Jack Reynor, best known for starring in Midsommar, has opened up about how he got “f***ing hammered” after filming a full-frontal nude sex scene.
The unsettling A24 film, directed and written by filmmaker Ari Aster, sees grad student Christian (played by Reynor) reluctantly join his girlfriend Dani (Florence Pugh), who is grappling with a devastating family tragedy, as they visit the secluded commune of Hårga.
What begins as an academic trip soon spirals into hallucinogen-fueled rituals, psychological unravelling, and brutal violence.
One of the most talked-about moments occurs when Christian is seduced into a ritualistic sex act, surrounded by onlookers.
The 33-year-old star appears completely nude in the ceremonial scene, which inverts typical horror genre conventions by placing male vulnerability at the forefront.
Reynor spoke about the moment, revealing that while he was eager to push boundaries with the role, he needed to blow off steam as soon as filming wrapped.
“I basically went from [the set] to the airport and I got f***ing smashed,” he said, per Entertainment Weekly. “I said, ‘Send me on two flights home, don’t send me direct, I want to transfer, because I’m going to get even more f***ing hammered.’”
Despite the emotional toll, the Sing Street actor said the scene was something he was proud to take on.
“It was something that I’m glad that I did. I think it was a strong scene, and it was an experience,” he said, per The Sun. “I’m in this business to have experiences, and to do crazy things that you don’t really do in your normal life.”
The Perfect Couple actor noted that flipping the usual gender dynamic in horror films was a major reason he embraced the challenge.
“He suffers this very humiliating and exposing fate, and as a cinephile, I’ve really only ever seen that happening to female characters in the horror genre… especially in a sexual context,” he said. “So, it was an opportunity to be part of something that flipped that on its head.
“It was an interesting experience to do it, and it was a difficult experience. It made me feel more vulnerable than I anticipated - and I did think I was gonna feel vulnerable - but I’m really glad I had the opportunity to do that," he concluded.
Reynor’s co-star, Pugh, also recently reflected on Midsommar on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, describing it as one of the most demanding roles of her career.
“I don’t think I would be able to do this without going there all the way and putting myself in all of those characters that I’ve played,” she shared. “There have been some roles where I’ve given too much, and I’ve been broken for a long while afterwards. Like when I did Midsommar, I definitely felt like I abused myself in the places that I got myself to go."
Still, Pugh said she doesn’t regret the experience: “I look at that performance and I’m really proud of what I did and I’m proud of what came out of me. I don’t regret it. But, yeah, there is definitely things that you have to respect about yourself.”