During the Sony Pictures' When the Bough Breaks Junket Conference Call, Morris Chestnut (Rosewood, The Perfect Guy) and Regina Hall (About Last Night, Think Like a Man) answered some questions regarding the film and their experiences in Hollywood.
When the Bough Breaks is a film about two married successful, young professionals in New Orleans who seemingly have everything, but as Chestnut noted, "They have a nice house, cars, and things of that nature, and the one thing I like about this movie, it shows that no one has everything....The one thing thing that they couldn't buy with just themselves was a child...." So the couple, John and Laura Taylor (Chestnut and Hall), find a surrogate mother in Anna Walsh (Jaz Sinclair, Paper Towns). They move Anna in with them, and she soon reveals some psychotic tendencies as her fixation with John grows. Rounding out the cast, the film includes Romany Malco (Think Like a Man), Michael K. Williams (The Land, The Wire), and Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy).
The film is being marketed as a thriller, for obvious reasons. And though it may seem like it has elements of other films, Chestnut says the script, "was unique in its own perspective and voice." This likely comes into play as the film centers around a surrogacy situation, with elements of legal ramifications and trying to defend yourself against someone carrying your unborn child! As pointed out by Hall, "once someone's implanted with your last embryo, you don't really have much of a choice even when you do realize it. You can't even allow yourself to know that it's a mistake because it's done, it's permanent." What I can't wait to see is how Laura will physically defend herself against a pregnant Anna who is carrying her unborn child! And yes, there will be a "climactic showdown" between the two!! Chestnut applauded the professionalism and talent of Sinclair, and that coupled with Chestnut and Hall describing the acting experience as emotional and very intense, let's me know this will be a nail-biting thriller!
The film was shot in 35 days in New Orleans, which is where the story is based! With food being such an important part of the fabric of New Orleans' culture, and Laura Taylor being a famous chef, it was key that production designer, Chris Cornwell, immerse the audience in the real New Orleans experience. And despite it being his first time working in New Orleans, Hall says, "New Orleans almost felt like a character in the movie." I cannot wait to experience New Orleans on the screen! And as for shooting the film in 35 days, which Chestnut described as a television schedule, it is certainly not a difficult challenge for director Jon Cassar, who is known for his work on the television series 24.
When the Bough Breaks hits theaters on September 9th!