If you're in the mood to snuggle up at home with family this weekend, Ocala's own John Travolta will gladly entertain you.

His new mobster film "Criminal Activities" -- directed by and co-starring Jackie Earle Haley -- is now available on Bright House Networks On Demand. The gist is that four buddies stumble into a deal too awesome to refuse. But when the investment goes bad, they learn that part of their funding came from a notoriously ruthless crime boss. All heck breaks loose.

We recently got to chat with the duo during a satellite media tour. I started off by reminding Travolta of the last time we'd connected, which was back in 2013 at the Mall at Millenia in Orlando:

ALLISON WALKER: John, a couple of years back, you flew down to the Mall at Millenia from Ocala, which is -- what -- about a 20-minute flight. You let me wear your $45,000 Brietling watch during our interview. Since then, you've kind of become a bona fide mobster. I guess it was a good thing I gave it back to you.

JOHN TRAVOLTA: Yeah, well. You know. Or you gave it back to Breitling. I don't know which!

AW: Jackie, you direct and star in "Criminal Activities," and I hear that it's unpredictable, which is a beautiful thing in film.

JT: And hard to pull off nowadays.

JACKIE EARLE HALEY: We had a wonderful script to start off with. The script is everything. The next important thing is getting the right cast, and I really think we've got a wonderful cast. Of course, you know, John getting involved really got the thing moving. He is wonderful in the film. The rest of the ensemble -- just wonderful actors. Everything just turned out really good, and I'm real proud of the film.

AW: It was a tight 23-day shoot in Cleveland, and what I thought was cool was how well that city welcomed you, meaning, if you were shooting in a bar -- let's say -- and quietly asked the patrons to keep it down for a sec, they were most compliant.

JEH: [Laughing] I think there was one time we were working in a bar and people were making a little too much noise and stuff. But in general, Cleveland is a really gracious place.

JT: A lot of filmmaking is done there, so they're really respectful of the process, I think.

AW: John -- I'm just going to say it. Seeing you as a "bad boy" just turns us all on. You must get a high playing this type of role.

JT: Hey, you know, I have fun playing them. I try and make each one different and I think this guy was definitely different than the other gangsters I've played. But the idea is that it's fun for me. Somehow that's contagious for the audience. When I'm having fun, it seems like they're having fun as well.
And I've got to tell you -- these young actors, I just flipped over them. They're in my opinion the best young actors in the industry. Getting to do scenes with them really was a wonderful creative experience. And Jackie as a director infused us all with this new level of enthusiasm... We haven't seen these twists and turns before.

AW: Still going on now here in Orlando is Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. Have you heard of it?

JT: Sure!

JEH: I haven't.

JT: I have. My daughter goes to it every year. But go ahead!

AW: No way! Yeah, it's thrilling. So Jackie, of course having played Freddy Krueger in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" remake, Freddy and Jason actually got their own house at this year's event. Who's your modern horror icon, or is Freddy untouchable?

JT: Freddy might be untouchable. Let's start with that.

JEH: There is that. Freddy's a great character, and it was great playing him, but I'm not the biggest horror film fan, so I couldn't really tell you who my favorite icon is, but Freddy's a good one.

AW: Finally, John, speaking to all of your neighbors here in Central Florida, where do you get to let your hair down, not that we're trying to find you or anything.

JT: Well the truth is -- I live in Ocala -- and all of our hair's down. [Laughing]. I have a blast there because I have a pretty exciting life, you know. I globe-trot a lot... So actually, I really come to Florida to rest and chill out.

You can watch the entire, unedited phone interview in the VIDEO section up top.