SXSW Interview: Irish Ghost comedy ‘EXTRA ORDINARY’ brings Will Forte and others together to spook, laugh

Preston Barta // Features Editor

EXTRA ORDINARY

Not rated, 94 minutes.
Director(s): Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman
Cast: Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward, Will Forte, Claudia O’Doherty, Jamie Beamish and Terri Chandler

AUSTIN – EXTRA ORDINARY, written and directed by newcomers Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman, had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 10. It’s an Irish ghost comedy about a spritely woman named Rose (an excellent Maeve Higgins) who is gifted with supernatural abilities. She can communicate with ghosts, but she’s has some bad paranormal experiences in her rear view. Because of this, she is a driving instructor. However, when she meets a father (hilariously) named Martin Martin (Barry Ward) and one-hit-wonder rockstar Christian Winter (Will Forte), Rose’s gifts return to the forefront.

Well balanced with comedy and genuine chills (one sequence of a body floating down a hallway is the stuff of nightmares), EXTRA ORDINARY is a screaming success full of fun energy, clever wit and killer-good performances.

Fresh Fiction sat down with directors Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman and stars Will Forte, Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward and Claudia O’Doherty to discuss the film after its premiere. We chatted about the film’s buffet of comedy, delivering a spectacular conclusion and working with new filmmaking talent.

Our SXSW interview with the cast and filmmakers of EXTRA ORDINARY:

EXTRA ORDINARY premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX, on March 10, 2019. It’s final encore screening is on March 15 at the Zach Theatre at 8 p.m. The film is currently seeking distribution, so if you haven’t caught it, now is the time.