‘Daniel isn’t Real’ was far and away this writer’s favourite horror movie last year and filmmaker Adam Egypt Mortimer’s latest outing, ‘Archenemy’ reaches those same heights.
This time trying his hand at the superhero genre – sans the standard Marvel hyperbole trappings – Mortimer’s latest outing certainly feels very much like the natural next step after ‘Daniel Isn’t Real’ as it keeps the superhuman aspects firmly grounded, portraying a hero who’s suffering both depression and alcoholism. At the same time, whereas ‘Daniel’ addressed mental health in a particularly shrewd and sincere fashion, ‘Archenemy’ engages in themes that feel chillingly apropos to our current social and political circumstances, despite the fact that production wrapped the best part of a year ago.
Starring Joe Manganiello (“True Blood”), Skylan Brooks (“Empire”), Zolee Griggs (“W-Tang: An American Saga”), Amy Seimetz (Pet Semetary) and Glenn Howerton (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), ‘Archenemy’ is essentially a comic book tale of dreams, memories, fantasies and nightmares. Chronicling the trials and tribulations of Max Fist (Manganiello), a man who claims to be a hero from another dimension who fell through time and space to earth, where he has no powers, we now find him wrestling with depression and alcoholism. A chance meeting with a local teen named Hamster (Brooks) ultimately helps him find purpose in a world where he first believed his powers were insignificant…
As ‘Archenemy’ is all set to release in theatres and on demand and digital this December 11, SCREAM caught up with Adam Egypt Mortimer to discuss the genesis behind making the move from pure horror to a dark, violent and vehemently timely and anti-traditional take on the superhero genre.
FIST IS FIRE!!!
Words: @HowardGorman
