The 2026 film season is kicking off with a literal bang—or perhaps a thud, depending on how Nick Jonas lands. The Dublin International Film Festival has officially announced its closing night feature, and it is none other than John Carney’s highly anticipated Power Ballad. While Carney has historically been the king of soul-stirring musical dramas like Once and Sing Street, his latest venture starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas is already generating significant heat in horror-adjacent and dark comedy circles for its unexpected physicality and grit.
A Balcony Drop to Die For
In a industry where spoilers are guarded like the crown jewels, John Carney recently dropped a bombshell that has fans of the macabre leaning in. While discussing the film's tone, Carney was quoted by the Hollywood Reporter as saying, "Who wouldn't want to watch Paul Rudd throw Nick Jonas off a balcony? Seriously, that happens in our movie." For those of us at ScreamDesk, this isn't just a quirky plot point; it is a signal that Power Ballad is leaning heavily into the visceral, mean-spirited humor that defines the best of the dark thriller genre.
The image of Rudd—long considered the "nicest man in Hollywood"—flinging a pop icon over a railing suggests a departure from his usual charming persona. This subversion of expectations is a classic trope in genre cinema, often used to unsettle the audience before pulling the rug out from under them. Whether this balcony toss leads to a grizzly demise or a slapstick survival remains to be seen, but the intent is clear: this isn't your average radio-friendly musical.
A Dark Departure for John Carney
John Carney has built a career on the emotional resonance of music, but Power Ballad seems to be exploring the jagged edges of the industry. The film reportedly follows the rivalry and unlikely connection between an aging wedding singer (Rudd) and a younger, more successful pop star (Jonas). By infusing this dynamic with high-stakes violence and enough tension to warrant a "horror-verified" buzz, Carney is moving into the territory of films like The Menu or Whiplash, where the pursuit of artistic or personal dominance leads to physical peril.
The horror community has always had a soft spot for "elevated" dark comedies that aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. The fact that Power Ballad is closing the Dublin Film Festival—a prestigious slot often reserved for films with significant cultural impact—suggests that Carney has hit on something truly special. The festival, which runs through late February, will be the first time audiences get to see the full extent of the Rudd-Jonas rivalry.
Why Horror Fans Should Watch Out
While some might dismiss a film starring two major A-listers as mainstream fluff, the "balcony drop" confirms that there is a streak of cruelty or perhaps cynical realism running through the script. In the realm of horror and suspense, the most terrifying thing is often the person you think you know suddenly turning violent. Watching Paul Rudd break character to commit an act of gravity-defying assault is exactly the kind of cinematic subversion we live for. As we move closer to the Dublin premiere, expectations are high that Power Ballad will deliver more than just catchy tunes—it might just deliver a few nightmares too.