“This film blends genres in a cool, unique way that I’ve never seen before,” says Jack Quaid of his latest film, the action-comedy / love story Novocaine. “I hope audiences will enjoy that. It’s going to be a wild ride, and I’ll be so excited to hear the reactions inside the theater.”
Novocaine is the story of everyman Nathan Caine (Quaid), who cannot feel pain. When the girl of his dreams Sherry (Amber Midthunder) is kidnapped, Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.
During the filming of the action scenes, there were times when even the crew could not look at the monitors because of how gruesome and gory the scenes were. “Everyone has delivered – from hair and makeup to stunts to prosthetics to everything in between,” shares producer Drew Simon. “You know it’s working when you have to look away from the monitors because you’re seeing something graphic happen to a guy who can’t feel pain. It was so real and felt so visceral. That’s the reaction we’re hoping audiences will have as well.”
Besides the action, director Robert Olsen promises a good balance with comedy. “The mix of humor and violence is also what makes this movie special because everybody’s seen an action movie that has a ton of gore in it and a more dour tone,” says Olsen. “But the image of somebody being punched in the face and smiling right after is the heart of this movie.”
Action, gore, comedy, and of course, the love story. “I love Nate and Sherry as a couple,” says Quaid. “They’re incredibly cute together. And working with Amber was such a pleasure. There’s a certain comfort when you have a scene partner you feel so good with.”
Midthunder, who plays Sherry, says she was captivated by the beautiful complexity of their relationship. “I think what makes their relationship so special is that they bring out this true version of the other person,” she shares. “Dan [Berk, co-director], Bobby [Robert Olsen, co-director], and I talked a lot about how Nate sees Sherry in a way she’s never been seen before. To Sherry, that is both alarming and disarming and that’s what makes her feel so drawn to him and feel safe with him, especially so quickly. She’s affected by that because she’s never felt that kind of safety before in her life.”
Feel every intense moment when Novocaine opens in Philippine cinemas March 12, 2025. Join the conversation with the hashtag #Novocaine and tag @paramountpicsph.