In cinemas and on demand from this Friday is the remarkable new psychological thriller, Muscle, a film we caught, and was hugely impressed by, at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival a year ago. Starring Cavan Clerkin and Craig Fairbrass, Muscle focuses on Simon (Clerkin), a deeply unhappy office worker who takes exile in a local gym where he meets Terry, a larger than life, over-bearing character who almost immediately with an offer to train him. We caught up with the film’s writer and director Gerard Johnson (Tony, Hyena) a little while ago to talk about his new film, a monotone masterpiece that will be left with the viewer for days, or even weeks after seeing it.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Muscle is the story of Simon (Cavan Clerkin, The Last Kingdom, The Capture) an unhappy, unambitious office worker whose life is gradually taken over by Terry (Craig Fairbrass, Villain, Rise of the Footsoldier) his new, hands-on personal trainer who reveals himself to be more committed, and more dangerous, than Simon could have ever imagined. Simon isn’t living the life he wants. He’s tired of his dead-end job at a call centre – and he isn’t even any good at it. He and his girlfriend are painfully drifting apart, he’s sick of his life and it’s time to make a change and hit the gym. But everything spins out of control when he draws the attention of Terry, who offers to coach him, and quickly becomes his boss, friend and roommate. Soon, Simon finds himself trapped in a self-destructive spiral with every aspect of his life resting in Terry’s hands, and no way out.
I called the film ‘a gritty, truly intense, totally absorbing character piece, and absolutely one of the best British films we’ve seen all year.’ I’ve been waiting a year for a wider audience to see it, and this Friday, both theatrical and home viewers will be able to do just that.
Here’s our detailed interview with Gerard where we talk about the film’s conception, the style of the piece, shooting in the north-east of England, its controversial orgy scene two-thirds in, working with both Craig and Cavan, and much more.
Muscle is released by Dazzler Media on 4th December in cinemas and on-demand services. Trust me, this is worth seeking out. You can read my full review of the film here.
