‘Thrash’: Adam McKay & Kevin Messick On Climate Chaos, Shark Horror, & Why Reality Is Catching Up To The Movies [The Discourse Podcast]

·24 min·2 clips

A climate disaster floods a coastal area, displacing sharks into a neighborhood where they absolutely should not be.

The episode begins with host Mike D'Angelo introducing 'Thrash' as a lean, high-concept survival thriller that combines climate disaster with shark-infested camp. He describes the basic plot: a rapidly intensifying storm floods a coastal area, displacing sharks into a neighborhood. D'Angelo notes the film is tight at about 82 minutes and balances grounded tension with moments of insanity. He is joined by producers Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, known for works like 'The Big Short', 'Vice', 'Don't Look Up', and 'Succession'. McKay explains that making a shark movie was a dream, and the film mixes that with climate warnings. They reveal the project was pitched by director Tommy Wirkola about five years ago and initially seemed like heightened reality, but now feels closer to actual reality due to climate-fueled events. Messick adds that audiences in previews didn't question the concept, with one woman from North Carolina saying it could happen. The discussion highlights a specific sequence where a character gives birth in shark-infested water, cutting her own umbilical cord. McKay connects this to their company Hyper Object's mission, named after eco-philosopher Timothy Morton's concept of 'hyper objects', to tell stories about climate breakdown through genre mashups. They explore how their work, from 'Don't Look Up' to 'Thrash', starts grounded and spirals into heightened scenarios. The conversation shifts to upcoming projects, including a Jeffrey Epstein limited series with Laura Dern focusing on reporter Kate Brown's investigation, a Monsanto-focused film, and a sci-fi movie with writer Michael Shanks. McKay mentions other in-development projects like 'Average Height, Average Build' and '2C', a climate drama. They briefly discuss the cancellation of 'Winning Time', which McKay describes as a heartbreak. Throughout, the episode blends film analysis with broader themes of climate change and storytelling in turbulent times.

As heard by us

Adam McKay and Kevin Messick unpack how Thrash grounds its storm-turned-shark premise before Tommy Ricola's craziness takes over.

Climate anxiety and shark horror make a surprisingly tidy pairing as Adam McKay and Kevin Messick frame Thrash as outrageous material with a recognizable weather logic underneath.

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Why you'd press play

For a shark movie that starts in climate reality, then lets Tommy Ricola go gloriously feral.

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