Kristen Wiig And Bill Hader Get Serious as 'The Skeleton Twins'

Kristen Wiig & Bill Hader - familiar from SNL & numerous films - get serious as a troubled brother and sister in "The Skeleton Twins." EDGE spoke to Wigg & Hader, along with director Craig Johnson about the indie film.

Can a movie that begins with not one but two suicide attempts elevate itself from the darkest abyss of the human soul? Maggie, played by Kristen Wiig ("Bridesmaids," "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty") in her most vulnerable role, was about to swallow a bunch of pills when she receives a phone call about her gay twin brother, Milo, a mischievous Bill Hader ("Superbad," "Adventureland") who has cut his wrists in the bathtub. (Both are best-known from their appearances as regulars on "Saturday Night Live.")

The pair has not spoken to each other in years but as a result of the suicide attempt, Milo moves back from Los Angeles, where he is not able to become a successful actor, to live with Maggie in Rockland County, New York.

On the surface, Maggie seems to lead a slightly more enviable life, what with a super cheerful husband Lance (Luke Wilson, "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Legally Blond") and a seemingly peaceful life. Yet, she is just as capable of wrecking her own happiness with an unnecessary affair. Milo, on the other hand, is still hung up on his former teacher Rich (Ty Burrell, "Modern Family,"Mr. Peabody & Sherman"), a married man with whom he had a sexual relation in the past. Both twins are calling out for help, but can the other be the one who helps them to stay above water?

Despite of a core cast that comprises of comedic actors (Wiig, Hader, Burrell, Wilson), one could hardly call "The Skeleton Twins" a comedy. This is probably the most somber material that most of these actors have been in. It actually makes for a refreshing change, showcasing their range while convincing us that there are lighter moments in life one can appreciate in the hardest times. Behind this casting decision, is Director Craig Johnson whose first feature "True Adolescence" tells the story of a washed-up rocker playing chaperon to his aunt's son on a camping trip.

A Sundance entry this year (scoring the Screenwriting Award for U.S. Drama) and traveling through the film festival circuit coast to coast, it is the surprising casting choices that garner the most attention. Wiig and Hader milk their natural chemistry to give arguably their best performance to date. Entertainment Weekly's Chris Nashawaty notes, "The two costars elevate the film beyond formula. Their onscreen rapport is infectious and believable." David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praises, "It's the effortless balance of light and dark, of flippancy and searing vulnerability that distinguishes both these wonderful performances," Rooney even singles out Hader's nuanced portrayal of a gay man in crisis, "There's not the slightest trace of a condescending mannerism in Hader's characterization of an unhappy gay man whose only refuge is his sardonic wit."

EDGE talks with Director Craig Johnson, and Actors Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader about venturing to the dark side.

Getting serious

EDGE: We have to talk about your casting choices. The film deals with serious issues between the twins. Yet, you have cast actors who are better known for their comedy work: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Ty Burrell and Luke Wilson. Take us through your thought process casting these actors.

Craig Johnson: I actually knew that I wanted comedic actors in this movie. There is heavy stuff in it, emotional stuff in it, but I'm just drawn to comedic actors. You have seen it before in other movies like Jim Carrey in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' lots of example, Peter Sellers in a few movies. There is a tradition of comedic actors doing more grounded, emotional, real material. I knew I wanted that because I thought it would also help balance out the heavy stuff. There are lighter moments in it as well and I wanted those to really be funny. I think it is often harder for dramatic actors to rise up to the humor bits. I just seem more successful in comedic actors doing dramatic material. I'm just fans of these guys.

Kristen Wiig: That's very nice of you because we get mostly comedic scripts and would love to do all different kinds of movies. For Craig to think about us, that was really cool.

Bill Hader: You don't always think that you may be typecast. That's not really a thing. Then you know that it really is a thing. Not only is it a thing, it's like I'm just playing things that are basically just extensions of what I do in SNL.

EDGE: Were you surprised when Craig came to you?

Bill Hader: I was surprised to get the script, reading the first scene and going, 'You want me to play this?' But I was really excited. I really wanted the part.

Playing gay

EDGE: How was your experience playing gay in this role?

Bill Hader: Craig and I talked about it a little bit. We never thought about it as being a gay part. He's got a lot going on in his life.

Craig Johnson: I always like to think that the fact that the character is gay, it's got nothing to do with his problems and issues in life. That's just another layer of him. All the struggles that he is going through actually deal with lots of other things.

EDGE: When you were being cast as Maggie and Milo, what qualities do you think you could bring to these roles?

Kristen Wiig: Maggie is very different from me in many ways but I understand her kind of wanting to be somewhere else, feeling a little stuck in something. We all have those relationships too, that maybe have gone away or things we wish we could fix somewhere along the line. I love that these two people who love each other so much get the opportunity to work it out and find each other again.

Bill Hader: Things I relate to is Milo going to L.A., making a go at acting and it doesn't go well. I moved basically from Oklahoma to Los Angeles to work in the film industry. I was a production assistant, came to L.A. wanting to make movies. Six years in, thinking that I've done one creative thing since the entire time because I have to pay the bills. I would be up at night, thinking about what Milo goes through, like I might have to go back home, it didn't work out, having to admit that to yourself. In that aspect, that is like a fear of mine, how I would be going back, I would be looking for a thing that makes me feel confident, good, smart and creative. That was my relationship with Ty Burrell's character.

A dark place

slug>EDGE: Did this story come from a very dark space?

Craig Johnson: I think it's the opposite. I think it comes from a place of hope. None of it is directly autobiographical, but I've a sister whom I'm very close to. In our darker times, the way we deal with it, what connects us is to deal with things with a sense of humor. Sometimes dark sense of humor. Offbeat sense of humor. I think that's really the theme of the movie; laughing in the face of the worst scenario that life has to throw at you. Sometimes you need a partner to pull it out of you. It's about making that connection and moving on.

"The Skeleton Twins" opens in select cities on September 12. To find out if it is playing in your area the film's website.