The Big Picture · Interview

‘The Discovery’ Director Charlie McDowell | The Big Picture (Ep. 7)

March 31, 2017/ 33 min/ Sean Fennessey

Sean Fennessey talks to writer-director Charlie McDowell on the day The Discovery lands on Netflix: the film's high-concept afterlife premise, casting Robert Redford, why the ending came before the middle, and what a straight-to-Netflix release does to a movie.

4 films across 1 segment.

AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.

Charlie McDowell on 'The Discovery'

Charlie McDowell on

The Discovery 2017

McDowell's Netflix sci-fi drama: a scientist (Robert Redford) proves the afterlife exists and millions start killing themselves to reach it. He calls it a character study with a high concept as backdrop, a love story and a father-son story, written end-first, with Redford cast off an agent's availability list after he turned out to be a fan of The One I Love. Shot by European DP Sturla (his first American film) for a dark look. Cast: Jason Segel as the audience's eyes, Rooney Mara, Jesse Plemons, Riley Keough.

Charlie McDowell on

The One I Love 2014

McDowell's first feature, shot in 15 days at a house in Ojai with Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss: a couple on a marital retreat who discover something strange about themselves. The twist was so protected by critics that reviewers refused to spoil it, which McDowell counts as the ultimate compliment.

Charlie McDowell on

Arrival 2016

His favorite film of the prior year, cited as the model for a movie that plays completely differently on a second viewing.

Charlie McDowell on

Get Out 2017

Brought up via a recent Jordan Peele appearance on the show. Fennessey asks whether McDowell plants the same Easter-egg-for-a-second-watch details on purpose; he says it isn't conscious, but the actors are directed knowing where it ends up.

Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads

TV The OAStranger ThingsThe A.V. Club (Fusion TV show)

In development (not films) Zero K (Don DeLillo limited series for FX)

Ads The Ringer MLB ShowTuneInFusion TV / The A.V. Club