Tusk (2014)

"I became acquainted with a walrus when I was lost at sea."

From Kevin Smith, director of 'Clerks', 'Chasing Amy' and 'Mallrats', comes a film that isn't anything like the aforementioned films...

After a podcaster goes missing in the Canadian woods, his best friend and girlfriend team up with an ex-cop to look for him. 

'Tusk' came out last year and was a film that I had every intention of seeing but somehow managed to forget about until now. After a handful of recommendations I finally got my hands on a copy, not knowing much about the film itself, I was curious to see what was in store. 

What followed is bizarre... Just bizarre. 

'Tusk' is a strange, bizarre, crazy and confusing film. 

For me, when I break it down, it is a film of three distinct parts. The first of which is an interesting, tension filled opening. We have a creepy old house in the middle of the Canadian woods that's inhabited by the mysterious Howard Howe. An eccentric old man who boasts some incredible stories and is, ultimately, a little unsettling. I was admittedly enjoying the opening of this film and quickly settled into the pace and atmosphere that it was going for. It was dark, it was engaging and it had a lot of potential. Kevin Smith is known for his dialogue and I was loving the blend of that interesting dialogue with the unsettling vibe that he was going for. It worked really nicely and felt quite fresh for a horror film. It had funny undertones to it which added a black comedy element to what was already a disturbing set up.

Unfortunately, the second act of this film pushes the boat out without much warning or build up. It falls into a ridiculous realm where we aren't quite sure if we are laughing because it is meant to be funny or just because it's a terrible film. The pace that was so carefully constructed at the beginning goes out the window and it feels erratic.

By the last act of this film, it has ran into the distance and lost us. It's ridiculous and went totally over my head. The film itself is confused, it doesn't quite know if it wants to be a full blown black comedy or a piece of shock cinema. Like a flailing fish trying to escape a Walrus' tusk, it flops haphazardly somewhere in-between. A lot of the actual scripted comedy falls flat on it's face and the horror itself becomes so laughable that you do just that. There's a large cameo from a very well known actor who is just awful. He's such a high value actor that Kevin Smith probably didn't want to yell "cut!" on him through his tiresome and elongated monologues that aren't funny.

The performances, for the most part, were surprisingly good. Michael Parks, who is often referred to as "the world's greatest living actor" by Mr Quentin Tarantino, plays the disturbed Howard Howe. He is totally insane and will seriously spook you with his charming demeanour, elaborate stories and well spoken nature. He manages to reel you in, much like he does with Justin Long's character - Wallace, and you are genuinely interested in the stories he is telling. Like a spider spinning his web, he's grooming his prey, waiting for his opportunity. 

Justin Long plays an asshole podcaster in this film. That's pretty much all you need to know about his character. He does that part well and, for what you do see of his character before it all goes south, he's really believable. Other than the dodgy moustache he's rocking... Sorry but you're no Tom Selleck Mr. Long.

After doing a bit of post-viewing research, I found that it is pretty much just an elaborate piss-take by Kevin Smith. Apparently he heard of an ad that was posted on Gumtree by someone looking for a renter for his large home here in the UK. The house would be rented free of charge under the condition that the inhabitant would have to dress up, in his homemade costume, as a Walrus for two hours of every day. Kevin Smith spoke about this in a podcast and the conversation is a whole lot funnier than the film itself. He asked twitter if he should make a film of it and, bizarrely, he got the green light to make it. The rest is history I suppose.

There are now two sequels planned...

Overall, 'Tusk' is a crazy and ridiculous film that probably shouldn't have even been made. It will make you laugh for all the wrong reasons and is a film that you'll definitely remember. It's shocking, bizarre and totally "out there". 

If you look at this film on any serious level whatsoever then it just crumbles. You have to take it for face value and it is what it is. I think I would lose all credibility giving this film any higher than a 3 purely based on the fact that it's just a ridiculous piece of filmmaking...

Did I enjoy it?

I'm pretty sure I didn't but, don't get me wrong, I had a hell of a laugh while I was watching it but it's just a farce. 

If you're into your B-movie horrors or are just looking for something shocking, a bit weird and confusing then 'Tusk' is definitely a film you need to sink your tusks into.

You'll be a Walrus... Or not at all.