ComingSoon’s Tyler Treese spoke with Untitled Home Invasion Romance’s Jason Biggs and Meaghan Rath. The duo discussed Biggs’ surprising tone in his directorial debut, their on-screen relationship, and if American Pie 5 could happen. Also starring Anna Konkle, Justin H. Min, and Arturo Castro, the film is out now to buy or rent on Digital.

“With his marriage on the rocks, Kevin (Jason Biggs) whisks his wife Suzie (Meaghan Rath) away on a romantic getaway with a wildly misguided plan: fake a break-in and play the hero. But when things spiral, and someone turns up dead, Kevin finds himself at the center of a murder investigation, with lies piling up faster than the alibis,” says the official synopsis.

Tyler Treese: Jason, this is a much more violent and darker movie than audiences typically associate with you. It’s also such an interesting deconstruction of the Home Invasion movie, which we’ve seen so many of lately. Was that a conscious choice to kind of subvert expectations or has this always been an interest of yours that you haven’t gotten to explore as much?

Jason Biggs: Thank you, Tyler, and that’s a really great question. I think the answer is kind of both. I definitely saw this as an opportunity to do something unexpected. I’ve been looking to direct something for a few years, actively looking for something, and had an opportunity that was tonally more like the American Pie films, a broader sort of more coming-of-age kind of thing. I feel like I could have done something with that, and it was a very funny script. Ultimately, I decided it was a little too on the nose.

So, when I read this script, it really excited me, first of all, because I thought it was a great read, and there were a lot of things about it that I love. But also partly because I thought I could do something a little unexpected and challenge myself as a result, because again, even as an actor, I haven’t really worked in this world. So, I knew it’d be a challenge. Obviously, just directing in general would be a challenge, but I definitely thought about that.

I’ve talked a lot about how I’m a fan of the Coen Brothers, and those movies are some of my favorite films. When I first read this script, it felt like it played in that world and if we could pull it off… I am not a Coen brother, but if I could do right by this script, then I would be able to find moments like in the Coen Brothers movies where you are laughing in some really disturbing moments, laughing one second, squirming the next. So, I feel like we did that, and populated it with some really fun supporting characters. It kind of had a lot of that.

Meaghan, you’re given a complex character to play. She refuses to be a victim. What about this role of Suzie really intrigued you the most?

Meaghan Rath: Yeah, I’ve never seen a character’s arc like this because it’s so drastic. I read it and felt terrified by it because it’s such a challenge. I’m so lucky that he was here to help figure it out with me. Part of the fun was making decisions about who she was before all this, the things that have happened to her that inform what she’s doing now, but also figuring out at what point to let the audience see those things.

Jason, I’m always amazed by directors who also act in their films. Was that calming to kind of have that? Because you know how to act, obviously, or was it like, “Oh my God, how am I balancing both of these duties?” How has that experience doing both?

Biggs: It’s a good question. Calming… I don’t know that the word calm applies to any moment during the eight weeks of pre- and actual production.

Sure, I guess there is a sense of sort of knowing exactly what I can bring or not bring to the performance already, instead of having to sort of discover an actor’s strengths or, you know, instincts through the course of the movie. I obviously know myself very well, but overall, I’d say it was difficult. I think if I get the opportunity to direct again, I’d prefer to just stay behind the camera or do a smaller role.

Rath: I will just say to that I know how hard it is because I saw it with my very eyes, but it’s interesting because I would say your performance ended up being so great and weirdly like relaxed into like Kevin’s panic, but it’s because you had so much on your mind as a director that you didn’t have time to overthink the character. You just kind of did the scenes.

Biggs: That’s a great point. All right, I’ll be in the next movie. I’ll do that then. Thank you.

That’s a really fascinating point.

Biggs: It is a very good point, though. Because, of course, I’ve definitely, as an actor, I can feel myself overthinking and getting stuck in the weeds, and so yeah, for sure. I had too many other things. I didn’t have the bandwidth. It is a good point.

Meaghan, I love the dynamic between Suzie and Kevin that is always evolving throughout the film. How was it just working with Jason to create that? Because it’s always shifting.

Meaghan Rath: Yeah, I mean, we had a great time. I think right away we had a rapport that felt comfortable, and yeah, I am so grateful for that, especially on a [short] shoot. We did all that in 20 days, and it was so demanding. It was mostly night shoots. So, to have somebody that you can trust as a scene partner, but also as a director, is such a gift because you really feel like you’re going to battle.

Jason, I love the American Pie movies. I probably saw them way too early growing up, but they’re iconic for me. Now that you do have this knack for directing, would an American Pie 5 ever be something you’re interested in?

Jason Biggs: To direct?

Yeah.

Biggs: Yes, actually. It definitely is. I would love to, I would love to. This has popped up mostly just in my own mind, and no one else has mentioned it to me, but I’ve certainly thought about it.

I would love to do another American Pie regardless. Whether I direct it or not, I love working with those people, and I love playing that role. And I love the money. I love the money, Tyler, and untitled Home Invasion Romance is not taking me to the bank, if you know what I mean. In fact, I got paid in…

Rath: Canadian money,

Biggs: Canadian loonies and toonies.

There you go. Well, I’d love to see it if it does happen.

Biggs: Listen, I would love to, I would love to. That would also mean I’m directing a big studio comedy, which would be incredible. So honestly, I just want to be able to direct, again, that’s the headline for me, is that despite the challenges, I had an amazing time, particularly working with the actors. So, I would love to be able to do it again.

Thanks to Jason Biggs and Meaghan Rath for taking the time to talk about Untitled Home Invasion Romance.