You Won't Feel Sick Watching First-Person Thriller Hardcore Henry, Producer Says

The first-person action thriller Hardcore Henry blasts its way into cinemas this weekend. The film takes its inspiration from video games, and looks set to deliver some of the most exciting, inventive action of the year. However, it seems that one of the main concerns of the filmmakers was how not to make the audience feel ill as they experience the wild thrill-ride of the lead character.

Producer Timur Bekmambetov--best known for directing the Nightwatch movies and the Angelina Jolie thriller Wanted--spoke to Cinemablend about the difficulty in finding the right balance between excitement and watchability. "It was a long process," he said. "We made a lot of tests and test screenings before we shot the movie. And it was smart Russian people... they invented these special palettes with a stabilization system, because it's a very interesting magnetic stabilization system, helping us to avoid the crazy shaking.

"There was a very specific plan of how to make it and we did a lot of reshoots. We did a lot of changing, keeping in mind that we're dealing with a very different kind of camera work."

Bekmambetov also explained that the camaraman was more than just a guy filming the scenes--he was also a performer in the movie. "He's an actor and cameraman at the same time," he admitted. "It's difficult for us, because of the conflict of interest. As an actor, you should, because the only way how we can connect to the character, when you feel every move, every turn is a part of the journey. And at the same time, it's camerawork, because you need to capture events around you.

"It was very important to find the right balance between these two tasks. It was three years of learning."

Hardcore Henry is directed by Ilya Naishuller, with a cast that includes Tim Roth, Sharlto Copley, and Haley Bennett. Naishuller received considerable attention in 2014 for the award-winning first-person POV music video he directed for his band Biting Elbows. The video caught the attention of Bekmambetov, who offered to produce a film showcasing many of these pioneering techniques. It hits cinemas today [April 8.]