A dangerous virus spreads through a work office causing the workers to lose their minds and act out on their most dangerous thoughts. That’s the kind of scenario that can only play out in the mind of Mayhem director Joe Lynch. According to Lynch the movie script for Mayhem came to him while he was working a dead-end job he didn’t want to be at. “I wasn’t happy at my regular office job, so this script was a life-changer for me.”
The script for Mayhem, written by Matias Caruso, revolves around an attorney played by Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun who is fired from his job after being set-up by a co-worker. That’s just the start of the issues the work office begins to endure. A deadly virus spreads through the office inflicting rage onto all the workers. Yeun’s character Derek Cho takes matters into his hands as he tries to save his life and job.
Lynch was thrilled by being able to cast Yeun in the lead role, and proud to have an Asian actor play this role that stereotypically would be cast a white guy.
“I’m such a big fan of Steven’s, he was critical to making this movie work and come to life,” Lynch said.
Lynch wasn’t wrong about Yeun’s impact on the movie. Yeun adds a lot of energy to his role with high intensity and timely comedic relief. Additionally, Samara Weaving holds her own alongside Yeun, playing the feisty Melanie Cross.
At one point Lynch said that film was in danger of not happening.
“We had budget restrictions, so in order to make this movie the way I wanted to I had to compromise,” Lynch stated. “We ended up shooting the movie in Belgrade, Serbia.”
Taking the movie overseas ended up being a blessing for Lynch.
“Shooting overseas, brought all of us (the cast and filmmakers) closer together, in a way we probably wouldn’t have bonded had we shot with more budget in the U.S.,” Lynch said.
The up-and-down production status didn’t stop Lynch from making the movie he wanted. He was determined to get this movie come to reality, at all costs.
“Making this film was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, it was very personal to me,” he said.
Ultimately, Mayhem made it to the big screen. The sacrifices that Lynch and the crew had to make, paid off. His vision came to life and audiences will happily indulge in the bloody fun madness that is Mayhem.
Mayhem is available now on Digital HD and VOD and available on Blu-ray & DVD on December 26
