Actor Jack Reynor opens up about the awkward reality of filming Midsommar’s graphic orgy scene and how the cast reacted after watching the horror film.
Jack Reynor Speaks on Filming Midsommar’s Graphic Orgy Scene
Irish actor Jack Reynor, best known for his role in Ari Aster’s cult horror hit Midsommar (2019), has opened up about what it was really like to shoot the film’s infamous orgy scene — and how he mentally processed the experience.
Reynor, who starred alongside Florence Pugh as troubled couple Christian and Dani, said the scene was “extremely awkward and uncomfortable” to film. The movie itself is filled with nudity, violence, and disturbing imagery — but that particular sequence left a lasting impact on both the cast and the audience.
The Cast’s First Reaction
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Reynor revealed that when the cast watched Midsommar together in New York, the atmosphere completely shifted:
“We all laughed through the first two-thirds of the film, but in the final third, everyone went silent. When the credits rolled, there were no congratulations, no high-fives. We just sat there with our heads in our hands for 10 minutes.”
The silence reflected the emotional weight of the film’s disturbing climax.
How Reynor Processed Filming
The Transformers star admitted that after wrapping the shocking scene, he left the set and immediately went to the airport. His way of coping? Heavy drinking.
“I basically went from the set to the airport and got smashed. I even asked for connecting flights just to have more time to drink on the way home.”
Despite the overwhelming experience, Reynor believes the film delivered something meaningful:
“It’s a hard one to digest, but it’s worth doing. That heaviness is part of what makes it powerful.”
Flipping Horror Tropes
Reynor also explained to The Hollywood Reporter why he wanted the role: to challenge horror stereotypes. He said he was drawn to portraying an “alpha male” who gets stripped of everything — his friends, his confidence, and even his dignity — something usually reserved for female characters in horror films.
“It was an opportunity to flip the script, to expose a male character in ways usually only done to women in the genre. I even advocated for as much full-frontal nudity as possible.”
A Lasting Impact
The actor admitted that certain moments from filming will never leave him. Jokingly, he said he’ll never look at a Cornish pasty the same way again — a nod for fans who remember one of the movie’s most shocking scenes.
