Jake Johnson Calls ‘Self Reliance’ His Stab at ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ — With Laughs — at SXSW Premiere
variety.comMichael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Jake Johnson describes his new film “Self Reliance,” which he wrote and directed, as “‘Jacob’s Ladder’ with some laughs.” The film is a comedy with real stakes: Johnson stars as a man who winds up in a game where he’s trying to win a million dollars while hunters try to kill him.
The twist is he discovers that the hunters can only attack him when he’s alone. But when none of his friends or family believe the game is real, Johnson’s character must figure out how to survive on his own.
There are scary moments, but more often it’s also really funny. And the audience screening it on Saturday night at the South by Southwest festival in Austin rocked the Paramount Theatre with big laughs throughout the film’s tight 85 minutes. “I love ‘Jacob’s Ladder.’ I love it so much.
I do get some laughs,” Johnson said after the screening. “And I thought, what if you fill it with really funny people and you’re actually personalized, but it’s scary, and you’re not sure what’s happening and you’re along for a ride.” Johnson said the initial idea was inspired by Japanese reality shows from the late 90s and early 2000s, including one where contestants were forced to stay in a room and live off coupons. “I thought, who would be somebody who’s playing?
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