Screenwriter Bryan Sipe drew the story from his own experiences with grief and emotional numbness during a difficult period work…

Screenwriter Bryan Sipe drew the story from his own experiences with grief and emotional numbness during a difficult period working as a screenwriter in Los Angeles. The idea of literal demolition came from physical demolition work he had done as a young man in New Jersey. He began developing the script in the mid-2000s. In the original screenplay, Davis’s wife never appears on screen. Vallée disagreed. “Sorry, but I’m going to add scenes and flashbacks with her, ” he said. “He’s going to be haunted by her.” The wife, played by Heather Lind, became central to how the film’s grief works. The demolition sequence in the house was built entirely practically. The production had an extension constructed on the front of the house specifically to be destroyed. There was only one take. Gyllenhaal described it as cathartic. Vallée told them to go all out. “Those are real sledgehammers flattening real walls, ” Vallée said. “I think this is the most rock and roll film I’ve ever made.” To build chemistry among the cast, Vallée mandated weekly parties during production. Gyllenhaal credited them with helping the actors build real rapport off screen. Film: Demolition (2015)