At the Toronto International Film Festival, the cast and crew of Trash Mountain stopped by the Collider Media Studio to talk about their new family dramedy. The film, which marks Caleb Hearon's feature screenwriting debut, stars Hearon and Zooey Deschanel as siblings dealing with their hoarder father's death. But the conversation took an unexpected turn when they revealed a surprising cameo: a DeLorean, the iconic car from Back to the Future.
Director Kris Rey explained that the DeLorean's appearance was a happy accident. The production team stumbled upon the car while scouting locations, and it felt like a natural fit for the film's setting. Hearon joked that it was a nod to the film's ending, though he kept the details under wraps. The car's presence adds a layer of whimsy to an otherwise grounded story about grief and family.
In Trash Mountain, Hearon plays Gavin, who returns to his small Missouri hometown after his sister Abbi (Deschanel) tells him their reclusive father has died. The siblings must sort through their father's hoarded belongings to find his Social Security card, a task that becomes both a literal and emotional excavation. Along the way, Gavin confronts his grandmother's grief (played by Jackie Weaver) and a recent hookup (Jaboukie Young-White).
Deschanel was drawn to the script for its blend of humor and heart. She praised Hearon's writing for capturing the messy, complicated dynamics of real families. Hearon, who grew up with a hoarder parent, said the film is deeply personal. He described the title as a metaphor for the emotional baggage we carry, and how returning home forces us to confront the people we used to be.
Rey, known for I Used to Go Here, brought a naturalistic touch to the film, adding conflicts that go beyond the central plot to make the world feel lived-in. Production designer Matt Hyland turned the hoarded house into a character in its own right, filling it with details that tell the story of the father's life.
Deschanel reflected on losing her childhood home and how the film changed her perspective on possessions. Hearon echoed that sentiment, discussing his complicated relationship with material things after growing up in a hoarding environment. The film, he said, is about reckoning with where we come from and the versions of ourselves we leave behind.
Trash Mountain premiered at TIFF 2026 and does not yet have a release date. For more on the film, check out our review. And if you're a fan of sci-fi cameos, you might also enjoy our piece on Rebecca Hall's next monster story.
