In a hilarious twist on the bank heist genre, Netflix’s comedy film “The Out-Laws” injects plenty of goofiness while revving up the action. During a mayhem-filled scene, the film takes a wild ride through a cemetery, featuring an armored truck getaway and pursuing police cars that send headstones flying.
To bring this chaotic scene to life, filmmakers went to great lengths, creating their own cemetery set and constructing over 1,000 realistic-looking headstones. This behind-the-scenes effort showcases the meticulous planning and attention to detail that contributed to the comedic mayhem in the film.
Director Tyler Spindel and the production team constructed a custom graveyard set outside of the main filming location in Atlanta. This allowed them the creative freedom to shape and design the cemetery to suit the film’s needs. With a combination of trimming and careful construction, they brought the cemetery to life, setting the stage for the action-packed sequence. However, the ultimate goal was to destroy the set, adding to the comedic chaos on screen.
Finding the perfect material to send the prop gravestones flying became an important task for the production and stunt crews. Foam gravestones were initially tested but deemed too fake and silly-looking. After experimenting with various materials, the team settled on Styrofoam coated in plaster for the breakable stones. The level of detail extended to the point of carving authentic names into the props, creating a touch of authenticity and adding a personal touch for those involved in the production.
In the scene, the mild-mannered character Owen Browning (played by Adam Devine) takes the wheel of the armored truck after robbing a bank. Accompanied by his future in-laws, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin, the “Ghost Bandits,” they find themselves on a wild escape with the stolen loot. Devine’s driving scenes were shot on a green screen in a studio, while the destruction of the gravestones was left to the expertise of professionals.
The meticulous planning and attention to detail in constructing and destroying the cemetery set paid off, as the scene delivers the desired comedic impact. The combination of practical effects and visual effects brings the chaotic mayhem to life on the screen. Viewers can catch a glimpse of the meticulously crafted Styrofoam and plaster gravestones, complete with authentic names carved into them, adding an extra layer of realism and humor to the scene.
Netflix’s “The Out-Laws” showcases the blend of comedy and action in a bank heist film, taking a hilarious twist on the genre. The cemetery mayhem scene, featuring flying gravestones and a memorable truck crash through a Styrofoam mausoleum, highlights the meticulous efforts of the production team to create a visually stunning and comedic sequence. The attention to detail and careful selection of materials ensured that the scene captured the right balance of humor and chaos, adding to the overall enjoyment of the film.