October 2018

This October we’re focused on one thing and one thing only… watching as much horror-related programming as possible to prime the pop culture pump in celebration of Halloween. Our consuming will be taking place nightly, and while there’s no rhyme or reason to how we’re going about choosing our scary screenings, we’ll do our best to tell you how we did it so that you can watch them as well.

Title: It Comes At Night

Directed By: Trey Edward Shults

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Riley Keough, Kelvin Harrison Jr.

We Watched On: Amazon Prime

Trunktober Approved Because: “It” never actually came at night, at least not the it we were expecting. Named more like a monster movie than the slow burn, tension-filled Ambrose Bierce-like horror we discovered the film to be, as it turns out, much like in life, the real monsters are those lurking inside all of us. Dun dun DUNNNNN!

Biggest Scare: What “It Comes At Night” does so well is build a growing sense of dread, which tickles at the back of your neck for the duration of the film and makes you increasingly uneasy. Imagine if the ever-present awkwardness of Michael Scott from “The Office” made you terrified instead of uncomfortable. That’s the vibe you experience when delving into the world that Shults creates.

There’s so much to love about the Netflix series “Ozark,” and like a gift that just keeps on giving, Season 2 saw Trevor Long’s role in the captivating storyline expanded. That was great news for the Rhode Island native who plays Langmore crime family patriarch Cade, but it was even better news for the viewers because everything he brought to the screen was 100 percent binge-worthy gold.

We recently sat down with Long to discuss the many “Ozark” surprises, how he breathed life into Cade, and why you won’t find him sitting down with a psychic for career advice.

TrunkSpace: “Ozark” took a lot of people by surprise and had them binging like they’ve never binged before. Was the success of the series a surprise for you or did you know that you were involved in something special even in the early going?
Long: It was definitely a surprise. That said, in the back of my mind there was this feeling that this could be great. Just knowing how good the writing was and, of course, the talent they had lined up, but I was pleasantly surprised how it took off.

TrunkSpace: What about in terms of your character Cade – did you know his role within the story would be expanded heading into Season 2 or did that come as a pleasant surprise?
Long: I really didn’t know too much. However, Jason Bateman graciously hinted at it when I saw him at the premiere after Season 1. He basically said, “Get ready to work, you’re getting out of prison.” So, from that I knew I would be at least in it a bit more than Season 1, but I had no idea that I would be in it to the extent I was until about a month out from shooting.

TrunkSpace: As Cade’s story has expanded, what have you been enjoying most about his path and how that has impacted your day to day on set?
Long: I really enjoyed the colors they brought in his story out of prison. It was a lot of fun to explore this sort of wildness and unpredictability that Cade expressed. The writers gave me a lot to play with for sure. Being on set was like being with family. It was always a lot of fun, even if the material was really dark. We just had to have that lightness when sitting around and waiting. It was a lot of heavy material to live out.

TrunkSpace: We read that you did a lot of research to bring Cade that “Ozark” authenticity that seeps throughout the entirety of the series. What was it about him that you felt needed the research to get right, and what was the most difficult aspect of that journey?
Long: I knew Cade was so different than who I am on so many levels – someone who was so destructive and abusive to his daughter was something I certainly had to face inwardly in my imagination and interior emotions. But the outward physical aspects of Cade were what really propelled me to research. His accent, for instance, and even how he moved physically. I knew I had to have his rhythms right, so I tackled this by watching a lot of documentaries and even movies such as “Winter’s Bone.” I also read a lot of books by southern writers that depicted low lives in order to catch their essence and to color my imagination. I love doing this kind of stuff as long as I don’t become too lost in it. I take what’s essential. I guess the difficult part was to truly embody Cade in a very truthful and honest way that brought me alive.

TrunkSpace: Many of the scenes in “Ozark” are very heavy, and we would assume, could be emotionally draining for the performers involved. Did you have days where you felt like you needed to do an emotional download after a particularly rough day of shooting?
Long: Oh, of course. I did that by hanging out with the Langmore’s off set. We were like a very happy, funny, and dysfunctional family. We became very close. Laughter was essential to keep from burning out.

TrunkSpace: What’s great about the series – and Cade in particular – is that there is a lot of gray area with the character for the audience to fill the gaps on backstory and internal motivations. Was that a conscious decision, to leave bread crumbs for the viewers to follow on their own?
Long: To be honest, yes, but that credit really goes toward the writers. They beautifully kept the audience guessing, and myself as well. It’s such a privilege when the writing is that good to just let it take you where it wants to. I just got to keep it as simple as possible and stay out of the way.

TrunkSpace: What can you tell us about your new film “Seeds,” which if we understand it, you also produced? There’s some freaky imagery in the trailer!
Long: I can say it seems to be a pretty uncomfortable film to watch, and that is something we tried to achieve. I did help produce, but that really entailed bringing together a lot of elements that I had access to from many years in the business, such as people I could call on and bring in to help the process.

TrunkSpace: Seeing you in “Seeds” reminded us of our own high school wrestling days. Did you have to suck some weight to play Marcus in the film? Was that something that the script called for or was it a physical trait that you brought to the character through your own journey of discovery?
Long: (Laughter) That’s funny. Yeah, I felt I had to lose some weight. It was not indicated in the script, but I instinctively came to know that Marcus should not look like this healthy, fairly strong guy. So, I dropped down to about 155 pounds. Normally, I am about 185 pounds, so the weight loss was pretty significant for me. It did take some time to get into a proper weight-loss routine, but I could handle it well. I know products like these Proplant Complete Shake ingredients work really well to help regulate appetite and fast metabolism. However, I felt that this guy had to look and feel weak from his emotional decay and the actual physical anguish he inhabited. So, taking plant protein wouldn’t have helped me look weak! All of these things affect me as an actor in how I express another’s life. It can be as subtle as just a very different pair of shoes. I live for that kind of stuff.

TrunkSpace: The film takes place on the New England coast. We know you’re a New England boy. What is it about New England that makes such a great setting for horror films/thrillers? It just seems like a regional staple for genre projects.
Long: That’s an interesting question. I’ve never really thought about that, but now that you mention it I will start to. Maybe it’s that it has all those puritan roots, and there are certainly a lot of woods, and New England, as you know, in the winter can look and feel pretty downright depressing… spooky even.

TrunkSpace: Time machine question. If you could jump ahead 10 years to see what your future/career held, would you take the trip, and if not, why?
Long: Really? That’s tough. I would have to say no. I’m very impressionable. If a psychic tells me I won’t work as an actor for the next three years, I would spiral into depression. I’m also a firm believer that everything unfolds in the only way it can at that particular moment, no matter how much we think we are steering the ship. It will be whatever so-called destiny has mapped out for my career 10 years down the road. I’m always in favor of being surprised.

Seasons 1 and 2 of “Ozark” are available for streaming on Netflix.

The loveable character Dave Kim may have started out as a singular guest spot on the popular ABC series “The Goldbergs,” but like much of what happens in the world of Hollywood, there’s a surprise around every corner. For Kenny Ridwan, who dreamed of becoming a working actor while in high school, that surprise has lasted six seasons and more brightly-colored turtlenecks than any one neck has the capacity to handle.

We recently sat down with Ridwan to discuss G.I. Joe aircraft carriers, how the series has impacted his life, and why he’s absorbing as much of what goes on behind the scenes as he can.

TrunkSpace: The sixth season of “The Goldbergs” just premiered last week. Do you still get excited as you lead up to a new season?

Ridwan: Yeah. It’s always exciting. There’s so much for people to see.

TrunkSpace: We saw that you have the original Freddy Kruger, Robert Englund, stopping by this year. Were you on set for that?
Ridwan: I was not on set. I actually read that. I don’t get all the scripts, but I actually read that on Sean’s (Giambrone) social media. I was like, “Wow!” I really wish I was there.

TrunkSpace: You mentioned that there’s so much to see in the show. We grew up in the ’80s, so for us it’s fun to watch and absorb the set pieces and what’s going on in the background of scenes. From wardrobe to set design, is it a fun show to be on, given the environment that you’re in?
Ridwan: Oh, 100 percent. Well, you’ve seen my character. I have a bowl cut. I have a turtleneck on. I feel like I’m very indicative of a certain style in the ’80s.

TrunkSpace: Speaking of those turtlenecks, no neck has been more abused in the history of television.
Ridwan: (Laughter) That’s super funny. I agree actually. (Laughter) I remember in the very beginning I was like, “I don’t really like turtlenecks, they feel constricting.” But now I’m like, “Wow!” I actually look forward to putting on the turtleneck and putting on all my too-big khakis and my Champion shoes, just trying to get into the ’80s mood.

TrunkSpace: And they’re not just turtlenecks, they’re brightly-colored turtlenecks!
Ridwan: Always a pastel color. My favorite one is the light blue one, not going to lie, but the rest of them are pretty good too. It’s to the point now where every time I’m not in a turtleneck, it’s weird.

TrunkSpace: And again, being in that wardrobe, on that set, it mustn’t be difficult to sort of get lost in the character and be whisked away to a different time period.
Ridwan: It’s a lovely environment to work in. Everybody’s super nice. It’s one of those sets and one of those work environments where you feel like everybody’s really working toward a common goal of making the show better. Also, I’d really liken it to a family-like situation. But in terms of us really recreating what was before, that’s also fun too because often Sean and I, we’re ’90s kids. We were born in ’99. We don’t really know much of what came before, but it’s just really fun to put ourselves in a situation where we almost have to reenact something exactly as it was.

TrunkSpace: We personally get pretty excited every time we see the G.I. Joe aircraft carrier in the background of the Goldberg’s basement. In our day, that was THE toy every kid wanted.
Ridwan: (Laughter) We play with it between takes sometimes. It’s really fun.

TrunkSpace: You started on the show in 2014. Where has the job impacted your life the most?
Ridwan: That’s a really interesting question, actually. In high school when I was working – and I was working for a whole week and I was out of school – I’d say it really affected my high school experience really, because I was invited to be in a more mature setting than a lot of my classmates. I think that really affected me in a way where I ended up reaching a certain level of maturation before other people. I just remember being in high school and really wanting to be an actor. The show really let me realize that dream of mine, that passion of mine.

TrunkSpace: When you first read for Dave Kim, was he always meant to be a reoccurring character?
Ridwan: No. He was actually supposed to be a one episode guest star. I had three scenes in the first episode, maybe four. Just two days of work. I really never expected it to go any further than that. But, it did. Now, going into our sixth year of production, looking back, it’s really ridiculous for me, because it’s like, “Wow, look how far we’ve come.”

TrunkSpace: You’re currently studying creative writing at Columbia. Do you see yourself staying in the industry but working more behind the scenes in the future?
Ridwan: Well, I’ve always really been interested in screenwriting, and I’ve always really wanted to be a screenwriter, a producer, or a director. But really for me, it’s really wherever my career takes me, because they’re such parallel fields, acting and what’s behind the camera. Honestly, I’d be very happy if I was an actor for the rest of my life. I’d be very happy if I’d be an actor/director. But my major now is creative writing. I’m really trying to pursue that in a way where I could become someone behind the camera later on.

TrunkSpace: Do you find yourself absorbing more while on “The Goldbergs” set now that you’re at Columbia studying creative writing?
Ridwan: Yeah. It’s a single camera show – well, it’s not technically a single camera show, but it’s shot in a very similar way to some single camera shows. There’s sometimes when I’m not on camera and I’m able to be behind the camera and look at what the camera operators are doing, and look at what our DP is doing, and really study from them and shadow them in a way, while I’m on set and acting, which has been a really, really, really informative experience for me. It has molded my decision in terms of, “Okay, this is something I really think I could do, or think I should pursue.”

TrunkSpace: How do you juggle your career and school at the same time? How do you find a balance?
Ridwan: Well, I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t include just a lot of time in the library, just working on schoolwork. But, I think that now that it’s my second year doing this – it’s my sophomore year of college, and my second year flying back and forth, and shooting the show – something I really learned throughout the first year is just, if you really want it, you have to work to get it. For me it really materialized and became, “Okay, if I really want to do well in school, if I really want to be an actor, I just have to put in the work.” That’s just what I’ve been doing.

“The Goldbergs” airs Wednesdays on ABC.

This October we’re focused on one thing and one thing only… watching as much horror-related programming as possible to prime the pop culture pump in celebration of Halloween. Our consuming will be taking place nightly, and while there’s no rhyme or reason to how we’re going about choosing our scary screenings, we’ll do our best to tell you how we did it so that you can watch them as well.

Title: The Worst Witch

Directed By: Robert Young

Starring: Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae, Tim Curry, Fairuza Balk

We Watched On: VHS (Yes, we’re old school!) That said, you can also find it on YouTube.

Trunktober Approved Because: Anyone who was born after 1990 has probably never seen this, witch (pun) is understandable, but for those of us who spent the ‘80s, the era of MTV and Saturday morning cartoons, trick-or-treating in highly flammable store-bought costumes, this is a nostalgic gem worthy of your attention. No, it’s not scary, but if you were a kid when it was released on HBO in 1986, it sums up Halloween for you in more ways than one. (Also important to note, this was based on a series of popular books dating back to 1974, and for kids of today, a new television series premiered last year, which is available now on Netflix.)

Biggest Scare: Okay, it’s not a scare, but Tim Curry’s amazing arrival as The Grand Wizard, which immediately kicks into the best Halloween song of all time – “Anything Can Happen On Halloween” – is a green screen marvel that screams cable access gold! This is how we officially kick of the month of October every year, singing along to wondrous lines like, “There may be a toad in your bass guitar or your sister could turn into a bat.” YES!

This October we’re focused on one thing and one thing only… watching as much horror-related programming as possible to prime the pop culture pump in celebration of Halloween. Our consuming will be taking place nightly, and while there’s no rhyme or reason to how we’re going about choosing our scary screenings, we’ll do our best to tell you how we did it so that you can watch them as well.

Title: The Babadook

Directed By: Jennifer Kent

Starring: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman

We Watched On: Netflix

Trunktober Approved Because: Will Smith once sang, “Parents just don’t understand…” At the time, that may have been true, but now that the freshest of all Princes is himself a parent, he may understand all too well… at least in terms of that which makes “The Babadook” a terrifying concept. Parents have bad days, but what if those bad days had nothing to do with us? What if they had everything to do with a sinister storybook creature lurking in the shadows of your home?

Biggest Scare: The biggest scares exist off-screen. The thing that makes the monster so menacing is that you only see just enough of it to send your imagination off in directions you never wanted it going in the first place. Masterful and budget-friendly!

On your mark. Get set. Let’s go!

We’re celebrating the release of “Death Race: Beyond Anarchy” – available today on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand – chatting with the individuals responsible for revving our blood-fueled engines. This time out we’re sitting down with star Zach McGowan to discuss the double-edged sword that is present when joining an existing franchise, the reason his inner 10-year-old was “losing his shit” every day on set, and why “The Walking Dead” fans better get used to seeing his face.

TrunkSpace: “Death Race” is a popular franchise with fans. As an actor, when you’re going into a new project, is it exciting knowing that there’s already a built-in audience for you on the other side?
McGowan: Always. You look at it both ways. You’re like, “Sweet! There’s already people who love these movies!” And then you’re also like, “Wow, I hope they embrace me.” That’s the double-edged sword of it. I hope I did the fans proud.

TrunkSpace: For those long-term fans who have been following the franchise since the ’70s, what are they going to dig most about this one in particular? What does it do best, in your opinion?
McGowan: Well, for the people who have been involved with the franchise since its inception, basically like me – I started watching them in the ’80s with my brothers, probably too early. (Laughter) When I was like a little, tiny kid, my brothers would play them, and I’d be like, totally desensitized. I think to those fans, I think they’re the ones who will embrace it the most.

That was the whole goal of it, was to make it in the vein of those older pictures. When I read the character I was like, “Oh, this is like Kurt Russell in ‘Escape from New York’ or something.” That was what I saw. Don (Michael Paul) explained to me that they were actually building the cars and they were going to do everything practical and not rely upon the visual effects and all that. That’s when I knew it was going to be awesome, or at least I hoped that it could be. I’ve seen it, and I think that really shines through, so I think the original fans will dig those elements of it.

TrunkSpace: It does seem like a love letter to the fans who have been with the franchise for years, but at the same time, it could just as easily serve as a jumping on point for newbies.
McGowan: Yeah. For sure. I think it holds true to the genre. If you watch it and you have no idea what “Death Race” is, you would still know. It’s accessible on different levels in that way.

TrunkSpace: We already talked about what the fans will dig, but what did you dig about the experience? What did you take from the production that you’ll carry with you?
McGowan: When I first got there, I think what initially just jumped out was, I got to see all the cars that had been built. Literally, while we were doing pre-production for this, while I was in fight camp, the Oscars were happening. This was in 2016 when we shot it. The Oscars were happening, and I was running on a treadmill in the middle of the night, and I was watching the Oscars. That year, obviously, “Mad Max” cleaned house at the Oscars. The original ones were like the Australian remake of the “Death Race” movies back then. It was one of these weird confluences when I was sitting there watching that all happening.

TrunkSpace: And like you said, it has to be wild showing up on set and seeing those cars, especially growing up watching the original. 10-year-old you must have been pysched!
McGowan: Oh yeah! 10-year-old me was just losing his shit all the time.

TrunkSpace: You’ve worked with Don before. Was that a coincidence or was there some sort of professional connection that you guys made that carried forward beyond just the one film?
McGowan: Well, we actually shot “Death Race” before “The Scorpion King.” I met Don on “Death Race.” Before I took it, I watched a bunch of his movies. His first movie is called “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s just awesome. People should go back and check it out.

I was excited to just inhabit that world with him. Since then, we’ve done two movies together. I love Don. He’s got to be one of my favorite guys and, as I always said, he’s the smartest director in Hollywood because he cast me as the lead in his action film. (Laughter)

TrunkSpace: So going into “The Scorpion King,” with already having that comfort level of working together, you must have been able to just sort of hit the ground running?
McGowan: Yeah. In fact, actually on “The Scorpion King,” my schedule before it was pretty tight. Because of that, the fight training period had to be made smaller, because I was in the middle of shooting a period drama for USA at the time. But it was like we were ahead of things. We knew how each other worked, so it just all worked out. I look forward to making many films with him in the future.

TrunkSpace: Going back to 10-year-old Zach for a second… you grew up in New York City. If someone said back in the day, “Zach, eventually you’re going to be in one of these big franchises that you’re watching now as a kid.” Would you say they were crazy or was this always your path? Not necessarily this specific film, but acting in general?
McGowan: I decided early that this was something that I wanted to do for sure. As far as seeing myself now, I think 10-year-old me would be proud more than surprised. I had parents who always, always told us that the sky’s the limit and that you can do amazing things. “You can do anything if you just work hard enough at it.” If I ever had faith in anything, it was that. That hard work and dedication will lead to success in the end. I mean, the path’s not over, but I’m glad to have gotten as far as I’ve gotten thus far.

TrunkSpace: Finally, Zach, we know you can’t say much about it, but you’re due to join “The Walking Dead” this season. Just to tie it to “Death Race,” is your character Justin… is he in the same zone of badassery as Connor from “Death Race?”
McGowan: I think that every character’s different. Justin is definitely not the same guy as Connor, but does he do some badass things? I think anyone who’s lived to this point in “The Walking Dead,” who’s a human and is alive, has obviously been through quite a bit in order to have made it that far through the apocalypse. So, yeah, you get to see some stuff for sure. I got to have some fun on the show, and I hope you like it.

“Death Race: Beyond Anarchy” is available today on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand.

Next up, Don Michael Paul directs “The Scorpion King: Book of Souls,” due October 23.

Title: Death Race: Beyond Anarchy

Rated: R

Genre: Action

Release Date: October 2, 2018

Run Time: 1 hour 51 minutes

Directed By: Don Michael Paul

Starring: Zach McGowan, Frederick Koehler, Christine Marzano, Danny Glover, Danny Trejo

Reason We’re Watching It: If you’re feeling the need for speed, action-packed fight scenes and a plethora of explosions, then “Death Race: Beyond Anarchy” is a cinematic highway leading you straight to it! The cast is another great reason to tune in. Zach McGowan is quickly climbing the ranks in Hollywood with his hard-hitting performances, and just so we’re clear, we’ll watch anything that has Danny Trejo or Danny Glover in it. How could we not?

What It’s All About: After an attempt at taking down the inmate known as Frankenstein goes awry, black ops badass Connor (McGowan) enters the prison to join the illegal Death Race and take on Frankenstein himself.

Whoah! Rewind That!: This is not the type of movie where you can only pick just one action-packed moment to play again and again, because frankly, there are a lot of them. Though there were less actual car-based scenes in this installment, the hand-to-hand combat was very well-choreographed and worth a second look.

Watercooler-Worthy Tidbit: Lists (Frederick Koehler) is the only character to appear in all of the “Death Race” movies. He seems to know how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.

And that’s why we’re giving it…

On your mark. Get set. Let’s go!

We’re celebrating the release of “Death Race: Beyond Anarchy” – available today on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand – chatting with the individuals responsible for revving our blood-fueled engines. First up, we sat down with writer/director Don Michael Paul to discuss bringing a fresh take to the fan-favorite franchise, the scene he’s most excited to share with audiences, and what he enjoys most about getting to bring his cinematic visions to life.

TrunkSpace: You’ve worked on a number of sequels throughout the course of your career. Is there a balance for you creatively to stay true to the brand you’re working on while also trying to bring your own creative POV?
Don Michael Paul: I try to always respect the creators that went before, but at the same time I endeavor to give the audience a fresh take. I never treat the films I do as sequels, I approach them the same way I’d approach an original. You have to try to stay fresh and fun so you can give the evolving audience a ride. I love movies, I mean really love them. Disappearing in the dark and watching a story unfold is gold to me. I try to honor each film with a different and diverse take. I’ve had some successes and failures, but I’m always reaching, regardless of budget or franchise requirements.

TrunkSpace: With “Death Race 4: Beyond Anarchy,” you wrote and directed the film. When you’re wearing both hats, does one influence the other in the various stages? For example, will Director Don step in and say, “I’m not sure we can pull that off…” to Writer Don while you’re in the process of working on a script?
Don Michael Paul: Director Don always has to remind Writer Don what can and can’t be done. Budgets are coming way down so I’m always cognizant of what I can do. But at the same time I push hard to put every penny on the screen and give the movie more size and sizzle than we can afford. It’s my job. Make a lot out of a little. Audiences want it all; greatness, craziness, fun, drama, comedy and suspense. I will always try to give them more than I have. I squeeze everything out of the tube and torture myself reaching.

TrunkSpace: What scene were you most excited to shoot based on what you wrote and why?
Don Michael Paul: I was very excited about shooting the motorcycle death race challenge. It was a unique scene in an interesting location and it really kicked-started the movie in a big way. I loved how the gladiators and the DR Clown participated in the sequence. And I loved all the car action.

TrunkSpace: Is there anything that you had to adjust on the fly due to budget or time constraints, and if so, did any of those moments bring about unexpected gems?
Don Michael Paul: Yes, originally the end race had something like 40 cars in it. I had to cut that down to 11, so we could afford to build the cars and design the stunts. I think limiting the amount of cars made the characters come to life in a stronger way. If there were more cars, we would not have been able to get to know the drivers and appreciate their fates in the way we did.

TrunkSpace: You started your career as an actor. Having been on both sides of the camera, do you think that has provided you with a different insight into how to approach being a director, particularly when it comes to working with actors that perhaps some other directors don’t have?
Don Michael Paul: I love actors. I know the road they travel and how soul-crushing it can be to stand in front of a camera and be disappointed by a performance. I try to give actors a big space to work in and create a mood so they have freedom to discover. I go very fast due to schedules, so I’m charging hard and they feel the relentless pace. It’s my hope their instinct takes over. Instinctual acting is when I get interested and excited by performance.

TrunkSpace: 2018 is a big year in terms of the number of films you have or will see released. All of them are based within an existing franchise. What do you enjoy most about getting to play in a sandbox that has already been established?
Don Michael Paul: I love movies. I love the whole process. I am blessed to do what I love. Again, they’re not sequels to me. They’re films, that will be put out there and blooming like an evergreen tree for years. Long after I’m gone they will be discovered by new audiences around the world. I hope they can be enjoyed whether you’ve seen the previous ones in the sequence or if you’re a first time watcher.

TrunkSpace: Is there a dream franchise out there that you’d like to helm an installment of? What would make your inner 10-year-old jump for joy?
Don Michael Paul: “Death Race” was a dream, but it’s not for 10-year-old Don that’s for sure. I’d love to have enough money and time to mount an epic in the vein of “Gladiator.” I love everything about that movie. I love the context and characters and the visceral struggle of integrity and honor vs. greed and avarice and jealousy. The raw power in the ending after the Spaniard has his revenge and goes to heaven knowing the love of your life is there waiting for him. This is great filmmaking and something I aspire to.

TrunkSpace: Finally we have the trifecta question for you. What job/project did you learn the most from as an actor, which one did you learn the most from as a director, and finally, which one did you learn the most from as a writer?
Don Michael Paul: I learned the most as a director on a movie that almost ended my career called “Who’s Your Caddy?” It was a critical and financial disappointment but I learned so much about myself and where I belong. The actors in this movie taught me a very valuable lesson. “Do you!” I’m blessed to have this epic fail. It built my character and taught me to tell and write stories in my wheelhouse. I learned the most as a writer on scripts that were never produced that I wrote for Joel Silver. He seasoned me as a writer and taught me about story, structure and character. It put me in a studio furnace which enabled me to write under pressure. I’m grateful for those hard knocks. As an actor, I learned the most from a movie called “Winter People.” I got to act alongside legends like Kurt Russell, Lloyd Bridges, Kelly McGillis and Eileen Ryan. I will never forget how clean and simple Kurt Russell’s acting was. Working alongside him 25 years ago was an inspiration to me then and now. Big respect, Kurt!

“Death Race: Beyond Anarchy” is available today on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand.

Next up, Don Michael Paul directs “The Scorpion King: Book of Souls,” due October 23.

This October we’re focused on one thing and one thing only… watching as much horror-related programming as possible to prime the pop culture pump in celebration of Halloween. Our consuming will be taking place nightly, and while there’s no rhyme or reason to how we’re going about choosing our scary screenings, we’ll do our best to tell you how we did it so that you can watch them as well.

Title: Train To Busan

Directed By: Sang-ho Yeon

Starring: Yoo Gong, Yu-mi Jung, Dong-seok Ma, Su-an Kim

We Watched On: Netflix

Trunktober Approved Because: For those who don’t mind subtitles, this zombie flick from South Korea is a wild ride, though admittedly not quite as wild as those the fictional characters from the film are forced to take as passengers on a besieged train from Seoul to Busan. We don’t blame you if you feel burned out on anything related to the undead, but this movie has something that so many others in the genre do not… heart. (Probably because zombies are more focused on brains.)

Biggest Scare: There aren’t a lot of jump scares to lift you out of your seat, but the sense of impending doom is enough to make you uneasy for the duration of the film, particularly for those watching who are parents and would have to traverse the undead landscape with kids in tow.