In Snag, an Australian lone wolf's quiet existence is shattered when he learns that the woman he once loved and thought was dead is alive and held captive by ruthless gangsters. Now, to take on this dangerous criminal organization, he must seek out allies and storm into a world of violence to rescue the love of his life in this gritty, modern-day violent fairytale.
Earlier this month, we spoke with the movie's director and Snag himself, Ben Milliken, along with co-star Sofia Castro (Valentina) about their action-packed roles and what viewers can expect from their respective characters.
Ben reveals the genesis of this story, while also explaining the challenges presented by the New Mexico weather and casting former WWE Superstar CJ Perry/Lana as Snag's unstoppable villain. Sofia, meanwhile, reflects on working with the filmmaker and shares what she found empowering about this role.
They also finish our conversation by teasing plans for an eventual sequel, with Ben confirming that he already has a completed script.
You can check out this interview with the Snag stars in the player below.
Ben, not only are you directing the action, but you’re also getting into the thick of it as Snag. What was that experience like for you?
Ben: You know what, it was actually one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a film set. It completely took me out of the whole equation and the movie became the most important thing in what I was doing. Everything that I did was all in service to the movie so it was really, really comforting to tell you the truth. I expected the opposite.
Sofia, you also get hands-on with some weaponry as Valentina, so what about that did you most enjoy?
Sofia: Everything! I think the whole process with Ben and the location…it was a really, really, really great time. It was a dream come true.
Your character also has a very complicated relationship with her mother, so how much fun was that to delve into alongside Ana Ortiz?
Sofia: [Laughs] I know, I know, it’s very complicated because her mom is a really bad person. Ana is a great actress and I loved working with her. Everything is because of Snag and because she fell in love.
Snag is a great character, Ben, but were there any other films or characters who inspired what you did with him and the story you’re telling here?
Ben: It’s funny because the idea for this character actually came about in 2017 during a conversation of my front porch. He’s very much based on a certain place I was at in my life at that current moment. If you notice, no one ever says his name in the movie and he’s always slightly separated from everybody else and keeps them at a distance. I’m not that guy [Laughs] but it’s very representative of a certain place I was in and this character really evolved from that. And then I put him in a really dramatic situation!
Ben, I’m a big pro wrestling fan and loved seeing CJ Perry show up as The Reaper - where did the idea come from to have her play this Terminator-like baddie?
Ben: I mean, we had to give all of these guys involved in this movie an unstoppable force they couldn’t necessarily get past. I thought what better is there than a badass female you will never be able to beat. She’s so fantastic in this movie and perfect for it. She just nailed it.
Sofia, as Ben alludes to there, this is a very empowering movie for its female characters, so was that a big draw for you as well when the project came your way?
Sofia: As I said, this was a dream come true and being a girl in that criminal world is really complicated but at the same time, Valentina is not a criminal. She was just born there. The beautiful part about this character is that she fights against that and her mother and her own existence. It’s great. I love Valentina and she loves Snag; I think it’s a beautiful love story.
Sofia, it’s fair to say Ben directs the hell out of the action, but what was it like for you to have him as your director and co-star as you explored that very personal dynamic between Snag and Valentina?
Ben: It was awful, wasn’t it?
Sofia: [Laughs] The worst!
Ben: You can say the real answer now, though.
Sofia: Well, it was my first time having my co-star be my boss. I was like, ‘Wait, I have to fall in love with you, but you’re my boss?’ [Laughs] It was a strange thing but I think it was great. We had really good chemistry during the shoot and you’re going to see in the movie Valentina and Snag setting off the minute they cross paths. What did you think about the relationship, Ben?
Ben: We were pretty convincing! Yeah, it was definitely…I’ll speak on it as well, being a director and co-starring, it was definitely one of those things where there were multiple hats because, ultimately, it’s all a collaboration. It was actually better because I felt like I was in the trenches with her and everybody else. We were all together in this thing and then there came a moment to step out and see where we were all from a bird's eye view. I felt like it was more of a camaraderie and more trusted between us to be able to get in there and be on the same level while I also kept this bird's eye view of the movie and tried to steer the ship the right way [Laughs].
No spoilers, but the movie ends with a huge gunfight, and I’d love to know what some of the biggest challenges you faced in putting that sequence together while bringing together so many different combatants?
Ben: Do you want me to be honest? It was the weather.
Sofia: Yeah! [Laughs]
Ben: We’re doing our thing and this movie is set in Mexico in the middle of summer, but we’re in New Mexico in the middle of winter. We’re doing this big thing in the house and outside, in reality, there’s a blizzard. [Laughs] It was cold. That was actually the biggest thing, but the rest of it was the stuff you dream of doing as a kid. Basically, this entire movie is full of all of those moments you’ve already played out as a kid when you’re doing all those things and playing games. You make these moments in your room or playing with your friends so it was really just this pure imaginative playground that was so much fun. I didn’t consider it like, ‘How are we going to put all of this together?’ because the puzzle was really fun and part of the challenge and made the entire process extremely fun and extremely rewarding.
And I have to ask you both - Snag 2…would you like to make it happen?
Sofia: Of course!
Ben: [Laughs] If the audience wants to see it, then…
Sofia: I keep asking him, ‘When are we going to start Snag 2?’ Every single week, ‘Any news about chapter 2?’
Ben: I won’t confirm or deny anything but I may have a script written.
Snag arrives in select theatres and on Digital starting April 28. The movie will be available on Demand on May 12