Official Australian release date: 9/10/14. Viewed: 9/10/14.
Director: Kevin Smith
Actors: Justin Long, Michael Parks, Johnny
Depp, Genesis Rodriguez, Haley Joel Osment
Genre: Drama / Horror / Comedy
Rating: MA
What. The. Hell? That pretty much
sums up ‘Tusk’. It’s basically a “trapped with someone evil” horror movie, with
some Kevin Smith humour thrown in here and there. Sure, there’s some laughs,
but they’re mostly incredulous. Now, I’m a pretty big fan of Smith’s and I used
to listen to SModCast (but haven’t heard the one this was based on) and I’ve
seen all his films and stand-up DVDs. But even still, this has to be the worst
thing he’s done. I admire him for taking a risk and doing something unexpected,
but ‘Red State’ was at least new, exciting and inventive. ‘Tusk’, not so much.
Before this turns into a total bagging,
let me point out some of the pros – the score is great, the use of Fleetwood
Mac’s ‘Tusk’ (“don’t say that you love me!”) is pretty great and fitting in its
scene and some of the language and nuances that Parks uses are fantastic. Depp
is also pretty funny as the unrecognisable (thanks to a fake nose and, I think,
contacts) detective.
But it’s just hard to ignore the
total and complete nonsensicalness. Why is it set in Winnipeg, Canada, but
filmed in North Carolina, USA? Why would Parks leave the phone lying around for
Long to find? How is Parks supposed to be 90+ when he’s only 74? Why do we need
to see Joel Osment & Rodriguez pretty much talking to the camera when Long’s
not there, adding nothing to the story? Why does Parks do what he does? There’s
no real motivation there. Why does none of the plot make sense? Why do we need
over half of the movie being exposition before anything happens? All I’ll say
is, see it if you’re curious, but be prepared to be grossed out and
simultaneously underwhelmed.
Overall: Odd, grotesque, unnecessary
weirdness.
Gav's Rating: 1.5 stars.
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