Tusk

I usually try to avoid films that are too recent, hoping that they might find an audience. But sometimes I'm surprised when a great film hasn't found it's audience and I just have to write about it. Case in point, 2014's Tusk.

Wallace, Justin Long, a jerk who hosts a podcast where he makes fun of viral videos travels to Canada and lands an interview with a man who supposedly has a lifetime of interesting stories. His name is Howard, Michael Park, and he tells Wallace the story of a walrus that once saved his life and became his best friend. Wallace can't believe the oddness of this, but soon realizes that Howard has drugged him and has a sinister motive of turning him into a walrus.

It might sound a bit silly, and since it's from Kevin Smith you might expect that. But Tusk is a truly creepy film that really gets under your skin. I remember feeling incredibly uneasy watching it, and even for a few days after. The film seems bathed in despair.

Both of the main actors are really great in this. Thanks to filmmakers like Smith, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Rodriguez, Parks has had a bit of a comeback and this role especially uses his talents to great effect. Long is also good as this very unlikable character that you almost feel sympathy for...almost. Wallace is such a sleaze that he is almost an animal anyway. And there's a very funny cameo by a totally unrecognizable star that I'm not giving away.

Smith really comes into his own here and shows that he can direct more than just Jay and Silent Bob movies. Red State was a good start, but Tusk really proves it and shows him going all out as a filmmaker.

I will say that Tusk isn't a pleasurable experience and it seems to be one of those either you love or hate. It had a weird effect on me, and for that reason, I love it.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.