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Johnathon Schaech Talks De-programming ‘Jackals’
Johnathon Schaech, who once starred as the slasher in Prom Night, and was stalked by one in Laid to Rest, is being hunted down by Jackals from Saw VI and Saw 3D: The Final Chapter director Kevin Greutert.
The ’80s-set psychological thriller, in limited theaters and On Demand September 1st., centers on an estranged family who hires a cult de-programmer (Stephen Dorff) to get back their teenage son from a murderous cult, only to find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin, demanding the boy back.
Schaech plays the father who hires the cult de-programmer to save his son from himself. Only, he’s hiding his own secrets that may have caused the events to unfold.
“There is and always will be a program to heal problems,” he explained. “Joining a cult was a serious problem back in the day — but even today, teenage boys need something to believe in — it’s up to their parents to help them avoid bad influence because the latest movement is calling their name. In the case of Jackals the father was holding onto his lies, so his son learned to keep secrets. Dorff’s character is brought in to disconnect the problem, but the Jackals aren’t your typical cult and my son doesn’t have a typical problem.”
“I’m a dad now – it’s changed my life so much,” he adds, speaking to the relatability of his real life to the father role. “But playing a father who did bad things in the past (in Jackals) – those bad things manifested into something deadly. Keeping secrets is one of the most deadly things one can do.” playing a liar only made me deal with it in my life more. It RIPPED a part of my soul out. To know I was responsible for all this pain. Man, I got HONEST real quick.
“Playing a liar only made me deal with it in my life more,” he continues. “It ripped a part of my soul out. To know I was responsible for all this pain. Man, I got honest real quick.
“That’s good horror – when it is relatable to our lives. The Jackals are just a mask that the abuse and shame cover.”
The violence was also a lesson, stripping it down to the famous saying, “violence begets violence.”
“It was written violent but we made it [even] more violent,” added Schaech. “I just couldn’t let this character give up – he was going to fight for his family till the end. It’s more interesting when you see someone trying to make up for their sins, fighting to make things right. He finally realizes he was wrong and is determined to make things right. The Jackals stand in his way…
“It’s important to show violence for violence. We don’t want violence in our life, but it’s a reality…if it’s played out differently than it really is – if it’s softened to appease rating, it can be more damaging. You get your point across with violence.”
Schaech can also be seen in the forthcoming remake of Day of the Dead.
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Watch the Opening ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Battle Scene Now Ahead of Physical Media Release in July
Sequel Mortal Kombat II is now available to watch at home on Digital before heading to physical media in July, but you can test your might now and watch the opening scene.
Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid returns to the helm for the new sequel from a script by Jeremy Slater (“Moon Knight,” Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire).
In Mortal Kombat II, the fan-favorite champions — now joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) — are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada are also part of the ensemble cast of Mortal Kombat II fighters.
Watch the opening below, which introduces a young Kitana (Sophia Xu) as Emperor Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) prepares to conquer her father, King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam), and her kingdom of Edenia. It sets the sequel’s entire plot in motion.
From New Line Cinema, James Wan’s Atomic Monster, Broken Road Productions, and Fireside Films, Mortal Kombat II is rated R for “strong bloody violence and gore, and language.”
Look for Mortal Kombat II to arrive on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on July 28, 2026.
The physical media release contains the following special features, as unveiled by IGN:
- Mortal Kombat II: Evolving the Saga (Featurette)
- Returning characters, new alliances and even bigger fatalities! Go behind the scenes to learn all that went into creating the latest chapter in the Mortal Kombat film saga and how the sequel expands the universe to bolder, bloodier heights.
- Building the Realms of Mortal Kombat (Featurette)
- From the decaying streets of Edenia to the terrifying Pit featured in the iconic video game series, discover how the Mortal Kombat II design teams blended practical sets with groundbreaking VFX to create the legendary realms in the film.
- Mortal Kombat II: Choose Your Fighter (Featurette)
- Awaken your Arcana as you meet the cast and explore the brutal weapons, epic costumes and fierce training that went into bringing their characters to life.
- Klose Quarters Kombat (Featurette)
- Cast members and key creatives share insights into how the stunt preparation, intense fight scenes and weapons training shaped both classic moves and new, merciless combat styles.
- A “Boon” to Gamers Everywhere (Featurette)
- Sit down with chief Mortal Kombat mythmaker and creator Ed Boon for a deep dive into the franchise’s storied history and ongoing evolution that spans three decades of near-infinite games, films and comics, culminating with the live-action sequel.
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