The Surfer Cast Explains How Paranoia Is Key to Nicolas Cage's New Movie

The Surfer, which could also be considered ‘Gaslight’ the movie, is full of paranoia.

What follows is an expected journey that causes the main character to question his very reality.

I think it’s pushing him towards mental instability, right?

The Surfer, Nicolas Cage, SXSW

Part of that could be paranoia, but I kind of felt like that was my role in them.

Lorcan Finnegan: There’s an element of gas lighting, which was always part of the story.

So then it was really about the characters making that believable.

Nicholas Cage in The Surfer

So it’s all about identity and paranoia about who he really is.

Leonora Darby: It’s a genre movie.

It’s a movie all about watching someone get pushed to the absolute brink.

Nicholas Cage in The Surfer

Nick is crucial to that.

We always knew it was going to be a very subjective film.

I mean, look, most of the credit obviously has to go to our actors.

We Bury the Dead: Daisy Ridley on Her Unexpected Zombie Film | SXSW Red Carpet

So it all came together very inherently.

Julian McMahon: Oh my gosh, probably the first time I got to stand up on a surfboard.

It was just lovely.

The Astronaut 2025 Movie: Kate Mara & Gabriel Luna on Their Crazy New Sci-Fi Film | SXSW Red Carpet

And we used to hit golf balls off into the sea by the beach.

So that’s a pretty epic beach that was pretty great.

The full interviews can be viewed below:

The Surferreleases in theaters on May 2, 2025.

Summer of 69 Star Chloe Fineman Reveals 1 Wild Thing She Had to Do On New Film | SXSW Red Carpet