Interview: Director Michael Winnick (Disquiet)

RELEASE DATE:  In Select Theatres, On Digital and On Demand February 10, 2023

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY:  Michael Winnick

STARRING:  Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Rachelle Goulding, Elyse Levesque, Lochlyn Munro, Garry Chalk, Trezzo Mahoro, Anita Brown, Bradley Stryker

PRODUCED BY:  Steven Paul

GENRE:  Supernatural Thriller, Horror

RATING:  R for violence, language and some nudity

SYNOPSIS:  Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars in the terrifying, edge-of-your-seat thriller. After a near-fatal car accident, Sam (Meyers) wakes to discover he is trapped in an abandoned hospital by mysterious and sinister forces that have no intention of letting him leave…

Hi Michael, how are you?

Michael- I’m good.

Please tell us how DISQUIET manifested for you?

Michael- I wrote this project right before the pandemic hit, and we were about to do it, then the world ended. Then when we picked back up again, being trapped in a hospital had a different meaning. I was kind of inspired by Jacob’s Ladder, and those images have stuck in my life for most of my life. It’s those images with an undercurrent of Dante’s Inferno.

The pandemic is sort of over but in a way, it affected people horribly but with certain creative people, it created a lot of stuff. Writers, directors, producers, etc. It’s sad and chaotic.

Michael- When your alone with your thoughts, it has more meaning. This project was not influenced by the pandemic, other than we shot it during the pandemic. It’s there, it’s always there. Everyone was getting tested, and social distancing.

What was it like working with everyone, and how did you get yourself, and crew prepared?

Michael- Thankfully everyone responded to the script, and everyone got what we were going for. The cast and the crew really embraced what we were going for.

You all did an amazing job. I was certainly on the edge of my seat.

Michael- [Laughing with me]

What are you working on next?

Michael- Interestingly I might be about do a fantasy… action movie. It’s a time travel adventure. It’s definitely a different pendulum swing. I had done a spy thriller right before it. I shot a movie called Malicious, which is more a slow burn horror film. I was really interested to see if I could pull off our genre that love.

I think horror is such an open genre but, back in the day it wasn’t always cool to talk about horror movies. I’ve had people tell me I’m going to wind up as a serial killer, horror ruins your mind. I think it’s a beautiful genre, it teaches you stuff. It shows love, appreciation, and so much more.

Michael- Yes.

It’s great to find directors who are creative and writers who find the characters. And to say someone will be a serial killer because of watching a movie!?! That’s kind of scary, it goes to show how different people think.

Michael- Yes, and you can get a lot of character moments in there.

What do you everyone to know about Disquiet from your perspective?

Michael- From my perspective… You can enjoy this movie. There is a subtle underscoring going on. If you’re a literary buff, you can start matching up the characters. If you’re not, that’s okay too.

It was so great talking to you, Michael. You’re so talented and it was an honor. Thank you so much.

Michael- Thank you, Janel

DISQUIET IS OUT NOW. ON DEMAND, AND ON DIGITAL.

MICHAEL WINNICK – IMDB

PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT MALICIOUS. (2018)

www.imdb.com/name/nm1033667/