Filmmaker Michael Sarrow Takes Healthcare Hostage with ‘Smile As You Kill’

Desperate times call for desperate measures and filmmaker Michael Sarrow is counting on it.

Lifesaving healthcare costs cause a hostage, life-and-death situation in his new suspenseful indie feature film, Smile As You Kill.

Available on major streamers and DVD from X4 Pictures, the film first premiered on the festival circuit winning six ‘Best Feature’ awards.

What’s Smile As You Kill about?

MICHAEL SARROW (MS): Smile As You Kill is about a sick man—denied by his health insurance—who kidnaps a successful advertising director and forces the adman to create an online campaign for life-saving treatment. If they don’t raise the money, both lives are on the line.

The film is a psychological crime thriller with dark comedy.

Where did you come up with the idea for it?

MS: More and more people are relying on online fundraisers for their medical care, which is a tragic reality of our modern world. Combining the idea of crowdfunding healthcare with the home-invasion genre created a suspenseful and amusing way to explore the desperation of these two characters.

This scenario could also be filmed as a very low-budget indie film, which was always the goal. I doubt anyone would give me $10 million to make a thriller about crowdfunding.

Did you know the lead actors prior to the film? Or what was the casting process like?

MS: I did know the actors. I actually wrote the lead role specifically for Rey Goyos, who is a talented actor and a friend of mine. I knew he could handle both the intensity and the comic timing that were necessary for the role of Rico.

After the script for Smile As You Kill was complete, I reached out specifically to Michael Teh, who I had worked with on a short film many years earlier. He has a sly charm to him that makes him perfect for the role of the advertising director Terry Tanner.

You shot the film in 12 days; how was that?

MS: 12 days is not a lot of time to shoot a feature film. Fortunately, the home invasion scenario keeps us confined to mostly one location with mostly two actors. I just had to make sure I went in prepared.

I did rehearsals with our two lead actors for the entire script, and I also had floor plans where I planned out the movements of both the blocking and camera. We didn’t always stick to exactly what was planned, but the preparations ensured we could move quickly on our shoot dates.

Is there anything you wish you could go back and change in the film?

MS: I believe it was George Lucas who said that films are never finished, only abandoned. I wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing what I’d do differently because I’d like people to watch Smile As You Kill and enjoy it as it exists.

This is a very timely topic; what do you hope audiences take away?

MS: At our film festival screenings, audiences would usually take many different things away from the film. Of course, the film tackles the desperation of those who lack healthcare. That’s prominent in the film, for sure. But the film also pushes these two complex characters to their limits with some twists and turns. Viewers usually have different reactions to the way things unfold, and they find their loyalties shifting between the characters throughout the film.

The film received several festival awards before releasing. At what point did you realize you created a film that was resonating?

MS: We don’t have a lot of locations or a lot of characters or a lot of special effects. Because the film isn’t vast, I tried to make a film that could go deep. Smile As You Kill digs deep into its themes and character psychology.

From the festival responses to the film, whether in the theater lobby or the Q&As, the different themes and character motivations in the film resonate with different people. It’s been a great satisfaction to hear from our festival audiences what they connected with. Now that the film is available on digital, I’m looking forward to reading what other people take away. The internet is a kind place, so I’m sure it won’t be a problem.

What’s been the biggest surprise about filmmaking?

MS: I’m consistently surprised when I show up on set, and there are a bunch of other human beings working hard to bring my stories to life. It never gets old, and I’m always appreciative.

Are you working on another project? If so, what types of stories are you interested most in telling?

MS: I tend to write stories that have slightly-absurd premises with life-or-death stakes. Then I toss some well-developed characters into these situations to see how they react. Mix in some dark humor and existentialism, and hopefully I provide a unique tone in my storytelling.

I am working on getting my next feature film off the ground. It has a really fun role for a lead actress that I can’t wait to put on screen.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

MS: Independent filmmaking is a difficult path, especially for those without industry connections or a trust fund. Indie filmmakers spend years of their life on a project and face countless rejections along the way. The best advice I’ve heard for indie filmmakers is to be Teddy Roosevelt’s “man in the arena.” Or woman in the arena, as the case may be. The full quote is worth a Google search.

What inspires you most in your life and career?

MS: Thanatophobia, probably.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

MS: For people that have made it this far, I hope you’ll check out Smile As You Kill if you’re in the mood for a suspenseful crime thriller with dark comedy. If you enjoy the film, please leave us a positive review on RottenTomatoes, IMDB, or Letterboxd and share the film with others. Word-of-mouth is the only way people find out about indie films like ours.

For more about Smile As You Kill visit: SmileAsYouKill.com