Interview: ‘Crumb Catcher’ with John Speredakos

John Speredakos is no stranger to the world of indie horror. With a career that spans over two decades, the New York City-born actor has delivered unforgettable performances in films like Wendigo (2001), Blackout (2023), and now Crumb Catcher (2023), the darkly comedic thriller that premiered at Grimmfest 2024. Directed by Chris Skotchdopole, Crumb Catcher tells the unsettling story of a newlywed couple held hostage by a maniacally optimistic inventor, played by Speredakos, and his sour wife. The film explores themes of class, delusion, and desperation, all wrapped in a pitch-black comedic tone that keeps the audience guessing.

Will Knowles sat down with John at Grimmfest, where he opened up about the joy of playing such a twisted character, his love for improvisation, and what’s coming next in his burgeoning horror career.

Grimmfest, one of the UK’s premier horror festivals, was the perfect setting for Crumb Catcher to make its mark. The festival’s 2024 edition, which wrapped up this past weekend, showcased some of the best horror films from around the globe. Speredakos’ performance was a standout, alternating between dark humour and terrifying intensity. As we spoke to him, his passion for both the genre and the craft of acting was palpable.

Interview with John Speredakos of Crumb Catcher

How has the UK been treating you so far? Have you enjoyed it?

John Speredakos: Well, somebody said to me when I was in college, I was talking about my favourite writers—Agatha Christie, Richard Adams, all that—and they said, “You realise every writer you love is English?” And I hadn’t thought about it, but I guess so! I’ve been a fan of England and all things English my whole life. This is my first time in Manchester, and I’m loving it. I hiked Hadrian’s Wall back in June, which was incredible. This country—there’s very little I don’t admire, though I am Irish, so there’s that.

How would you describe Crumb Catcher in your own words?

John Speredakos: The tagline is “comedy-thriller,” but to me, it’s more about discomfort. It starts with this married couple, and you can tell right away that something’s off. They’re at their wedding, which should be the happiest day of their lives, but it clearly isn’t. That’s what I love about Chris Skotchdopole’s writing—nothing is clichéd. It’s not your typical “happy couple’s life falls apart” scenario. Their world was already a little broken from the start, and that’s what makes it feel so real. Then my character shows up, and things take a radical left turn. You’re always on edge, never quite sure where it’s going. So many movies follow a predictable formula, but Crumb Catcher is always surprising.

Was it rewarding playing such a complex antagonist?

John Speredakos: Oh, he’s definitely the antagonist, no question. But I try to give the character what he needs for this particular story. I have to drive it forward, and Chris and I both knew that going in. Rigo Garay and Ella Rae Peck are the protagonists, and Lorraine Farris plays my sidekick. And what I love is that while my character and Lorraine’s are constantly at each other’s throats, calling each other names, we’re still communicating! It’s raw and honest in its own twisted way.

There seems to be a lot of room for dark humour in that dynamic.

John Speredakos: Oh, absolutely. Chris let me improvise a lot. I’d throw in lines, and if they worked, great. If not, we didn’t use them. But a lot of it did work. There’s a lot of absurdity in Crumb Catcher, and it was fun to play around with that. My character is trying to sell this ridiculous invention, and he’s totally convinced that every American will want it. It’s this insane, pointless device, and I’ve got to convince people to invest in it. That desperation is where the comedy really comes in.

What was your process for getting into the role of John Spinelli? Did you follow any particular inspiration?

John Speredakos: Not really. I tried to avoid being influenced by too many outside things. Once I understood the character emotionally, that’s what guided me. John Spinelli is at his wits’ end. If he can’t sell this Crumb Catcher, his life is over. He’s going to be living out of garbage dumps. That desperation drives everything he does. And as demented as his ideas are, he truly believes in them. Chris said he spent a tenth of the film’s budget on the Crumb Catcher prop, which I thought was hilarious. But it looks great, even if the idea behind it is totally absurd.

Can we expect to see you in more horror films soon?

John Speredakos: Definitely. If you haven’t seen Larry Fessenden’s Blackout, check it out—it’s a werewolf movie, and it played at Woodstock Film Festival along with Crumb Catcher. I play a pastor in that one. We’re gearing up for a sequel in March, which is going to bring in vampires and Frankenstein creatures. Larry is calling it his “Monster-verse,” but we’re shooting it in upstate New York on a much smaller budget than the big Hollywood versions. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Any other horror films you’d recommend to fans of Crumb Catcher?

John Speredakos: There’s the whole subgenre of home invasion films, but I love that Crumb Catcher doesn’t fit neatly into that box. If you liked Funny Games, you might like Crumb Catcher, though they’re very different. I think Crumb Catcher is unique, and that’s what I’m most proud of. There’s not a lot out there quite like it.

Crumb Catcher, the debut feature from Chris Skotchdopole, is a black comedy that steadily escalates into a violent hostage situation. The film explores issues of class, delusion, and desperation, keeping the audience on edge with its unpredictable twists and dark humour.

With Crumb Catcher leaving a mark at Grimmfest 2024, John Speredakos proves yet again why he’s a powerhouse in indie horror. As his career continues to evolve, fans can expect more twisted, complex characters and perhaps even more ventures into the world of monsters and mayhem.