Paul Dano on Making 'Swiss Army Man': 'I Was Really Vulnerable About It'

Swiss Army Man — or the “farting corpse movie,” as it has been routinely referred to since premiering at Sundance — has been one of the most talked-about movies of the year. It’s also one of the most divisive, polarizing viewers before the first screening ended, with some audience members heading for the exits early.

But love it or hate it, there’s no denying the film’s originality and singular vision. It’s a proudly bizarro fart-fueled fantasy about a suicidal young man (Paul Dano) stranded on an island whose discovery of a dead body (Daniel Radcliffe) gives his life new purpose. The year’s oddest (b)romance ensues, and it’s one that rewards patience from moviegoers (so in other words, don’t walk out).

Dano, 32, fresh from South Korea where he recently wrapped Okja, the latest feature from Joon Ho Bong (Snowpiercer), sat down with Yahoo Movies on a Hollywood roof deck to talk about the adventure of making — and screening — Swiss Army Man, which marks the feature debut of the celebrated music video and short film directors known as The Daniels, Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. (And yes, Dano acknowledges how heavy on the Dans this movie is, but assures us it’s purely coincidental.)

Have you gotten the type of reactions to Swiss Army Man that you expected? You must have thought it would make some noise, so to speak.
I think it is now. At first, I was really vulnerable about it, because I really love this film, I love these guys; we had a really special time making it. But I don’t think I realized until I saw it with an audience how much we put ourselves out there. And I was like, “Oh my God, this is so vulnerable.”

It didn’t feel like that at the time of filming?
It did, but once we were in the woods, we were in the woods. You’re in an alternate reality out there.

But it was magnified once you watched it with an audience?
Yeah, and I think it’s a fun movie to see with an audience — not just because of laughter, but actually because of the intimacy of the movie, the awkwardness, the silences. … The movie is a lot of private stuff made public, a lot of parts of myself. The reason I wanted to do it is because I totally loved the humor and the way it deals with life and love, but it’s also about the private thoughts we have, the private body functions we have.

Related: ‘Swiss Army Man’ Reveals the Making of Daniel Radcliffe’s Gaseous Corpse Manny

When it first came to you, did it feel like a risk? And as an actor, is there an extra thrill in making those kinds of decisions?
For sure. I was a fan of The Daniels’ work. First time I saw that “Turn Down for What” video [for DJ Snake and Lil Jon], I was like, whatever juice those guys are drinking, I want some. Because I thought it was amazing. And then I looked at all their stuff and I really thought they had their own singular cinema. So even though it was a risk, I was excited about being part of something that only we could make. All my favorite filmmakers and films have that singular quality.

Regardless of what you think about it, Swiss Army Man does have that singular quality.
Some people are gonna love it, some people are not, and that’s cool.

And that became pretty apparent at Sundance.
I got it. A lot of the stuff in it, I thought, “I can’t believe somebody thought of this. Why didn’t I?” So I related to it, in whatever way. But I totally understand that some people won’t be able to get past those parts, some people it just won’t be for. But a lot of people — and I’ve been surprised this past week at screenings — are getting multiple layers from this film, which I do think it has, for sure. I think people will be surprised at how deep the well runs, and that the film also has a lot of heart, and a lot of love between these two guys. I think it’s a sweet movie.

It does have all these other layers, yet I can’t remember the last time a movie has been so distilled into a single phrase. Maybe when Brokeback Mountain was called the “gay cowboy movie.” This has been known simply as the “farting corpse movie.” Is that a bad thing, or is it a case of any PR is good PR?
I’m OK with it, for now. I think once people have seen it… And there’s almost something funny in itself because it’s so reductive. “Well, there’s the farting-dead-body movie.” Fine, I think that allows the audience to know a little bit about what they’re getting themselves into. And then they’ll be surprised by the rest of it. So it’s OK for now.

Related: Daniel Radcliffe on Going Rogue in 'Now You See Me,’ Method Farting, and Some Awful Fan Encounters

You carried Daniel Radcliffe all over the place shooting this movie. Was that a new type of on-set bonding experience for you two?
It was a very intimate relationship. The most physical relationship I’ve probably had on film, as well as, you know, the emotional layers.

Radcliffe told me a few weeks back that you volunteered a fart for the movie.
Yeah. They said, “If you have to fart, you can always record it, because we can use it.” So if I had to fart, I would just grab the boom mic and… you know. But I need to find out if I made it in the film, and then, if I could pick it out.

That was my next question: Do you think you could pinpoint your gas?
I don’t know. I hope that my fart is in there. I doubt I’d be able to pick it out.

Swiss Army Man is now in theaters. Watch the trailer: