Fantastic Fest 2025 Exclusive Interview: Sean Gunn Talks Appofeniacs, Clinto Binto, and the Chaos of a One-Night Spiral
- Travis Brown
- Sep 27, 2025
- 2 min read
At Fantastic Fest 2025, Appofeniacs made its wild North American premiere, and Horror Movies Uncut was on the ground to talk with one of the film’s standout performers — Sean Gunn. Known for his scene-stealing roles across television, Marvel, and more, Gunn takes on something entirely new here with Appofeniacs director Chris Marrs Piliero: playing Clinto Binto, a cosplay weaponsmith with a serious eye for detail and an even sharper personality.
We caught up with Gunn about the madness of Appofeniacs, his connection to the cosplay world, and why this twisted deepfake thriller feels so timely.
On nights that go off the rails:
Asked if he’s had any “Appofeniacs-level” nights where everything went wrong, Gunn laughed.
“Fortunately, I’m getting a little older,” he admitted. “If you asked me that question in my late 20s, I’d have too many answers. These days, karaoke is about as hardcore as I get.”
His go-to? Glen Campbell’s Gentle on My Mind — a choice, Gunn joked, that “never really lands with the crowd.”
On Clinto Binto and the world of cosplay:
Clinto isn’t just a character who dabbles in costumes — he’s an artisan, one Gunn immediately connected with.
“He makes high-end costumes and weaponry for cosplayers. It’s big business, and it’s real. I’ve done over 100 conventions, so I understand that world. Clinto considers himself the best, and in his mind, he is.”
That authenticity came in handy on set, where Gunn’s own convention experience helped ground the role.
“Some of the cast had dabbled in cosplay, but for others it was completely new. Chris [Piliero] and I talked about it a lot. He’s a true nerd — he got it.”
On finding himself in the character:
Originally written more flamboyant, Clinto Binto evolved into something closer to Gunn himself.
“We played around with it and ended up bringing him closer to me. I take great pride in what I do — even if it looks silly to outsiders. I play a human-sized weasel, for crying out loud. But I approach it seriously, and Clinto does the same with his craft. Almost to the point of arrogance.”
On what audiences should take away:
Gunn sees Appofeniacs as more than just a zany ride.
“I hope people enjoy it with friends and then talk about it. It addresses how we live in a world where you can’t always believe your eyes. Who owns your likeness? What happens when that’s abused? And what happens when no one believes anything anymore? Those are real dangers.”
Appofeniacs pushes conversations about technology, obsession, and ownership into full-throttle genre chaos, and Gunn’s Clinto Binto embodies that razor-sharp balance of absurdity and craft. For Gunn, it’s another reminder that the strange and surreal can be played with total sincerity — and that’s what makes it terrifying.
💀 Appofeniacs is directed by Chris Marrs Piliero and stars Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler, Michael Abbott Jr., Simran Jehani, Aaron Holliday, Paige Searcy, and more. Catch our full review here on HMU and stay tuned for additional coverage from Fantastic Fest 2025.
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