In Baltasar Kormákur’s 2 Guns, there’s a notably intense scene involving the shooting of chickens that has left audiences questioning its authenticity for quite some time. This action-packed film features Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in the roles of undercover DEA agent Bobby Trench and undercover Navy intelligence officer Marcus Stigman, respectively.
Given the film’s high-octane action sequences and abundant gunfire, it may seem unusual to include animals on set. Nevertheless, the movie surprisingly incorporates animals into its storyline at various points.
Did They Use Real Chickens For That Scene?
In one of the early scenes of 2 Guns, Bobby encounters Mexican drug lord Manny “Papi” Greco in a bid to secure cocaine, an essential piece of evidence for the DEA’s case against him. This tense encounter unfolds on Papi’s farm, with a menacing bull conspicuously present, seemingly employed to intimidate Bobby when Papi doesn’t comply with his drug request.
Later in the film, after Papi captures Bobby (Denzel Washington) and Marcus (Mark Wahlberg) at his farm, he suspends them upside down on a fence and unleashes the bull. The animal charges at them, crashing into the gate as they hoist themselves out of harm’s way. However, the most remarkable animal-related scene occurs at the outset of 2 Guns when Marcus shoots the heads off of chickens.
Fortunately, 2 Guns managed to avoid any harm to chickens during its production. Every sequence involving animals was carefully supervised by experts to ensure the safety of both the animals and the actors during filming. In the particular chicken-related scene, Marcus finds himself on Papi’s farm, where a group of men is shooting the heads of chickens. Initially, he expresses disapproval, stating that he would only consider such an action if the chicken was intended for consumption, rather than for mere amusement.
However, towards the end of the scene, Marcus himself takes a gun and shoots the head of one of the chickens. The 2 Guns scene appeared remarkably realistic, with the chickens seemingly buried in the ground and their heads appearing to explode as the men fired at them. Nonetheless, it was all achieved through clever cinematic techniques, showcasing the creative prowess of the filmmakers.
How Was The Chicken Shooting Scene Filmed
The filming of the chicken shooting scene in 2 Guns was meticulously executed to ensure the safety of all the chickens involved. The American Humane Association, as confirmed by Humane Hollywood, closely supervised all animal-related sequences during production. For the specific chicken scene, the film’s art director ingeniously designed boxes to provide a secure enclosure for the chickens before they were placed underground. These boxes were meticulously crafted and met the American Humane Association’s standards for comfort and temperature.
They featured a top opening, allowing the chickens to extend their heads outside to access food placed on the ground around them. Once they had finished eating, the chickens could retract their heads back into the box. Filmmakers then combined this natural behavior with special effects to create the illusion of the chickens’ heads being blown off. Additionally, professional animal wranglers were present on set to monitor and care for the chickens throughout the filming process.
2 Guns can be streamed on Peacock.
Source: Screenrant
