'Untitled Home Invasion Romance' Cast Interview

Moviefone speaks with director Jason Biggs and Meaghan Rath about 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'. "I loved that it was unexpected for me," Biggs said.

(L to R) Jason Biggs and Meaghan Rath star in 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'.

Available on digital January 27th is the new comedy thriller 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance', which was directed by Jason Biggs (‘American Pie’) and stars Biggs, Meaghan Rath (‘Being Human’), Justin H. Min (‘The Umbrella Academy’), Anna Konkle (‘Rosewood’), and Arturo Castro (‘The Menu’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Biggs and Meaghan Rath about their work on 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance', their first reactions to the screenplay, why Biggs wanted to direct, Rath’s approach to her character, her experience working with Biggs as both an actor and director, balancing the right comedic tone, if Biggs will direct again and what he learned from this experience.

Jason Biggs as “Kevin” in the Comedy, Thriller, Action and Crime film, 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

Moviefone: To begin with, Jason, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to direct this movie?

Jason Biggs: I read the script, and it was originally offered to me just to play the role of Kevin. My agent said to me, “I think you may want to direct this one,” because we had been looking for something to direct for a few years. What I loved about it was that it was unexpected for me, I think. As an actor there are connections that people make for me, and I thought that would have extended to my first time directing as well. I even had an opportunity to direct something that was much more like ‘American Pie’, and I ultimately thought, “I'd rather challenge myself in a different way and try to do something that was a little unexpected.” So, when I first read the script, I was like, “My God, this is really great”. It's the kind of movie that I like to watch. I'm a big Coen Brothers fan and it felt like it had that tone to it, and it was populated with similar characters, structure, gore, and comedy. So, for me, it was like, I really wanted to direct this. It felt like the right one for me. I don't think I anticipated just how difficult it was going to end up being, but it was a challenge that I took on, and here we are.

Meaghan Rath as “Suzie” in the Comedy, Thriller, Action and Crime film, 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

MF: Meaghan, what was your first reaction to the screenplay, and did you recognize immediately that this would be a great part for you to play?

Meaghan Rath: Yes, absolutely. I was in shock when I was reading it because I really felt a connection and an urge that I needed to play her. I thought that there would be so many actors that want to take that on, because it is a terrifying challenge with of all the emotions that she goes through, but also playing those tonal shifts. I felt that it weirdly combined a bunch of different skills that I had from previous shows that I've done. So, it felt like it was right for me, and it felt like it was mine, and it was.

(L to R) Jason Biggs as “Kevin” and Meaghan Rath as “Suzie” in the Comedy, Thriller, Action and Crime film, 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

MF: Meaghan, what was it like working with Jason on set as both an actor and as a director?

MR: I felt very safe. We got on well just from the beginning and it's so nice to be able to have that comfort with somebody that you're getting on this runaway train with. It was 20 days. It was such a grueling shoot, and it was mostly nights. To have somebody that you knew that you could trust to take you through it, and not just as a scene partner, but as a director, figuring out this character, because it was very overwhelming. I came on not long before we went into picture, so I didn't have that much time with it. It was nice to have somebody to figure it out with that I knew that I could rely on. So many times, during the shoot, I was like, “I don't think we got it.” We had such crazy time restrictions, but he always gave me another take if I wanted it. So, that's really something.

(L to R) Justin H. Min as “Stu Cho” and Jason Biggs as “Kevin” in the Comedy, Thriller, Action and Crime film, 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

MF: Jason, can you talk about the challenges of balancing the right tone of comedy and suspense?

JB: They're in lie the biggest challenge, for sure. Meghan kind of alluded to it. It's performance, its lighting, its shots, it's the edit for sure, and the score. I always wanted it to feel as grounded and real because it's a high concept movie. It's a guy who fakes a break-in with his friend to win his wife back, and it goes wrong, and someone's dead. It's a high concept, but I felt like we would have the best chance of making it work if we kept it grounded. Because there's a very broad version of this movie, for sure. But the version I wanted to see and make was as grounded as possible, because then I always thought that we would be able to go to some more extreme places, and ultimately be able to tie it together more organically in the end. So, yes, there's laughs and very clear comedic moments, but there's gore, there's the thriller, and there's the whodunit. It was the challenge of this movie, between the performances and everything else, and even right until the end, until the score was placed in. That was the sort of the final thing that we had to do. They did such a great job. So, that was the final thing, and it's fascinating how much that helps connect everything. Anyway, that was part of the fun challenge for me.

(Center) Director Jason Biggs on the Comedy, Thriller, Action and Crime film, 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

MF: Finally, Jason, do you think you will direct again, and if so, what have you learned from making this film that you will take with you to your next project?

JB: Yes, I would love to direct again. That's saying a lot because this was a very hard shoot, as Meaghan said earlier. It was ambitious and very difficult at times. But for me, the moments that I will take from it, particularly working with Meaghan and the other actors and having that interaction, giving notes, having them change their performance. That was, for me, a high. It was such a great thing. So, I want to do it again. What have I learned? An insane amount. I mean, there is so much that I will take onto a next project if I get the opportunity. From little things to a big thing like, letting go, and being able to let go. You can't get stuck. If you don't get the shot, you just don't get the shot. I remember missing shots and thinking, “That's it. How am I going to put it together? It’s going to be impossible. Like, without that shot, there's no way that this could work,” and that's just not the case. There's always creative solutions and ways around it. So, not getting as caught up in that, I think, maybe, is a big lesson to take.

'Untitled Home Invasion Romance' will be available on digital January 27th.

What is the plot of 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'?

As a last-ditch attempt to save his failing marriage, an actor (Jason Biggs) stages a home invasion during a romantic getaway weekend.

Who is in the cast of 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'?

Jason Biggs as Kevin
Meaghan Rath as Suzie
Arturo Castro as Ernie Guerra
Justin H. Min
Anna Konkle

(Right) Director Jason Biggs on the Comedy, Thriller, Action and Crime film, 'Untitled Home Invasion Romance'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).