Filmed over the course of four years, the absurdist movie Bad Trip is full of shocking encounters, hearty laughs, and a lot of cringeworthy moments. Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howery as best friends Chris and Bud, and Tiffany Haddish in the scene-stealing role as Trina, are hilarious together. But like with The Eric Andre Show, what fans really love are the reactions of real people caught on hidden camera as they unknowingly become part of a movie.
Having received generally positive reviews, the movie is one that's worth watching again and again to catch subtleties that are easy to miss the first time around. And it's especially funny to watch again after knowing some of the wild behind-the-scenes facts about the making of the movie.
They Were Really Chased By Someone
That scene where an angry store owner ran behind the pair during the Chinese finger trap prank (which involved prosthetics) was actually real. Andre said they went to the wrong barbershop that didn’t have their hidden cameras inside and the owner was not happy about the debauchery.
The man chased them out the door with a knife in the scene that just so happened to be the first prank filmed for the movie. Once the man learned it was a joke and for television, he settled down and actually found it hilarious. But Andre and Howery legitimately feared for their lives in that moment.
Haddish Asked To Be In The Movie
Tiffany Haddish wasn't originally in the movie. After Howery, who had never done a prank on camera before – he's best known for his role in the Oscar-winning movie Get Out - encountered the major scare noted above, he called his reps and Haddish, with whom he co-starred on Carmichael Show, to vent.
Haddish, a movie star in her own right, called Andre inquiring about the situation and decided right then and there that she wanted to be in the movie. It all worked out as there was a scheduling conflict with the actor who was originally supposed to be in the role, so Haddish took over.
None Of The Reactions Were Fake
While viewers might be skeptical that some of the onlooker reactions were fake and featured paid actors, Andre assures that isn't the case. "Every reaction in the movie is 100 percent real", he told Den of Geek. Everything in the movie was genuine.
The only parts of the movie that were scripted were the main story and the dialogue between Chris, Bud, Trina, and Maria, played by Michaela Conlin.
The Zookeepers Were In On The Prank
When Chris jumped into a cage with a gorilla (really a human in a lifelike gorilla suit), the people taking the zoo tour were all really there on a visit and had no idea what was going on. But the zookeepers were in on the joke.
That's because the scene was shot in a private location so they had to get permission. The camera department set up hidden cameras all over, including backpack cameras, GoPros hidden in fake bushes, and more, to capture real-life reactions.
They Had Help From Master Pranksters
The crew had members that were master pranksters who provided assistance and advice. That included Jeff Tremaine, the movie's producer, who had previously directed the Jackass movies and Dirty Grandpa.
There was also help from members of the Punk'd team as well as Nathan Fielder from Nathan For You and some of his writers. A master of disguise and hidden camera pranks in his own right, Sacha Baron Cohen also helped Andre by screening a rough cut of the movie and helping out with the story aspect.
A Car Really Did Flip Over
One of the scenes that was real but that did not actually involve the actor was when the car flipped over and caught fire. This really did happen but it was all handled safely by a stunt driver who flipped the car to get the shot that shocked passersby.
Once the car was flipped and the stunt driver snuck out, Andre and Howery, fully made up with fake blood and scratches, swept in to make it look like they were emerging from the vehicle, dazed and injured.
The Guy In The Dreadlocks Was Not An Actor
Anyone who watched beyond the end credits saw the outtakes that included a clip of the moment the truth was revealed to the unsuspecting people. One of the biggest surprises was the wonderful young man with the dreadlocks who did his best to break up the supposed fight between Chris and Bud.
In the heartwarming scene, the man took it upon himself to act as a mediator and help two friends mend fences. He also physically held Chris back, even though, of course, Andre was just acting. The man was the personification of the Good Samaritan who went out of his way to help two people he didn't even know.
They Chose Strategic Locations To Avoid Getting Recognized
Not surprisingly, Andre and Howery got recognized a few times and had to re-shoot scenes. But they used the "know your audience" guide to help determine shooting locations and the types of crowds to surround themselves with.
Andre told AV Club that they focused on pranking people over 40 since his audience typically skews younger. So, they avoided places like skate parks or college campuses. Nonetheless, they did get recognized a few times and had to relocate. When they did come across someone they suspected might have recognized them, they used the code word "Phyllis" to advise a PA to intercept the person and politely ask them to keep it to themselves so they could continue filming.
The Entire White Chicks Prank Had To Be Filmed Twice
The hilarious scene at the end of the movie, inspired by the movie White Chicks, which Chris and Bud reference throughout the movie, actually had to be filmed twice. The first time in Atlanta, partygoers were so angered that they refused to sign the release forms.
It resulted in a huge added expense to the budget, though Andre admits that he and Howery were potentially "a little too aggressive" with the prank the first time around. The second time was filmed in Los Angeles and they toned down their acts.
An Exorcism Was Pulled From The Movie
Like any movie, plenty of scenes were filmed for Bad Trip that didn't make the final cut. One such scene depicted Andre's character getting an exorcism from an actual preacher.
Andre says that, in the end, it didn't "fit the body of the movie" and, indeed, the prank sounds pretty dark. After staying in a motel that is reportedly haunted, Andre pretended to become possessed by a demon spirit, and Howery commissioned a preacher to exorcise the demon. The prank involved levitation, bleeding walls, flickering lights, and even cockroaches emerging from a painting.