>To prepare for his role in a dark drama, Mortensen, 51, conquered Survivor-style challenges.
YOU REALLY ATE BUGS IN ONE SCENE?
Yep. [Onscreen-son Kodi Smit-McPhee, 13] and I bought deep-fried maggots, crickets and roaches at a Mexican grocery store.
YOU LOOK VERY SKINNY ONSCREEN.
I had to get quite thin, otherwise it would have looked weird. I just ate less.
DID YOU MENTOR KODI?
After a scene with [costar] Robert Duvall, Kodi said, "He's pretty good, the old guy!" I said, "Yeah, he's been around."
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