How Spiderhead’s Writers Brought A Bit Of Deadpool And Zombieland Into The Movie
Netflix By Christian Gainey/July 6, 2022 2:53 pm EST
Netflix’s “Spiderhead” focuses on a top secret facility where convicted felons volunteer for drug trials to escape time in a traditional prison. The film offers a roller coaster ride of emotions thanks to tactless comments, awkward dancing, and handy dandy MobiPacks provided by Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth). Abnesti is the villain of the film, a psychopath who gets off on manipulating emotions and commanding obedience, but that doesn’t mean he can’t bring a little humor to the story.
When Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the writing partners behind “Zombieland” and “Deadpool,” were tapped to adapt Greg Saunders’ short story “Escape from Spiderhead” into a movie, they weren’t shy about injecting their own style into the film adaptation. A story about chemically manipulating the thoughts and feelings of reluctant “volunteers” isn’t exactly synonymous with humor, but neither is the zombie apocalypse or cancer, which are two topics the writing team has previously infused with levity. Traditionally, the writers use comedy and violence to create murky characters and an ambiguous tone, but they found a new way to use that style in their latest film. In an interview with Polygon, Reese and Wernick explained how “Spiderhead” continues and broadens their style of blending violence, horror, and humor to create a complex character and story.
Same muscles, same murky tones
Netflix
Reese and Wernick’s most successful films concentrate on the well-explored (and some might say exhausted) genres of superhero and zombie films. However, their movies include a unique blend of violence, action, and comedy. In a world bursting with boy scout Marvel heroes, Reese and Wernick introduced Deadpool, an antihero who drops double entendres while destroying enemies with motorcycle chains and cigarette lighters. And their zombies aren’t the menacing walkers we’ve become accustomed to either. The undead in “Zombieland” pick the flesh from their teeth and burp after devouring a man alive.
With every combination of quip and decapitation, the writers beg us not to take anything too seriously, which makes the gore of devouring humans and the ridiculousness of Deadpool’s fight scenes a lot easier to swallow. With such a tongue in cheek style, Reese and Wernick seem an unlikely choice for a sci-fi drama. “Spiderhead” is drastically different from the zombie apocalypse of “Zombieland” or the wisecracking superhero, “Deadpool,” but Reese found that the writing process is similar:
“To use a bad metaphor, it kind of feels like we’re doing a different exercise at the gym, but on the same muscles, to hit them from a different way. So it’s not that different, it’s sort of a half-step different. It’s just shades, right? I mean, our tone is always a little murky. Oftentimes we’ll have violence and comedy mixed together, and yet heart and love. I feel like this falls into that general area. It’s got a love story, it’s got real emotions. At times, it is funny, it’s just a little darker.”
The writing process might not have been very different, but the character that Reese and Wernick created certainly was.
Evolved style
Reese and Wernick’s expert blend of comedy, gore, and stylish action sequences will always provide a much needed escape from reality and boredom, but it’s always refreshing to watch creative styles change and evolve. In this film, instead of creating lovable neutral characters living in a tongue-in-cheek world, the writers use humor to emphasize the cruelty and selfishness of a villian.
For years, Reese and Wernick have used humor to make us cheer for antiheroes and laugh at apocalypses, and like Steve Abnesti, they continue to explore new and interesting ways to manipulate our emotions.
How Spiderhead’s Writers Brought A Bit Of Deadpool And Zombieland Into The Movie
Netflix
By Christian Gainey/July 6, 2022 2:53 pm EST
Netflix’s “Spiderhead” focuses on a top secret facility where convicted felons volunteer for drug trials to escape time in a traditional prison. The film offers a roller coaster ride of emotions thanks to tactless comments, awkward dancing, and handy dandy MobiPacks provided by Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth). Abnesti is the villain of the film, a psychopath who gets off on manipulating emotions and commanding obedience, but that doesn’t mean he can’t bring a little humor to the story.
When Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the writing partners behind “Zombieland” and “Deadpool,” were tapped to adapt Greg Saunders’ short story “Escape from Spiderhead” into a movie, they weren’t shy about injecting their own style into the film adaptation. A story about chemically manipulating the thoughts and feelings of reluctant “volunteers” isn’t exactly synonymous with humor, but neither is the zombie apocalypse or cancer, which are two topics the writing team has previously infused with levity. Traditionally, the writers use comedy and violence to create murky characters and an ambiguous tone, but they found a new way to use that style in their latest film. In an interview with Polygon, Reese and Wernick explained how “Spiderhead” continues and broadens their style of blending violence, horror, and humor to create a complex character and story.
When Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the writing partners behind “Zombieland” and “Deadpool,” were tapped to adapt Greg Saunders’ short story “Escape from Spiderhead” into a movie, they weren’t shy about injecting their own style into the film adaptation. A story about chemically manipulating the thoughts and feelings of reluctant “volunteers” isn’t exactly synonymous with humor, but neither is the zombie apocalypse or cancer, which are two topics the writing team has previously infused with levity.
Traditionally, the writers use comedy and violence to create murky characters and an ambiguous tone, but they found a new way to use that style in their latest film. In an interview with Polygon, Reese and Wernick explained how “Spiderhead” continues and broadens their style of blending violence, horror, and humor to create a complex character and story.
Same muscles, same murky tones
Reese and Wernick’s most successful films concentrate on the well-explored (and some might say exhausted) genres of superhero and zombie films. However, their movies include a unique blend of violence, action, and comedy. In a world bursting with boy scout Marvel heroes, Reese and Wernick introduced Deadpool, an antihero who drops double entendres while destroying enemies with motorcycle chains and cigarette lighters. And their zombies aren’t the menacing walkers we’ve become accustomed to either. The undead in “Zombieland” pick the flesh from their teeth and burp after devouring a man alive.
With every combination of quip and decapitation, the writers beg us not to take anything too seriously, which makes the gore of devouring humans and the ridiculousness of Deadpool’s fight scenes a lot easier to swallow. With such a tongue in cheek style, Reese and Wernick seem an unlikely choice for a sci-fi drama. “Spiderhead” is drastically different from the zombie apocalypse of “Zombieland” or the wisecracking superhero, “Deadpool,” but Reese found that the writing process is similar:
“To use a bad metaphor, it kind of feels like we’re doing a different exercise at the gym, but on the same muscles, to hit them from a different way. So it’s not that different, it’s sort of a half-step different. It’s just shades, right? I mean, our tone is always a little murky. Oftentimes we’ll have violence and comedy mixed together, and yet heart and love. I feel like this falls into that general area. It’s got a love story, it’s got real emotions. At times, it is funny, it’s just a little darker.”
The writing process might not have been very different, but the character that Reese and Wernick created certainly was.
With every combination of quip and decapitation, the writers beg us not to take anything too seriously, which makes the gore of devouring humans and the ridiculousness of Deadpool’s fight scenes a lot easier to swallow. With such a tongue in cheek style, Reese and Wernick seem an unlikely choice for a sci-fi drama.
“Spiderhead” is drastically different from the zombie apocalypse of “Zombieland” or the wisecracking superhero, “Deadpool,” but Reese found that the writing process is similar:
The writing process might not have been very different, but the character that Reese and Wernick created certainly was.
“To use a bad metaphor, it kind of feels like we’re doing a different exercise at the gym, but on the same muscles, to hit them from a different way. So it’s not that different, it’s sort of a half-step different. It’s just shades, right? I mean, our tone is always a little murky. Oftentimes we’ll have violence and comedy mixed together, and yet heart and love. I feel like this falls into that general area. It’s got a love story, it’s got real emotions. At times, it is funny, it’s just a little darker.”
Dark Dancing
With a careful splattering of humor, Reese and Wernick made a pharmaceutical rep feel more dangerous than zombies or a sword-wielding mercenary.
Evolved style
Reese and Wernick’s expert blend of comedy, gore, and stylish action sequences will always provide a much needed escape from reality and boredom, but it’s always refreshing to watch creative styles change and evolve. In this film, instead of creating lovable neutral characters living in a tongue-in-cheek world, the writers use humor to emphasize the cruelty and selfishness of a villian.
For years, Reese and Wernick have used humor to make us cheer for antiheroes and laugh at apocalypses, and like Steve Abnesti, they continue to explore new and interesting ways to manipulate our emotions.
For years, Reese and Wernick have used humor to make us cheer for antiheroes and laugh at apocalypses, and like Steve Abnesti, they continue to explore new and interesting ways to manipulate our emotions.
