Derek Kolstad is getting back to Normal. Normal, Illinois, that is. The Madison-born screenwriter behind the first three “John Wick” movies (named after his Wisconsin grandfather) was calling from the road on the way to Normal, where he was screening his new action movie, also called “Normal.”
In “Normal,” a small-town sheriff (Bob Odenkirk) who’s new to a sleepy Minnesota town of Normal discovers that the entire population, from the glad-handing mayor (Henry Winkler) to the local barkeep (Lena Headey), are all in on a terrible secret. And they’ll go to murderous lengths to stop their new sheriff from uncovering it.
Kolstad is coming back to Madison to screen “Normal” and talk about it April 11 at the Barrymore Theatre as part of the Wisconsin Film Festival. Tickets are rush-only at the door for that screening, but “Normal” will officially open in theaters on April 17.
Do you think the people of Normal, and of Wisconsin, will embrace your film as a representation of the Midwest?
I grew up in Madison, and most of my family still live throughout the state, as well as Michigan and northern Minnesota. These are the kinds of towns I grew up in. I don't mock anything. I embrace it, and everything is kind of a love letter to them. I think they'll pick up on what I'm cooking here.
Was Wisconsin a place of excitement and danger for you growing up here?
I always lived in my head, man. I grew up on the west side, and every weekend I was at the Marcus Theatres, and then there was a 99-cent theater in Middleton. I loved Madison, and the idea of moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in movies, which was a dream that I had had since I was 11, it felt easier going to Mars.
But as far as (the idea for) “Normal,” a lot of my family is still out in Mazomanie. And I would drive through the downtown section and there’s always that one store that’s open where you’re like “How the hell is that store open? Is there really enough business here for a yarn store?”
So “Nobody 2” was inspired by the Wisconsin Dells, and “Normal” was inspired by Mazomanie. If you were adding a third movie to the Wisconsin action trilogy, where would it be set?
There’d have to be a quintet. You have to have one up in Green Bay, because not only am I a Packers fan, I’m a shareholder. My parents lived in Junction, just outside of Wausau. And then I have a lot of family up in Superior. Those are the core-memory locations that I got.
Do you have any other favorite Madison memories?
A lot of memories I have of downtown Madison are going to the Orpheum. My favorite experience was one time going to the Orpheum, and not knowing what movie we were going to watch. And it was “The Hunt For Red October,” which was awesome.
I love Madison. I go back there a couple of times a year. The thing about “Normal” is that it’s a thank you to the people and the places where I grew up.
