Former WWE super star Phil "CM Punk" Brooks makes his feature film debut in Girl on the Third Floor, a provocative new horror movie from acclaimed producer Travis Stevens, in his first film as director. This unsettling slow-burn psychological shrieker sees Brooks star as a man working to renovate his new house while awaiting the arrival of his pregnant wife. They've been through some issues in the past, and the new house is supposed to mark the start of a new chapter in their marriage. But the house has other plans.
Far from a typical haunted house movie, Girl on the Third Floor is more about the inner psyche of its deeply flawed characters than it is about blood and gore (but there's plenty of that to behold, as well). It's expertly directed by Stevens, who shows off his innate understanding of the genre by allowing the characters to bounce off one another in a natural and sinister way. Despite being Brooks' first cinematic role, he has a powerful command of the screen, and carries much of the movie's drama on his own broad shoulders, without the aid of a supporting cast of veteran actors or a plethora of CGI; it's just one man, alone, with only his rapidly-deteriorating sanity to keep him company.
While promoting Girl on the Third Floor, Brooks spoke to Screen Rant about his role in the horror film, as well the stresses and pressures of playing the lead role in a movie. He discusses how working with Bobcat Goldthwait and Marc Maron helped him get the role, and shared his newfound passion for the craft of acting. He also takes a moment to offer encouragement and advice to All Elite Wrestling, the first major competitor to WWE in 20 years.
Girl on the Third Floor hits theaters and VOD on October 25.
I was surprised to learn this is your feature film debut.
Yeah.
You did such a great job, I was honestly shocked to learn this is your first movie. It's not your first time acting, which I know since I'm a big Maron fan. Can you talk a bit about how this script came to you and how you chose to make this your movie, your statement?
Great question. Well, a couple of things. They were making a very Chicago-centric movie, so they wanted Chicago-based actors. I'm not even sure if anybody else was in the running for this thing. They were dead set on getting me. Because I had done Maron, Bobcat Goldthwait was trying to get a hold of me. I have a friend of a friend who works in the MPI office (MPI Media Group which owns Dark Sky Films), so I got an e-mail from a longtime friend of mine, and I also got an e-mail from Marc Maron saying that Bobcat wanted to get my info. Both of those roads led me here. I started e-mailing with Greg Newman from MPI, and before I even read the script, I made my mind up that I was doing it, just based on the names attached. Travis Stevens... And Steve Albini was already attached to provide the score, which really floored me. If you know anything about Steve Albini, I mean, he hasn't done anything in music in a very long time. It just spoke my language. They were making a Chicago haunted house movie! I didn't have to travel. I could hang out with my dog and my wife every day, before and after work. And then I read the script, and it was really really good! So I was just super excited to be a part of it. It was an easy answer, and the answer was yes.
This being your feature debut, and also Travis' directorial debut – even though he has many feathers in his cap as a producer – did you ever feel like you were both learning the ropes together? Did he know exactly everything that he wanted, and you had to kind of figure out how to navigate his world?
I think we both felt like we were a team doing this. In directing for the first time, and me being directed in a feature for the first time, I think that just kind of helped the vibes and it really strengthened it. I mean, we really hit it off right away. I just let him do his job, you know? We talked a little bit about the character, about the movie, and the tone, and what we were trying to accomplish, but I almost didn't want to overthink and over-analyze my character. I wanted it to live based on his direction. I think we were partners in crime. It was a fun learning experience for both of us.
I want to back up for a sec. You said you were recommended by Bobcat. I love his movies. God Bless America is one of the greats. How did that connection come through?
He directed the episodes of Maron that I was in.
Oh, okay!
I guess he was raving about me, he was like, "Oh, Phil's your guy, you've gotta get Phil." And then, ya know, I look at that as a compliment, so hopefully, somewhere down the line, I'll be able to work with Bobcat again.
That would be amazing. I don't want to give away too much about the story, because I feel Girl on the Third Floor is one of those movies where you should go in as blind as you possibly can. But I have pitched it to my friends as "The Shining meets Evil Dead."
I'll back that!
These special effects... I don't think there's a single CGI moment in this movie, as far as I can see. It all seems like it's in camera. Was that a challenge as an actor? Is the director like, "Okay, I need you to get inside of this wall," what is that shooting process like?
All the stuff with the walls, that was just a lot of fun. That just goes to show you the quality of the people we were working with. Dan Martin did all the special effects. I think he's the best kept secret in movies right now. His work is tremendous. His work is very real, to the point where it's disturbing. You don't really know if what you're watching is effects or if it's real, and I love stuff like that. I brings me back to stuff like John Carpenter's The Thing, Rob Bottin doing crazy practical effects. I guess you can get away with doing CGI, but there's something about practical effects that just, you know, speaks to the horror fans.
Absolutely. It's the difference between imagining something and being able to reach out and touch it with your hands.
Yeah, that's a good point.
Do you think you want to pursue acting as a full time gig? Or are you keeping your options open?
I always keep my options open (laughs), but I think this is it. I think this is my new drug. I was addicted to showing up on set and being better than I was the day before, so my goal now is, whatever project is next, I want to learn more. I want to become a better actor, and I want to keep my options open. If I get a good script and I'm working with great, quality people, chances are I'm going to try to do as many of these as I possibly can. I had, like, unlimited fun. I can't stress enough how everybody was amazing to work with, even on the hardest shoot days when it was stressful. Everybody lifted everybody else up. Hopefully, I'll be in a lot more of these!
There's a little moment I love so much in this movie. You rip the door off of a cupboard and throw it off screen and then it ricochets back towards you. Was that scripted, or an accident they left in?
That's the way it was supposed to happen. That was Travis, off-screen, throwing another cupboard door at me.
That was amazing. I think that's such a great moment in the movie, but I don't know if it was scripted or not.
I love the way that came off, because it really looks like it just flies right back. But no, that was Travis, beaming me right in the face with it!
From what I understand, you're over wrestling. Is it alright if I ask you a wrestling question?
Of course!
I was at New York Comic Con and I got to meet a lot of the AEW crew. Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Nyla Rose... Moxley, in particular, had no mercy for the WWE. My headline was that he said it was like being in jail. Do you have any opinion on the AEW/WWE relationship?
Yeah. I think AEW needs to focus on themselves and stop talking about WWE. Cody and The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, all those guys have something great going on. I just think it lessens and cheapens what they are doing when they constantly attack WWE. There hasn't been an alternative to WWE in so very long, and I think they do a disservice to themselves when they're trying to be the alternative but constantly bring up WWE. But I understand, when people ask you the questions during the interviews you have to answer them. But that's just part of life. You have to learn how to navigate that. I would like them to just try to focus on their product and building it up and making it better. I think that would benefit all the fans.
Girl on the Third Floor hits theaters and VOD on October 25.