Houston’s infamous heat wasn’t just atmospheric—it was method acting at its stickiest. “Yes, and it’s also a lot of work and hot and humid in Houston,” Routh admitted with a chuckle. But the challenges only amplified the on-screen energy. “The best stuff is on screen. It is a lot of fun when everything is working,” he added, praising the chemistry with his co-star. Suvari echoed the sentiment: “I loved it. I had a blast. I was excited to work with Joseph Kahn, our director, and I loved this character. I just felt like she’d be a lot of fun to play. And she was.”
For Suvari, embodying Stacey—a glamorous, larger-than-life mom with a penchant for Louis Vuitton pepper spray and fruit platters—meant diving into nostalgic territory. “It was really surreal dressing up in a lot of the clothes that I wore in the late ’90s and early 2000s, putting on a cheerleading uniform again,” she shared. The film even employed de-aging technology for flashbacks, which Suvari described as a first: “Working with this de-aging process I never experienced on a project before.” And then there were the horror elements: “Being able to also play into the horror element later in the film was a lot of fun for me, because I love that kind of stuff.”
Routh, whose Hank grapples with what-ifs from his athletic past while fighting the ICK, recalled a grueling night shoot that tested his limits. “It was the third day of shooting night… We started at 6 p.m., and we were set to film till 6 a.m.,” he explained. Jumping on cars in heavy clothing under blazing lights in 100-degree humidity could have broken anyone, but it became a turning point. “I look around and I see all the crew buzzing… And I was like, okay, Brandon, it’s either suck it up or own it. Look how hard everybody’s working.” That crew dedication, he said, made the experience “pretty amazing.”
Technical wizardry on set left both stars in awe, particularly editor Chancellor Mills. Suvari marveled at his real-time edits: “We would shoot part of the scene and then run over to his cart, and he had the scene edited already… It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It blew my mind.”
Advice for Aspiring Storytellers: Curiosity, Passion, and Authenticity
With decades of iconic roles between them—from Suvari’s breakout in American Beauty to Routh’s Superman in Superman Returns—the pair had plenty of wisdom for those dreaming of Hollywood. Routh emphasized empathy and openness: “Telling great stories or telling somebody’s story is about really being curious and non-judgmental about what their experience must have been… When I think, why can’t people see the world as I do? They really don’t always. So, I start to ask… what could be going on that they think that other thing?”
Suvari focused on self-trust: “A lot of what I learned over the years is really listening to that inner self and following that passion… The moments where I put so much energy into trying to capture what I thought someone wanted me to be, it took me away from my ability.” She encouraged embracing uniqueness: “This is who I am, this is what I have to offer. This is my perspective… No one else will have that. That’s more of the gift than trying to figure out what that formula is.”
Getting in the Zone: Mantras for the Meltdown Moments
Even pros like these need a mental reset for intense scenes. Routh keeps it simple: “Sometimes I just close my eyes, take a deep breath. Get connected to my voice and feel a softness in my eyes… Or know that I can go again.” Suvari drew inspiration from a past project with director Jen Lynch: “Right before she called action, she yelled out… ‘Remember, everyone, we’re making art.’ It really struck me… It’s not about any of the other B.S., it’s really about what you’re giving to create.”
As ICK gears up for its TIFF premiere, Suvari and Routh’s enthusiasm is infectious—or should we say, ICK-y? This film promises a gooey good time, blending heart, horror, and humor in Kahn’s signature style. Catch it if you dare; just don’t blame us if you start checking your town for mysterious substances afterward.
ICK premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness. Stay tuned to AMFM Magazine for more TIFF coverage, exclusive interviews, and the latest in film and music.
