It’s a Mark Wahlberg no one has ever seen. In a role like no other.
In Friday’s compact and propulsive three-person thriller “Flight Risk,” there’s the Federal Marshall (“Downton Abbey” vet Michelle Dockery) escorting her reluctant mob witness (Topher Grace), an accountant destined for Witness Protection.
And then there’s the pilot (Wahlberg) who almost immediately on this Alaska to Seattle flight is unmasked as a bald, demented hit man who revels in his unhinged brutality.
How did this dive into a dangerously twisted psyche happen? Where did it come from?
“It was a great script” Wahlberg, 53, said of Jared Rosenberg’s airborne nightmare in a Zoom interview from London. “You think about movies like ‘The Shining’ or ‘In the Line of Fire’ with Malkovich. ‘Cape Fear’ and De Niro. I mean, I love those characters. Love those kind of movies. Love the movie where the villain’s really driving the movie.
“So when I read the script and I knew Mel” – as in Gibson, the Oscar-winning filmmaker – “was making the movie, I said I was in.
“I had this idea of doing the thing with my hair” – by eliminating it – “and the multiple voices – and Mel was into it.
“I’ve always loved Mel’s movies. I think he’s one of the best directors to ever make films. He’s made some of my favorites, especially ‘Apocalypto,’ ‘Passion of the Christ.’
“So, I just wanted the opportunity to work with him and do something different.”
Gibson, Wahlberg noted, “is an actor first. He really puts you in a position to feel comfortable, to try anything and bring out the best in you. Creatively, he’s a great communicator. But he’s an actor first. He’s able to work with somebody like that who has a very specific vision, while also being very collaborative and open to my ideas and all the things that I wanted to try.
“We shot the movie in 22 days. So it was very, very fast paced, very much like an independent down and dirty film, which I love. Because I don’t love sitting around waiting.
“My favorite part about making movies is actually when the camera is rolling.”
As for shaving his head?
“I just always wanted to do it. I pitched them when I was doing ‘The Departed.’ It reminded me of my dad and my uncles. And Robert Duvall. I don’t know, I just felt like it would be cool and interesting. Another just kind of weird thing.
“Like, why was this guy disguising himself? He’s disguising his voice, disguising his identity, wearing the toupee. I just thought, it would make it a little more interesting, a little more fun.”
“Flight Risk” opens Jan. 24