Goon Duo Reunites for Unbelievable True Story Film!

Director Michael Dowse's latest film, "The Stunt Driver," is a compelling blend of raucous comedy and a poignant true tale, chronicling the life and ambitions of Canadian daredevil Ken Carter. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is set for release on September 25th, ingeniously incorporates real 1980s documentary footage for its stunt sequences, allowing archival shots to convey the dangerous work involved. Produced on a remarkably tight shoestring budget over just 21 days, "The Stunt Driver" stars Jay Baruchel as Carter, alongside Ed Helms and Ben Foster, who portrays the legendary Evel Knievel.

Dowse, known for his comedic works like "FUBAR," "Goon," and "The F Word," brings a unique perspective to Carter's story, a figure he describes as Canada's own Evel Knievel, yet surprisingly unknown to many. Dowse first encountered Carter's story through a documentary 12 years ago and was instantly "blown away" by it, feeling a strong desire to bring it to a wider audience. He related deeply to Carter's aspirational values and perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds, echoing his own journey in making this independent project.

The film dramatizes Carter's most extraordinary and risky endeavor: preparing for a mile-wide jump across the St. Lawrence River in a rocket-powered Lincoln Continental. This madcap adventure is simultaneously a poignant reflection on ambition, drawing heavily from Robert Fortier's 1981 documentary, "The Devil at Your Heels." Dowse explains that a significant portion of the documentary's footage was licensed from the National Film Board of Canada and integrated into "The Stunt Driver," serving to establish the period and execute impossible stunts that would otherwise require an exorbitant budget, akin to "Fast and Furious" scale. The production team built a 60-foot scale version of Carter's actual 90-foot ramp and a car without a motor, relying on Fortier's documentary footage for all moving vehicle shots.

Dowse's filmmaking approach involved shooting in multiple formats, including real 16mm when transitioning to documentary footage, alongside 2:39:1, fake 35mm, fake 16mm, and even an old 80s video camera for period authenticity. This creative integration allowed the film to honor the bravery of the real Ken Carter, with every jump seen being performed by Carter himself. Dowse meticulously structured the narrative by transcribing the original documentary, then condensing and streamlining repetitive elements. He also extrapolated certain scenes, particularly with Gloria Carter, based on research and conversations, while striving to remain true to the five-year timeline of events.

Jay Baruchel's portrayal of Ken Carter is a cornerstone of the film. Dowse specifically chose Baruchel, noting his age (38, same as Carter), his Montreal background from a similar working-class neighborhood, and his deep understanding of the culture. Baruchel's extensive preparation, including repeating dialogue from the documentary verbatim, allowed him to find a genuine middle ground between himself and Carter, bringing an honest and often humorous performance to the role. Dowse credits Baruchel's improvisation skills and dedication for carrying the film.

The film explores themes of pursuing a dream and the fine line between ambition and self-destruction. While acknowledging Carter's quixotic and romantic quest, Dowse aimed to keep his portrayal real, highlighting Carter's openness about his fears – a relatable human quality, especially for an era when such vulnerability was uncommon. The inclusion of real footage of Carter's tragic accident at the end of the film was a deliberate decision to "not pull a punch" and respect the truth of his death, emphasizing that he died doing what he loved.

Reflecting on his career, Dowse mentioned "It's All Gone Pete Tong" and "Goon" as significant works, noting how "Goon" particularly evolved during editing with the help of editor Brent White. The energy and improvisation lessons from "Goon" carried into "The Stunt Driver," especially in molding the character of Ken Carter, who shares parallels with Doug Glatt. Despite the challenging 21-day schedule, Dowse emphasized the "mom and pop shop" nature of the production, driven by passion and creative solutions like using a backdrop of the Molson brewery to simulate Montreal streets.

Dowse hopes that Ken Carter would be proud of the film, which he believes cements Carter's legacy as an incredibly brave stunt driver. He also shared insights into his upcoming projects, including "Cult-de-sac," a film about a doomsday cult, and a horror film, where he finds immense creative freedom and a strong market for innovative storytelling.