“What do you hope audiences take away from Kill Me Three Times?” I ask the burly, Australian hunk Luke Hemsworth.
“Hopefully a bit of grittiness,” he says. “Something grounded, something not fantastical.” For an absurd movie that involves assassinations and elaborate thefts, there is a grounded nature to Kriv Stender’s neo-noir riot, Kill Me Three Times.
For Luke Hemsworth, it appears gritty and real is something he seeks. Is it to stand out from his brothers, who have played Norse gods from comic books and sci-fi dystopian rebels?
“There’s an effort to differentiate,” he says. “But for me, it’s always been about the work and that I do a good job.”
The eldest of the Hemsworth brothers that have taken over Hollywood, Luke is best known for his role in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. After a string of television guest appearances, he starred in the 2012 miniseries Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, where he portrayed Bandido badass Gregory “Shadow” Campbell.
Directed by Kriv Stenders, Kill Me Three Times is the actor’s full-length film where he plays Dylan, a seemingly simple surfer and auto mechanic with more depth to him than meets the eye. Caught in a love triangle between his lover and her abusive husband, Dylan goes to extreme measures to protect his loved ones.
I recently spoke to Luke Hemsworth about his work in the film, his relationship with his younger siblings and just how much he could relate to Dylan’s extremities.
So I know you were born and raised in Australia. What was it like shooting there? My geography sucks but was production near Melbourne?
Luke: [laughs] No, no. Completely other side of the country. So, I grew up on the east coast and Perth and Margaret River where we shot was on the west coast. And, you know, [shooting] was in very, very remote west coast. I mean, it’s a dream. It’s like sex without a condom, just a little bit better.
You previously described your character, Dylan, as not “as uncomplicated.” What was it about Dylan that spoke to you? What clicked in your head that made you say, “Dylan? Yeah. I’ll play him.”
Luke: Pretty much just getting paid. That’s a great reason. [laughs] But nah, look, you look at these characters and the wonderful part about Dylan is that he’s a wonderful kind of juxtaposition of a light shade and darkness. He’s humanity, but he’s also the bringer of death, personified. [laughs] That’s what you look for as a performer. You want the gamut of everything. You don’t want one note.
Out of everyone in the film, Dylan is among the few who is selfless. How do you feel about playing the only “hero” of the film? Despite that you try to kill someone, of course.
Luke: [laughs] It’s great! It’s great because he’s a sleeper, in terms of the last person you’d expect to come through with the goods. In a lot of ways he’s kind of a reaction as he’s trying to get going. And that shows in the way he prepares to leave.
Was it easy or hard to slip into Dylan’s shoes? Could you see yourself take the drastic measures he takes?
Luke: To protect people, yes. I think he goes to an extreme in terms of his reaction, before he understands what’s actually happened. I definitely, definitely can relate to going to that extreme to protect people you love. I’ve got three girls, three daughters, and there’s nothing that kind of makes you realizes what you would do to protect [them]. But … that’s the attractive part, for me, for acting is treading that line. “Could I do this? Would I do this? What would be my reaction to this?”
What was it like working with director Kriv Stenders and your co-stars? You worked in beautiful Australia. Any fun stories?
Luke: I loved every moment of it. Working with Simon was awesome. Fortunately we got to spend a little time outside work together, some great dinners and lunches. I really got along well with Simon and hopefully he felt the same.
I’m sure he did!
Luke: [laughs] And Kriv is great too, a wonderful human being. He’s incredibly passionate, and very honest with what he wants and wants to do, which makes it easier for all involved.
The world knows your brothers pretty well, but we’re getting to know you a little better. What is it like having family in the business? Does acting bond you guys?
Luke: To a certain degree, sure. Maybe from an outside point of view. But internally, I don’t think so at all. In fact, most of us try to get away from it whenever we’re together. It’s about spending time together and being together, and not thinking about that world. But there’s definitely points when we ask each other for advice. Me, more than anyone. [laughs]
Is having that support system helpful?
Luke: Oh yeah. I’ve got the best support system in the world. [laughs]
Do you hope for one day audiences to see you, Luke Hemsworth, as your own individual, and not as “a Hemsworth brother”?
Luke: Yeah. Sure. There’s an effort to differentiate. In a lot of ways. There are doors that open, and there are doors that close with them being who they are. But for me, it’s always been about the work and that I do a good job. That’s all I kind of try to focus on. The rest is kind of, stuff that happens.
What’s the most fun thing you had in making Kill Me Three Times?
Luke: Man, it’s really sad but the one thing that was amazing for me was getting to surf in this film, but that didn’t get in to the final edit. But we got to surf some incredible waves … That, and the scene with me and Callan Mulvey before all hell breaks loose. It’s a wonderful scene and I always loved it from start to finish, and it was a beautiful day of shooting. Intense, but incredibly rewarding. I think it was one of my favorite scenes of the movie.
Kill Me Three Times is available now on iTunes and On Demand platforms and will hit theaters on April 10, 2015.