Raquel Laguna/ SUCOPRESS. Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder star in the movie Novocaine, directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. In this interview, Jack talks about how he prepared to play such a physically and emotionally demanding character. Jack and Amber also talk about working with directors on set and about physical and emotional pain. Novocaine tells the story of a mild-mannered introvert man who is born with a rare genetic disorder that makes him impervious to physical pain. When his new beau is taken hostage in a bank robbery, his affliction becomes his superpower. The movie also stars Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Evan Hengst, Conrad Kemp and Jacob Batalon Novocaine premieres in theaters on March 14th, 2025.
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00:00I'm obsessed with action movies, and I had, I would say, a religious experience watching John Wick 4, for some reason, that fourth one.
00:07It's a great movie.
00:08It's such a noticeable step up, and the stunts are even better, the cinematography is amazing, and I was like, I want to be a part of something like that.
00:16And I know most people wouldn't necessarily look at me and think, oh, he's like Keanu Reeves, he kicks so much ass.
00:22And what I love about this movie is that it allows me to be kind of an action hero, but the point is, it's not about how much ass I kick,
00:28it's about how much my ass can get kicked, and I still get up.
00:31So I just thought it was such a great concept, and then I met Dan and Bobby, and it was just a done deal, because they're just so incredible,
00:38and I knew I had to be a part of this thing.
00:40Well, the first thing, honestly, that made it an immediate yes, the email came through, the script was attached, and I saw that Jack was doing it,
00:46and I was like, 100% I want to do this.
00:49And then my agents were like, read the script first.
00:53As flattered as I am, you should do that.
00:57But luckily, obviously, I mean, I was also a fan of Dan and Bobby, the directors,
01:00and so it was just an incredible mix of things that already made it so enticing,
01:04and then I just loved Sherry and the way that she's able to kind of house all of these different layers and characteristics
01:11inside of a character that you don't normally get to see that much depth and variety in.
01:16So there was really nothing to say no to.
01:19I think we both like to work a lot with music.
01:22We both have playlists for every character that we play, we compare them, there's a lot of similar songs.
01:27You know, I try to work, I work a lot with backstory.
01:29I feel like this is a character who has had to kind of keep himself at an arm's distance from the world because of his condition.
01:36He has to, safety is his top priority.
01:39So I think it's a movie about a guy kind of coming into the world for the first time.
01:44And I think, you know, I use a lot of movies, actually, not to like copy performances or anything,
01:50but just to kind of get into the genre a bit.
01:53You know, specifically 80s action movies that are more character focused.
01:57You know, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, but also things like Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
02:03Liar Liar a little bit.
02:05Just in terms of that Jim Carrey physicality.
02:08And then things like Upgrade, True Romance, Before Sunrise was big.
02:13Yeah, so a bit of, kind of a mishmash of a lot of different genres.
02:17So much to cover also.
02:18There's a lot.
02:19It's like, do you have references for Nathan Cain, do you have references for the action,
02:22do you have references for the romance?
02:23Yeah, like It's a Wonderful Life.
02:25It's like if Jimmy Stewart had this condition and had an action movie.
02:29It's just like, oh geez.
02:31But yeah, there's a lot.
02:32Do that again.
02:33Oh geez.
02:34That's the movie.
02:35Mr. Potter, you go.
02:37That's it.
02:39You got it, you covered that.
02:41I'm good with the pain that I feel.
02:43Yeah, it's necessary.
02:45It's very much necessary.
02:47I'd rather not be able to feel emotional pain, to be honest with you.
02:51Just to feel that embarrassment of dropping your AirPods or something.
02:56Like where they fly everywhere.
02:58Is that the most embarrassing thing you've done?
03:00No, I've definitely had more, but I'm not going to say it on camera.
03:03But yeah, shielding from emotional pain, I'd say.
03:06I just wonder how would that make you as a person?
03:09You're right, actually, because I think you need the emotional pain.
03:12Yeah, shame is important, okay?
03:14Shame is important, honestly.
03:15It's a system of checks and balances, you're right.
03:17Absolutely.