Chris Evans and Anya Taylor-Joy began each day’s shoot for their new movie Sacrifice by hiking the rugged slopes of a volcano in Santorini, Greece. The film’s unique setting and intense premise demanded physical and emotional commitment as the cast and crew navigated challenging landscapes to bring the thriller to life. This intense environment was central to the story’s exploration of crisis and transformation, reflecting the film’s themes.
The Unconventional Plot and Team Behind Sacrifice
Sacrifice, directed by Romain Gavras and co-written with Will Arbery, delivers a provocative critique of celebrity culture, privilege, and radical beliefs. In the story, Evans portrays a famous actor undergoing an existential crisis who becomes the target for a cult leader, played by Taylor-Joy. Her character believes that by sacrificing him, they can prevent a volcanic eruption predicted by a mysterious prophecy. This imaginative and bold storyline intrigued both actors, especially as it tapped into real anxieties about climate change and personal transformation.
Creative Therapy Through Art and Nature
For Taylor-Joy, the film became a means to channel personal emotions related to global worries. She admitted,
I was becoming a real bummer at parties,
and added,
And the script came by and I realized, like, ‘Oh, this is what you do with big feelings. You go away and you make art about it.’ Even though it might not change the outcome of what’s bothering you, it allows you a different way of releasing it.
Spending extended time outdoors in Greece’s caves and volcanic terrain brought her a deep sense of calm.
It put me in a better place. Spending all that time outdoors gives me a lot of peace. To know my scale, to be around landscapes that have been there for a long time before me and will be there a long time after me, that just relaxes me.
Building a Connection On and Off Screen
Although Evans and Taylor-Joy had only briefly met before, their repeated encounters led them to embrace their collaboration with enthusiasm. A shared playful spirit came through in anecdotes about games played at a party, where Taylor-Joy noted,
He takes that shit seriously, which I, as an Aries, connect with,
to which Evans responded,
I’m a huge fan of games.
The actors sensed a meaningful connection as they pursued this project, with Evans reflecting,
Maybe there’s something more to the fact that we keep crossing paths; maybe this is fate.
Exploring Themes of Identity and Faith Through Their Roles
Evans was drawn to the film partly because it diverged from his usual superhero roles, revealing a more vulnerable portrayal of fame and loss. He explained,
What resonated with me was that he wasn’t an actor grappling with his industry,
revealing a character unsettled after his father’s death. This crisis sends his life into chaotic introspection. Taylor-Joy’s cult leader, Joan, symbolizes a spiritual force, igniting profound change in Evans’ character. He described,
The second she comes crashing in, it felt like Joan was an allegorical representation of Mike’s soul. When your soul breaks through the noise to save you. It’s captivating.
An Intense, Visually Striking Environmental Drama
The film’s narrative unfolds during an extravagant environmental summit, hosted by a pragmatic billionaire played by Vincent Cassel and his elegant wife, portrayed by Salma Hayek Pinault. The cast includes notable talent such as Sam Richardson as Evans’ agent and John Malkovich playing Joan’s father. The story also introduces musicians Charli XCX and Ambika Mod, who perform a climate change anthem as symbolic embodiments of nature, blending music and activism within the cinematic experience. Evans reflected on the movie’s tonal balance, stating,
There’s this yin and yang of drama and comedy in every scene, which is pretty reflective of life,
highlighting the mix of seriousness and absurdity at the film’s core.
A Story Open to Interpretation and Personal Reflection
For Evans, Sacrifice functions as a complex work that acts like a Rorschach test, allowing audiences to derive varied personal meanings. He shared,
That’s the beauty of it. It’s one of those films that hopefully people take away different meanings,
and framed the volcano as a metaphor for transformation. He said, The volcano represents transformation, surrender. It’s peace. It’s freedom. It’s realizing that true liberation doesn’t come from money or power or even control; it comes from letting go of the things that we think define us.
Personal Impact and Anticipation Ahead of Release
Both lead actors found the project deeply affecting. Evans remarked,
Sometimes you make movies that really speak to your soul,
before adding with a touch of humor that not all films have this impact. He praised Sacrifice for its demands and emotional depth:
We got to throw ourselves into this project that actually demanded a lot of us every day, and it ended up with a product that I’m deeply, deeply proud of, and a role that I deeply connect with.
The film is set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 6, where viewers will experience its striking blend of allegory and intense emotion.
