Exclusive Interview: Writer-Director Javier Reyna Discusses ‘Due Justice,’ Emotional Storytelling, and More

Javier Reyna is an award-winning writer and director who made quite the impression with his critically-acclaimed debut feature, Regionrat. Now the gifted storyteller is back with his latest film, Due Justice, starring Kellan Lutz, Efren Ramirez, and Jeff Fahey.

In the heart-pounding thriller, former marine Max (Lutz) experiences a devastating loss when his beloved wife and daughter are brutally murdered in a cold blooded act of violence. Consumed by grief and driven by revenge, Max embarks on a relentless mission to hunt down those responsible.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Javier about Due Justice, exploring the emotional cores of his character and this narrative, and more.

PC: Tell us about Due Justice and the inspiration behind it.
Javier: I was reading about Newtown, Connecticut, and the children who unfortunately lost their lives. I was at school with my kids, and I started asking myself what I would do if somebody hurt my children like that.

I began creating the character of Santiago, played by Efren Ramirez. I delved into those dark thoughts and crafted Max. It was great to showcase the contrast between these two characters—one more restrained, the other less so. Then, I needed a villain, but I didn’t want him to be generic.

PC: How early in the writing process did you know that you also wanted to direct it?
Javier: I’m 59. I started doing films a while ago but wasn’t very successful. After working on various movie sets and doing different roles, I became a stay-at-home dad. During that time, I realized I was reading many copycat scripts. I’m not a writer; I didn’t attend college. I wasn’t an intellectual, but then I stumbled upon the book Regionrat, which I adapted into a screenplay and directed. It was a small indie film, and I loved the process.

Thinking no one would hire me to direct, I started writing scripts. I now have six or seven completed. As I write, I visualize the scenes in my head. If you ever read my scripts, you’ll find typos and errors. Producers always tell me to fix that before sending them to actors. [laughs]

PC: You have a fantastic cast leading this project. As you wrote the script, did you have these particular actors in mind? What was the casting process like?
Javier: It was challenging. Typically, we’d make a list of ten actors we’d like, only to find they were unavailable. But from the start, our producer Elias Axume had Kellan in mind because he liked his personality.

Regarding Efren, his character is all about sincerity with those big, puppy brown eyes. You feel his pain as he and his wife are separated. I wanted him to bring that humanity, which he excelled at. Jeff read the script and knew exactly how to play his character, making my job easy.

PC: Speaking of Kellan, he delivers a phenomenal performance, especially in tackling the grief his character feels when his wife is brutally murdered. How did you create the space for him in those vulnerable moments, particularly when he walks into his home for the first time after those events?
Javier: We had many discussions beforehand. Kellan always grounds his performance in reality, asking himself questions about his character’s actions at any given moment. He was really restrained in that scene to make it feel more real. He even stepped away briefly before shooting, allowing himself to sit in that moment.

PC: Like you mentioned earlier, this is a departure from your debut feature. What did you learn from that film that you brought to Due Justice? How different is the experience when working in different genres?
Javier: I don’t think there’s a major difference when working in different genres. I’m more of an emotional director, focusing on the story.

The significant difference between the two films is that I had a big team for Due Justice. With Premiere supporting us, Elias provided a crew, which was a huge relief. I didn’t have to look for locations or worry about catering. It was easier to have others handling those aspects, considering the quick filming schedule.

PC: There are many twists and turns in this film. Is there a scene in particular that you’re excited for audiences to see?
Javier: Definitely the twist at the end. It’s very surprising. Also, Kellan’s performance, particularly in the earlier scene we discussed, is heartfelt and grounded. I also love the scene where Santiago talks about the quality time he spends with his kids, probably because I’m a parent. Interestingly, Kellan was awaiting his wife to give birth while we were working on this project.

PC: The film conclusion is very open-ended. Have there been potential conversations about doing a sequel?
Javier: I didn’t initially plan it, but with the way the movie ends, I started writing because I wanted to know what happens next.

Due Justice is in theaters now and available wherever you stream movies.

Photo Credit: Alley Rutzel