Tag Archives: Michael Morrissey

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Boy Wonder (On The Couch 2012 #5)

Back in October, at New York Comic Con, I had the opportunity to interview Michael Morrissey, the writer and director of Boy Wonder. You can read that interview here. At the time that I interviewed him, Boy Wonder was making its New York City premiere, which Michael was nice enough to offer me tickets to a screening. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the screening, but definitely planned on seeing Boy Wonder.

I just didn’t think it would take this long for me to see it.

I shouldn’t have waited. And neither should you. Boy Wonder is awesome.

Don’t let the title fool you. This isn’t the story about a teen prancing around in elf slippers and briefs. This is a dark, psychological thriller. It’s the Batman story if Bruce Wayne was working class. Think Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies minus the costumes and minus Bruce Wayne’s inheritance.

Wrong Boy Wonder.

One thing I really liked about Boy Wonder is how local it is to Brooklyn. This isn’t Chicago masking as Brooklyn. This is Brooklyn. The movie opens on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The criminal court on Schermerhorn Street downtown makes an appearance and the NYCT subway system in Brooklyn hosts some of the most intense scenes in the movie. If you live or work in Brooklyn, you’ll probably recognize at least a few settings in the movie.

I only have one nitpick with how Brooklyn was used. During the chase at the Union St stop on the R, after Shawn leaves the train, he’s running through a much bigger station, which I thought was Atlantic Ave. This did take me out of the movie for a second. Union St is a tiny station and Atlantic Ave is a big complex. Why show him clearly getting off at Union St? Why not just have him get off at Atlantic Ave for the sake of continuity? Then again, it makes sense from a production point of view. I’m guessing it’s much easier to get a permit to film on the platform of a not-busy station like Union St than it is to get one for the constantly busy Atlantic Ave.

But seriously, that was my biggest problem with the movie: a subway station not matching up to reality. That says a lot, doesn’t it.

I really like the ending of the movie. I’m not going to spoil anything here. It didn’t end the way I thought it would have, but I was very satisfied with Boy Wonder’s final scenes.

I’m feeling there will be a bunch of Boy Wonder cosplayer sightings at NYCC and Halloween this year.

If you’re a fan of Marathon Man, Nolan’s Batman films or just like your superheroes with a touch of realism, definitely check out Boy Wonder.

Written by Billy Henehan

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My Interview with BOY WONDER Director Michael Morrissey

On Saturday night, attendees at New York Comic Con were treated to a special advance screening of the new vigalante pyschological thriller, BOY WONDER. On Sunday afternoon, I had the pleasure of interviewing BOY WONDER director Michael Morrissey about the film. During the interview, people kept coming up to the BOY WONDER booth raving about the previous night’s screening.

Tuesday Night Movies: What is BOY WONDER about?

Michael Morrissey: BOY WONDER is a dark psychological thriller about what would really happen if the typical superhero tale existed in the real world. And not like Kick Ass in the real world, kind of like a very serious take on the genre. We don’t mention superheroes. We don’t have capes or tights or anything like that. What would the kid’s life be like?

TNM: What inspired you to make this? Was it those vigilante guys in Seattle?

MM: No, it was quite the opposite. I’ve been reading comic books since I was 10 years old and I remember when I was kid, I thought I was going to be a superhero. And this kid, Sean Donovan, loses his mother when he is 10, very violently. What if you got stuck with that idea in your head as a 10 year old? He has a really screwed up situation – his father is an alchoholic. He lives with this idea and it kind of takes hold once he’s a teenager. I like this type of story and this is what I want to see.

TNM: Does BOY WONDER take place in New York City?

MM: Yeah, it’s shot all around New York and Brooklyn. I’m from Brooklyn. I grew up in Marine Park. The kid grew up in Marine Park. Kind of write what you know.

TNM: How was filming in New York City? Did you run into any difficulties while filming on location?

MM: Filming in New York City was great but expensive. And the noise is insane. There is no quiet location outdoors, you just have to hope for the best.

And filming in the NY subways is a crazy experience. Not something I would do again unless I had lots of Hollywood money.

TNM: What kind of preparation did your actors need to do for BOY WONDER?

MM: Caleb Steinmeyer, who plays Sean Donovan, put on about 20 pounds of muscle for the role. We had him in Brooklyn for nine weeks of training. He was very dedicated.

Michael Morrissey (left) and Caleb Steinmeyer (right)

TNM: Where is BOY WONDER opening?

MM: It’s opening in New York City on 10/21/11. It’s opening at the 3rd Ave & 11th St AMC. We’ll be in Chicago on 10/28. And then on 11/8, we’re everywhere: iTunes, Netflix, DVD, etc.

TNM: Has BOY WONDER appeared in any festivals?

MM: We have. We won about 14 film festivals. We won Best Picture at the Vail Film Festival. It shocked us because there were all these high falutin films. We won the Crystal Palace Film Festival in London, Sacremento, Williamsburg.

TNM: Is this your first movie? Did you go to film school?

MM: It’s my first feature. I’m self-taught. I was a writer first, then I did a couple of shorts and learned how to edit. I worked in television for a bit. I finished the script in 2000, tried to raise the money and finally got it done.

TNM: What’s next for you after BOY WONDER?

MM: Working on a new film called MOTHER, a phycological horror/thriller that takes place in Lake Tahoe. Kidnapped kids, female serial killer, nice Disney type stuff.
 
BOY WONDER opens tomorrow, Friday, 10/21/11 at the AMC 3rd Ave on the corner of 3rd Ave and 11 St in Manhattan.

Interview by Billy Henehan, Photo by Graig Kreindler.