Jack Quaid: From Blockbuster Rentals to Reluctant Action Hero in "Novocaine"
Jack Quaid, son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, may have had famous parents, but he credits Bruce Willis with shaping his early cinematic tastes. The young Quaid, a self-confessed action-movie fanatic, spent his formative years scouring the shelves of his local Blockbuster, devouring hard-hitting hits like "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon." This early passion for the genre has clearly carried over into his adult life, influencing his career choices and leading him to roles where he’s often found in the thick of the action, whether dodging explosions in "The Boys" or battling sinister forces in horror films.
His latest role in the movie "Novocaine," now playing in theaters, offers Quaid a unique opportunity to put his own stamp on the action hero archetype. He plays Nathan Caine, an unassuming assistant bank manager who finds himself thrust into a dangerous situation when his crush, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), is kidnapped during a robbery. Due to a rare genetic condition that makes him unable to feel pain, Nate embarks on a perilous and often comical mission to rescue Sherry, enduring a barrage of punches, kicks, stabs, gunshots, and impalements along the way.
The film’s premise hinges on Nate’s unusual condition, which Quaid describes as being like "a balloon in a world of pins." Because of his inability to feel pain, Nate has lived a sheltered and overly cautious life. But the kidnapping forces him to confront the world head-on, pushing him beyond his comfort zone and leading him on a journey of self-discovery.
"Novocaine" marks a significant step for Quaid, potentially propelling him into the realm of big-screen action stardom. However, his schedule remains packed, with the fifth and final season of Amazon’s "The Boys" in production and the action comedy "Heads of State" slated for release later this year. Describing "Heads of State," Quaid enthusiastically says it’s "a movie I would watch with my friends at a sleepover in middle school," hinting at its blend of action and humor.
In a recent interview, Quaid delved deeper into the making of "Novocaine," sharing insights into the challenges of filming fight scenes without showing pain, his unexpected inspiration from Buster Keaton, and his most memorable on-set injury.
When asked why "Novocaine" felt like the right project for his first big star vehicle, Quaid responded, "I don’t think I’m someone that you would look at and be like, ‘Oh, that guy kicks so much ass. He could take me in a fight.’ But it’s not about how much ass I can kick, it’s how much my ass can get kicked. And I just love that the movie, yes, is very gory and extreme and violent, but also has a lot of heart to it."
The challenge of portraying a character who doesn’t feel pain presented a unique acting hurdle. Quaid revealed that he had to unlearn the instinct to react to physical blows, a lesson ingrained in him since his early experiences on "The Hunger Games." He credits Buster Keaton, known for his stoic demeanor in the face of comedic chaos, as a key source of inspiration. "The moment it really clicked for me was I started thinking about Buster Keaton. He was known as ‘The Great Stone Face,’ and his whole schtick was there was so much insanity happening around him, and he would not react. The second I clued into, oh, I can use this for comedy, that really helped."
Quaid then recounted his worst physical pain suffered on a film set: "It was a freak accident. I had to run down one narrow hallway and make a sharp right turn, and then go down another narrow hallway. I had to grab onto this pillar to swing myself around. On the eighth time when I grabbed the pillar, it came off the wall. My momentum took me into the camera dolly, and I bruised a rib. Everyone was kind of nervously clapping, and I’m just holding my ribs. There’s no cast for a rib. You just have to wait that out. That was bad for weeks."
"Novocaine" skillfully blends romantic comedy with action, a combination that resonates with Quaid. When asked about the movie that turned him into a romance fan, he cited "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." "It’s like the entire spectrum of what romance can be. It’s a very sad movie, but also kind of uplifting, depending on how you look at it. It’s less rom-com and more just like hard rom."
The interview also touched on embarrassing childhood nicknames. Quaid shared that his middle school moniker was "Jackoff," a typical attempt at adolescent teasing. However, he also revealed a nickname he actually enjoys: "Karl Urban on ‘The Boys’ gave me my favorite nickname I’ve ever had, which is ‘Quaido.’ It just makes me sound like a smuggler in the ‘Star Wars’ universe, and I’m all about it."
Reflecting on the upcoming end of "The Boys," Quaid expressed a sense of bittersweet nostalgia. "I know I’m just going to cry like a baby when it’s all over. Before this, I had never been on a show that lasted more than one season, so a lot of firsts were on the show. I’m just eternally grateful to everything the show’s done for me."
While Quaid is known for playing heroic characters like Nate and Hughie in "The Boys," he has also showcased his talent for villainous roles in projects like "Companion," "The Hunger Games," and "Scream." He was asked if he preferred playing good guys or bad guys.
Quaid responded, "The fun in the villain is you’re unburdened by the idea of likability. You don’t have to get the audience on your side. I remember going to the premiere of ‘Companion’ and people were cheering when I died. And I was like, ‘Yes!’ I’ve never been happier to have an entire crowd cheer for my death because I knew that I was doing my job. But there’s something so fun about being a hero, too. Especially someone like Nate, who is more complicated than your average nervous action hero. The movie’s so violent, I need to make him this sweetie pie. He can’t be dark or brooding or angry, really. He has to be a cupcake of a human."
Through his diverse roles, ranging from the reluctant hero in "Novocaine" to the morally ambiguous characters he has portrayed in horror films, Jack Quaid continues to demonstrate his versatility and commitment to his craft. With a passion for action movies cultivated since childhood and a willingness to embrace both heroic and villainous roles, Quaid is poised to become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. "Novocaine" presents a unique opportunity for him to solidify his status as a leading man, showcasing his comedic timing, his dedication to physical performance, and his ability to bring depth and humanity to even the most unconventional characters.
