‘The Amateur’ Team on That “Challenging” Pool Collapse Scene and Transformative Ending

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[This story contains major spoilers from The Amateur, which is now playing in theaters.]

New fear unlocked.

James Hawes, the director of ‘The Amateur’, shared with The Hollywood Reporter that you would never persuade him to be part of that nerve-wracking scene in the pool from the movie during its premiere last week.

In this sequence of events, Charles Heller, portrayed by Rami Malek, a CIA analyst, encounters one of the suspects behind the murder of his spouse, Sarah (acted by Rachel Brosnahan), atop a Madrid-based pool. Unable to extract the necessary information about the shooter from this individual, Charles resorts to activating a remote control, causing the pool’s glass floor to splinter, resulting in Mishka Blazhic (character played by Marc Rissmann) plummeting to his demise.

Hawes explained that the concept originated from a massive aquarium filled with people, as depicted in a 1981 novel. This concept has been transformed, evolved, and brought to life as a rooftop pool. He mentioned that creating this scene necessitated constructing a full-scale model of it within the studio for destruction and dropping effects. However, it’s important to note that while parts were filmed in the studio, “It’s not just computer-generated imagery” and “there are substantial real-life effects incorporated into it as well.

The swimming pool situated within Embassy Gardens in London posed certain challenges for the creative crew, notably due to the frequent relocations required. Moreover, they needed authorization from the embassy to employ drones during a specific scene.

Dan Wilson, the film’s producer, shared with THR that the first and second days they were shooting a particular scene were quite demanding. He explained that the movie presented unique difficulties due to its blend of intricate large-scale set pieces, with the pool being the most complex among them. Additionally, every day involved moving to a new location for filming, which added to the challenge. Nevertheless, despite the complications, Wilson found it thrilling to shoot that scene.

Instead, Wilson explained, “That particular scene where the pool breaks and the man falls, it was captured in a single take. We decided against recreating this setup.

Though the additional task in Charles’ quest for vengeance involved his late wife, it wasn’t until the finale that Charles truly avenged her by targeting the wrongdoers – and remarkably, he didn’t have to eliminate Schiller to accomplish this goal. Instead, he masterfully orchestrated their arrests.

Charles’ journey throughout the movie starts as an individual who is initially shy and apprehensive about driving his own car, as noted by Hawes. However, through the abilities he acquires, by the end of the movie, “he soars into the sky.

Hawes went on, stating that he’s now free, transformed into a different person. This change represents a form of freedom. It’s the type of justice, and it’s exactly what his wife wished for him,” Hawes continued.

In a shift from the current trend, spy thrillers have captivated many in recent times, including classics like “Black Doves,” “The Day of the Jackal,” and “Slow Horses” (also directed by Hawes). Hawes shared his thoughts on what makes this genre so intriguing to viewers.

In tumultuous periods, I find myself drawn to stories that blur reality. These aren’t your average spy tales; they twist our perception, flipping normalcy on its head. In these narratives, the lines between right and wrong become hazy, where darkness morphs into light and vice versa. It’s these tales that reflect our own world, where a lone protagonist is thrust into perilous situations, grappling with the chaos and finding ways to survive.

The Amateur is now out in theaters.

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2025-04-14 05:54