{"id":7419,"date":"2025-05-09T11:26:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T11:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/?p=7419"},"modified":"2025-05-15T18:19:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T18:19:11","slug":"nicolas-cages-instantly-iconic-deranged-moment-in-new-film-was-all-his-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/09\/nicolas-cages-instantly-iconic-deranged-moment-in-new-film-was-all-his-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicolas Cage\u2019s instantly iconic \u2018deranged\u2019 moment in new film was all his idea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Nicolas\t<\/div>
Hollywood star Nicolas Cage’s new movie sees him deliver a great new line as he dials his performance up (Picture: Roadside Attractions\/Everett\/Rex\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nicolas Cage<\/a> has revealed that he is personally responsible for a glorious new entry in his enviable quote canon from new film The Surfer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Oscar-winner, 61, has long built a reputation for his unique delivery when it comes to lines and how he interprets them.<\/p>\n

Combined with his capacity to play intense characters who often flip out in movies like Vampire\u2019s Kiss, The Wicker Man and Colour Out Of Space<\/a>, and it\u2019s no secret that Cage is a popular meme and star of many \u2018losing his s**t\u2019 YouTube<\/a> montages.<\/p>\n

But this latest line might just be the best – so it’s no surprise it came from his own mind and a slightly unusual Hollywood inspiration.<\/p>\n

In The Surfer, Cage’s character is bitten by a rat, which he quickly kills by smacking it against a car door. Later, when he\u2019s so hungry he can\u2019t see straight, he finds the dead rat and bites into it.<\/p>\n

After being interrupted he pockets the rat to use later, which comes during a fight when he truly snaps – resulting in his character pulling the rat from his pocket and shoving it into his opponent\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n

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typeof(data.detail.carousel) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === ‘undefined’) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\treturn;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar player = data.detail.carousel.el_;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar container = player.closest(‘.metro-video-player’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar placeholder = container.querySelector(‘.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.removeChild(placeholder);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.classList.add(‘metro-video-player–related-videos-loaded’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"430\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-21775890 lazyload\" alt=\"Nicolas Cage as the titular character in the surfer holds his board on the beach in The Surfer\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2153491613.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>The actor with The Surfer’s director Lorcan Finnegan at Cannes, where the movie premiered last year (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018Eat the rat!\u2019, he exclaims wildly – and thus another iconic Cageism is born, joining his collection of iconic quotes.<\/p>\n<p>In a new interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2025\/may\/08\/nicolas-cage-the-surfer-questions\">The Guardian<\/a>, Cage confirmed that it was him who wanted to say \u2018Eat the rat!\u2019 before being inspired by the quality of the rubber prop to go one step further.<\/p>\n<section class=\"metro-comment-cta\">\n<div class=\"metro-comment-cta__inner\"><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text-wrap\"><title>Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">What’s your favourite quote of Nicolas Cage’s?<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>‘I had gotten the idea from an old Billy Wilder movie called Sabrina, where Humphrey Bogart takes an olive out of a martini glass, puts it in his uncle\u2019s mouth and says: “Eat it”.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"364\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23030069 lazyload\" alt=\"Undated film still from The Surfer. Pictured: Finn Little as The Kid and Nicolas Cage as The Surfer. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: Vertigo Releasing. All Rights Reserved. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_249644188-ae72.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Cage’s character is put through the wringer, leading up to a climactic scene with a rat (Picture: Vertigo Releasing)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>‘I couldn\u2019t stop laughing when I saw that moment. When I saw the prop rat, I said, ‘I\u2019ll put it in my pocket,’ because I liked the way the rubber tail was moving,’ he explained, adding that he found it ‘amusing’ and felt he could ‘use’ it in some way.<\/p>\n<p>Cage decided to ‘channel it in more of a punk rock way than Bogart did with the olive, by shoving the rat in Pitbull\u2019s [Alexander Bertrand] mouth’.<\/p>\n<p>He continued: ‘It was a cathartic moment. By that point in the movie, I thought my character has gone through enough suffering and that he\u2019s earned the right to go big and shove a rat in the guy\u2019s mouth.’<\/p>\n<p>In the film, Cage plays a man who returns to his beach side hometown in Australia, only to be humiliated in front of his teenage son (Finn Little) by a local group of surfers who claim ownership over the secluded beach of his childhood.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-21774892 lazyload\" alt=\"Nicolas Cage in The Surfer\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_205489843-99da.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>He revealed the surprising classic Hollywood film that inspired the moment (Picture: Tea Shop Productions\/Lovely Productions)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This territorial behaviour slowly starts to drive Cage\u2019s character crazy as he contends with what is basically a cult of gangster surfers.<\/p>\n<p>Without giving too much away, it’s a gradual journey that builds up to <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/07\/15\/nicolas-cages-petrifying-new-horror-gives-blair-witch-project-a-run-money-21232092\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Longlegs star<\/a> barefoot, covered in bird poo and hallucinating thanks to severe dehydration.<\/p>\n<p>And he really wants his surfboard back.<\/p>\n<p>The star himself has previously shared his understanding of fans catching onto this one, as he <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2024\/film\/festivals\/nicolas-cage-the-surfer-cannes-standing-ovation-1236002695\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whipped the audience at Cannes up<\/a><\/strong> into a frenzy by roaring \u2018Mangez le rat!\u2019 (his meme-worthy line, translated) during t<a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/05\/23\/truth-behind-cannes-obsession-marathon-standing-ovations-20898999\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">he film\u2019s six-minute standing ovation<\/a> when it premiered last May.<\/p>\n<div class=\"metro-embed__twitter\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"all\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nicolas Cage bellows \u201cEat the Rat\u201d in French at THE SURFER world premiere (and also claims he tried to get PIG into <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Cannes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Cannes<\/a>) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0wA2e7wlxe\">pic.twitter.com\/0wA2e7wlxe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>— Alex Ritman (@alexritman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alexritman\/status\/1791625063235506678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>”Eat the rat!’ is destined to become the battle cry of discerning Midnight moviegoers & drive-in denizens, once they get a gander at Nic Cage\u2019s latest gonzo turn,’ predicted Toronto Star movie critic Peter Howell on X after seeing it a Cannes.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018A sunburnt miragic descent into madness and male ego\u2019 with \u2018reliable crazy man Nicolas Cage\u2019 @The13Ben then praised from the BFI London Film Festival screening, while @AlecSaracen described it as a \u2018deranged in-your-face nightmare comedy\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Only Nic Cage could bring the unhinged energy and dedication needed for The Surfer to work,\u2019 added @KatieMayBone.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"408\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-21774891 lazyload\" alt=\"Nicolas Cage in The Surfer, holding a surfboard with the beach in the background\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_225164664-abfe.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>The offbeat star is known for his intense performances and characters, which fans love (Picture: Tea Shop Productions\/Lovely Productions)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When the footage of Cage\u2019s reaction from Cannes was posted online by Variety\u2019s London Bureau Chief Alex Ritman, fans were into it with @pamela_lpz_ replying: \u2018Oh we are so back!!!\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He’s the only actor ever actually,\u2019 added @m_midniter. <\/p>\n<p>The Surfer, directed by Lorcan Finnegan, also stars Julian McMahon and Nicholas Cassim.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Surfer is in UK cinemas from today.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\">Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/submit-stuff\/\">Submit Stuff<\/a> page – we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hollywood star Nicolas Cage’s new movie sees him deliver a great new line as he dials his performance up (Picture: Roadside Attractions\/Everett\/Rex\/Shutterstock) Nicolas Cage has revealed that he is personally responsible for a glorious new entry in his enviable quote canon from new film The Surfer. The Oscar-winner, 61, has long built a reputation for his unique delivery when it comes to lines and how he interprets them. Combined with his capacity to play intense characters who often flip out … <a href=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/09\/nicolas-cages-instantly-iconic-deranged-moment-in-new-film-was-all-his-idea\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> “Nicolas Cage\u2019s instantly iconic \u2018deranged\u2019 moment in new film was all his idea”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7419"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7419"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7426,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7419\/revisions\/7426"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}