From the very first seconds of Windfallits cast flashes over a static image of an upscale country ranch set to an old-fashioned orchestral score that there is no doubt you should pay tribute to.
In fact, Netflix’s official synopsis for its new thriller – about a mysterious man (Jason Segel), whose plan to break up when his arrogant tech CEO (Jesse Plemons) and his philanthropist wife (Lily Collins) arrive in the middle of the robbery – even describes describes it as “Hitchcockian”.
“To me, it’s a kind of modern version of a classic [film] noir, but I really wanted to call back those movies and watch those movies why they work so well, “director and co-author Charlie McDowell (The one I love, the discovery) told us during a recent virtual press day (see above). “And I think a lot of that has to do with the scoring and the feel of the scoring, and then also how they shot them.”
For Segel, who devised the film’s story with McDowell, it was about being defined by their limitations.
‘We had one place to shoot at. It was in the middle of COVID and quarantine … And we had a couple of people who were willing to come and make the film. We had no idea when the world would open up. So it was this movie that was inherently super small. And the style that best suits it is noir. Something claustrophobic and [with] a small cast. “
It was an intimate production for various reasons, one being that there are only four actors in the entire film. The crew was small. And the project marked the first professional collaboration for McDowell (son of Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen) and Collins (daughter of Phil Collins), who were engaged at the time and married last fall.
As the story progresses and they are held hostage, it becomes clear that Collins ‘wife is stuck in a toxic marriage with Plemons’ CEO, who Emily and Paris the actress admits she appreciated McDowell.
“I mean, I do not want to lie. Jesse’s character treats her pretty badly,” Collins says. [like] being treated nicely felt like, you know, it was not so shabby at the end of the day. It was truly a wonderful experience to feel safe and nurtured throughout. ”
Told about his newlywed wife’s comments, laughs McDowell.
“It was my manipulation there,” he crackles. “I want to show you the worst version of how it can be, and I’m not that bad.”
Windfall currently streaming on Netflix.
– Video produced by Jen Kucsak and edited by Jimmie Rhee
Watch the trailer: