Peacock (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
Peacock is a 2010 American direct-to-video
psychological thriller
directed by Michael Lander, written by Lander and Ryan Roy, and starring Cillian Murphy
, Ellen Page
and Susan Sarandon
. It was editor Sally Menke
's final film.
, prefers to live an invisible life in order to hide his secret: He has multiple personality disorder, the implied result of childhood trauma
inflicted by his abusive
mother. His alter ego
is a woman, Emma, who each morning does his chores and cooks him breakfast before he starts the day. One day while he is out of his house as Emma, a freight train
caboose
derails and crashes into John's backyard.
When his neighbors come to the scene, "Emma" enters his house, putting John's other life into the spotlight, so he is forced to tell his neighbors that Emma is his wife, married in secrecy. Forced to fool the town into believing he and his alter ego are man and wife, John and Emma must maintain their secret while in public view.
A young and struggling single mother, Maggie, holds the key to John's past and sparks a battle between the personalities where Emma begins to take over John's life completely.
Casting calls for extras
and other minor roles were made in the Des Moines, Iowa
area in April 2008.
. Greenfield, Iowa
was also host to the production for several days. Scenes were filmed on the town square and inside the historic Opera House. Shooting of the film was scheduled to continue on June 5, 2008 in Boone, Iowa
; due to weather conditions, however, Cornfield Productions was forced to delay filming until the following day. The filming occurred at the local train tracks with line producer
Brian Bell explaining that this particular shot was a "visual effects" shot, where the train will eventually be digitally edited to appear as if it is passing through Skillpa's backyard, even though it is not physically there. Although the shooting took four hours to complete, it only comprises about 10 to 15 seconds of the film. The filming of Peacock ended on June 9, 2008.
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
psychological thriller
Psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on characters. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre...
directed by Michael Lander, written by Lander and Ryan Roy, and starring Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy is an Irish film and theatre actor. He is often noted by critics for his chameleonic performances in diverse roles and distinctive blue eyes and general sex appeal....
, Ellen Page
Ellen Page
Ellen Philpotts-Page , known professionally as Ellen Page, is a Canadian actress. Page received both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress for her role as the title character in the film Juno...
and Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...
. It was editor Sally Menke
Sally Menke
Sally JoAnne Menke was an American film editor with more than 20 film credits since 1984. She had a long-time collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino, having edited all of his films...
's final film.
Plot
John Skillpa, a quiet bank clerk living in tiny Peacock, NebraskaNebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, prefers to live an invisible life in order to hide his secret: He has multiple personality disorder, the implied result of childhood trauma
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
inflicted by his abusive
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
mother. His alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
is a woman, Emma, who each morning does his chores and cooks him breakfast before he starts the day. One day while he is out of his house as Emma, a freight train
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
caboose
Caboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
derails and crashes into John's backyard.
When his neighbors come to the scene, "Emma" enters his house, putting John's other life into the spotlight, so he is forced to tell his neighbors that Emma is his wife, married in secrecy. Forced to fool the town into believing he and his alter ego are man and wife, John and Emma must maintain their secret while in public view.
A young and struggling single mother, Maggie, holds the key to John's past and sparks a battle between the personalities where Emma begins to take over John's life completely.
Cast
- Cillian MurphyCillian MurphyCillian Murphy is an Irish film and theatre actor. He is often noted by critics for his chameleonic performances in diverse roles and distinctive blue eyes and general sex appeal....
as John Skillpa, a "retiring, shy and completely nondescript bank employee" leading a double life as Emma, his female alter ego. Murphy stated that "Peacock stunned me as a script from start to finish. It offers an incredible challenge to an actor — one I couldn't turn down." - Ellen PageEllen PageEllen Philpotts-Page , known professionally as Ellen Page, is a Canadian actress. Page received both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress for her role as the title character in the film Juno...
as Maggie, a struggling young mother who holds the key to John's past and sparks a battle between the personalities. Page commented, "This is one of the boldest screenplays I've come across in my albeit short career; it's a character and story I can throw myself into and exactly the type of movie I love to be a part of." - Susan SarandonSusan SarandonSusan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...
as Fanny Crill, the wife of Peacock's mayor, who also runs a local woman's shelter. Sarandon has said that Peacock is "a very strange little piece — kind of ominous." - Bill PullmanBill PullmanWilliam James "Bill" Pullman is an American film, television, and stage actor. Pullman made his film debut in the supporting role of Earl Mott in the 1986 film Ruthless People. He has since gone on to star in other films, including Spaceballs, Independence Day, Lost Highway, Casper and Scary Movie 4...
as Edmund French, John's boss. Pullman has described Peacock as "a very interesting script," explaining that his role "is another character hiding the fact he's the closest one like [Skillpa]. It's a very different part for me." - Josh LucasJosh LucasJosh Lucas is an American actor. He has appeared in many films, including Glory Road, A Beautiful Mind, and Poseidon.-Early life:...
as Tom McGonigle, a local police officer and the closest thing John has to a friend. - Keith CarradineKeith CarradineKeith Ian Carradine is an American actor who has had success on stage, film and television. In addition, he is a Golden Globe and Oscar winning songwriter. As a member of the Carradine family, he is part of an acting "dynasty" that began with his father, John Carradine.-Early life:Keith...
as Mayor Ray Crill - Paul CramPaul CramPaul Matthew Cram, born on October 31, 1985, is an American actor. He is known for his role as "Zee", in the film Intermedio.- Filmography :*Intermedio - as Zee*Chiseled - as Charlie...
as Kenny, a local store clerk.
Casting calls for extras
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
and other minor roles were made in the Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
area in April 2008.
Filming
Filming began May 6, 2008 in the small town of Odebolt, IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Greenfield, Iowa
Greenfield, Iowa
Greenfield is a city in Greenfield Township, Adair County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adair County. The current courthouse, which sits in the middle of the Greenfield Square, was built in 1891 and is listed on the National Register of...
was also host to the production for several days. Scenes were filmed on the town square and inside the historic Opera House. Shooting of the film was scheduled to continue on June 5, 2008 in Boone, Iowa
Boone, Iowa
Boone is a city in and the county seat of Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan...
; due to weather conditions, however, Cornfield Productions was forced to delay filming until the following day. The filming occurred at the local train tracks with line producer
Line producer
A line producer is the key manager during the daily operations of a motion picture production.The line producer supports the vision given by the director but does not have direct influence on the creative expression or narrative of the film....
Brian Bell explaining that this particular shot was a "visual effects" shot, where the train will eventually be digitally edited to appear as if it is passing through Skillpa's backyard, even though it is not physically there. Although the shooting took four hours to complete, it only comprises about 10 to 15 seconds of the film. The filming of Peacock ended on June 9, 2008.