Jorma Taccone and the ‘Over Your Dead Body’ Team Discuss Balancing Humor and Horror in Their English-Language Version of Tommy Wirkola’s ‘The Trip’ at SXSW
OVER YOUR DEAD BODY: A Darkly Comic Take on Marriage and Mayhem
Director: Jorma Taccone
Screenwriters: Nick Kocher, Brian McElhaney
Synopsis: In "Over Your Dead Body," a troubled couple, Dan (Jason Segel) and Lisa (Samara Weaving), set off to a secluded cabin hoping for a romantic reboot. However, both harbor plans to assassinate each other. As their schemes unravel, a menacing group intrudes with their own intentions, transforming what was meant to be a healing retreat into a chaotic struggle for survival. The film serves as an English-language remake of Tommy Wirkola’s 2021 Norwegian film, The Trip.
Panelists: Director Jorma Taccone, writers Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney, and actors Paul Guilfoyle and Keith Jardine
U.S. Distributor: Independent Film Company (releasing April 24)
Premiere: March 14 at the Paramount Theatre
Taccone, known for his works in comedies such as MacGruber and Popstar, expressed his excitement about the unique challenges posed by this project. “This movie has so many different tones,” he remarked. “It’s almost like a suspense drama in the beginning, then it morphs into a home invasion movie, and eventually becomes an action film. For me, the aim was to create something that honored the original without losing its edge. I think we’ve maintained what Tommy brought to the table while infusing our own vibe.”
Reflecting on standout moments during filming, co-writer Nick Kocher recalled, “When we first arrived on set, they were capturing one of the final scenes. Seeing Jason Segel in bloody makeup was astonishing; it looked as though they had actually killed him. The makeup team did an incredible job.”
Taccone also shared insights into the unpredictability of filmmaking. “Inevitably, glitches arise during production. We had a stunt involving a car that simply wouldn’t cooperate because the spoiler was too low, causing it to get ripped off during the skid. Instead, we had to pivot and ask our stunt guy to endure a frontal hit from the car—he ended up getting hit seven times. It’s just part of the process of filmmaking,” he explained.
As "Over Your Dead Body" approaches its release, it stands out as a film ready to blend humor with suspense, offering viewers an engaging thriller infused with dark comedy.
