Some time ago, semi-retired writer/director Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier read a classified ad on their SModcast. The ad was from Craigslist in the UK, and was posted by an elderly man whom had lived an exciting life but was alone and sought someone to share his stories with. He offered free room and board on one condition; the new housemate was required to wear a life-like walrus suit (that the old man had constructed) for no less than two hours every day.
Jokes flew on the show about a mad man in an enormous, spooky colonial house turning unsuspecting victims into horrible human-walrus monsters. By the end of the conversation Kevin Smith had fallen in love with this bizarre idea of a horror movie, but left its fate up to his Twitter followers. Fans overwhelmingly voted #WalrusYes and now, just a short time later, we have been rewarded with “Tusk.” Many things can and will be said about Smith’s 11th feature film, but unoriginal will not be among them.
Justin Long stars as Wallace Bryton, a snarky podcaster who travels around listening to stories and regurgitating them onto his heinous podcast the ‘Not See Party.’ He and his partner Teddy – played by Haley Joel Osment –poke fun at the folks Wallace encounters and, after a particularly unceremonious ending to an interview in Canada, Wallace is left without an upcoming show. He almost gives up and plans on flying home the next morning until he reads a hand-written ad in a bar that offers free room and board, along with interesting tales from an old sailor: the perfect encounter for ‘Not See Party’ fodder.
Enter the great Howard Howe (Michael Parks) as the mysterious wheelchair-bound raconteur. Parks is the perfect fit for this deceptive character. He executes each line in a chillingly clever way and knows exactly how to navigate through Smith’s zany banter. From the second the Wallace and Howe meet you know that Wallace is doomed.
Via: aceshowbiz.com
“Tusk” is a well-executed spinning plate routine. Smith’s character development is crucial to the narrative, cutting through time to give you a better glimpse at who these characters really are, and your opinions of them will likely change as the film progresses. Instead of slack-jawed bodies being mercilessly tortured by some stock psychopath, Kevin Smith hands us depth and reason to these people and their actions. That isn’t to say their reasons and actions aren’t absolutely ridiculous (Johnny Depp), but it works in favor of the absurdity instead of against it.
Like Kevin Smith’s previously released film “Red State,” I know “Tusk” will heavily divide its viewers. Smith’s work is almost always polarizing. Fans love his self-aware, almost winking dialogue, while critics point to it as one of his greatest downfalls. Maybe people only want the Smith that smokes pot with Jason Mewes and cracks pop culture jokes in front of a convenience store.
Personally, I see these new exercises he’s made as successful challenges. I’m a bigger fan because of his risk-taking and I think “Tusk” is a completely out- of-the-box, surprisingly fun movie. It’s like “From Dusk ‘till Dawn” and “The Human Centipede” had a quirky kid. If you have lamented the recent lack of originality in film, and if you like body horror mixed with tactful dark humor, “Tusk” is the movie for you. I promise you’ve never seen anything quite like it.
Featured photo courtesy of: Joblo
