Interview (Written): Ben Wheatley

The writer-director on his latest movie Free Fire.

A Film Inquiry interview with Ben Wheatley who directed the movie Free Fire starring Sharlto Copley, Brie Larson, and Armie Hammer. He co-wrote the screenplay along with his wife Amy Jump. Wheatley’s other writing-directing credits include Kill List, Sightseers, and High Rise.

Each one of your films feels completely different to the last. Where do you think Free Fire fits into your eclectic filmography?

Ben Wheatley: They seem different on the outside, but there’s themes that run through all the films that are similar and link together in a jaggedy way. I think Free Fire has elements of A Field in England in it, in some respects: the enclosed space, the limited cast, while the final scene in A Field in England feels to me like a shorter version of the central action sequence that takes up the bulk of Free Fire.

As a director who makes violent movies, I was wondering if there are any portrayals of violence in cinema that disturb you?

Ben Wheatley: For me, it’s all about tone, not necessarily what you see. I mean, even I find Kill List disturbing, but it’s meant to be; it’s a horror film. I think the violence in Free Fire is considerably less disturbing because it’s slapstick and the general tone is comedic. It all relies on the individual scale of what each audience member finds offensive or what you find difficult. Mine’s obviously quite high because I’ve seen a lot of movies, but Free Fire definitely packs less of a horrific punch than something like Kill List, or even something like High Rise.

For the rest of the interview, go here.

I attended an early screening of Free Fire. You can read my thoughts about the movie here. Bottom line: It’s a hugely entertaining, bat-shit crazy movie.