Question 1

What real-life news article appears as a prop in the film, and what is it about?

Accepted Answer

A real New York Times article from September 20, 2015, titled 'A Unit Stalked by Suicide, Trying to Save Itself,' about a Marine unit with high suicide rates after Afghanistan deployment, is glimpsed in the film.

Question 2

Where was the last third of the movie filmed, and what unique feature does this location have?

Accepted Answer

It was filmed at Squaw Mountain Ranch, a nudist resort in Oregon established in 1933, the oldest west of the Mississippi, with old cabins and RVs used for the setting.

Question 3

How did Ben Foster and Debra Granik alter the script to enhance realism?

Accepted Answer

They removed around 40% of the dialogue to reduce exposition and make the film feel more realistic.

Question 4

What is the symbolic meaning of the seahorse theme in relation to Will's condition?

Accepted Answer

The seahorse symbolizes PTSD, where a 'blown-out' hippocampus fails to regulate the amygdala, causing ongoing terror, as referenced in the film's imagery.

Question 5

What training did Ben Foster undergo to prepare for his role as Will?

Accepted Answer

He received training in wilderness survival, water catchment, and the 'gray man technique' for disappearing in public, to authentically portray his character.

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