Luke Wilson’s Latest Movie Is Too Scary

Actor Luke Wilson, known for films like "Old School" and "Legally Blonde," appears on Modern Wisdom to discuss his latest horror film, which he found exceptionally frightening. Despite his appreciation for scary movies, Wilson admits this particular project was "almost too scary" for him, calling it "really creepy" (00:00).

Wilson delves into the demanding production schedule, explaining how a story taking place over "one terrifying evening" required shooting from September to Thanksgiving. He recounts the physical toll of staying in the same wardrobe for weeks, leading to him and co-star Kate Beckinsale becoming quite "gamey" (01:00). He describes a particularly intense scene involving an escape through a tunnel, complicated by Beckinsale's claustrophobia, which was initially dismissed as a minor script detail but expanded into a four-day shoot.

The most memorable challenge came with filming a scene involving rats. Wilson vividly recalls arriving on set to find a pickup truck "filled with rats" (02:00) and the presence of a "rat wrangler." Both he and Beckinsale, despite her initial apprehension, "soldiered through" the scene, with rats even being placed in Beckinsale's hair. Wilson humorously questions the safety protocols, wondering if crushing a rat could lead to being bitten, but confirms the rats were tame and protected by an SPCA representative on set.

Beyond the movie, Wilson shares a lighthearted anecdote about using a stunt double for his posterior, revealing he actively seeks one that is "better, higher, more muscular" than his own (03:20). He discusses the unusual profession of "butt models" who compile portfolios for this specific purpose. The episode concludes with the host playfully attempting to set Wilson up with her mother, citing his preference for "cuddling and long walks on the beach" (04:36), before promoting his film "Vacancy."

Listeners will gain a candid, often humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the unexpected practicalities and personal challenges of filming a horror movie, from confronting fears like claustrophobia and working with live animals to the peculiar world of stunt doubles, all told through Luke Wilson's distinctive storytelling.