TUSK (review)

Review by Benn Robbins

Kevin Smith.

Kevin Smith…

KEVIN SMITH!!!

I threw away my initial review for Tusk because It made me more angry than I want to admit.

This new review is the product of my trying to explain this film to loved ones and friends and failing miserably.

First of all. Go see this film.

It will piss you off. Not because it is a bad film. But when you find out that it is based on an idea conceived during one of Smith’s own SModcast’s, The Carpenter and the Walrus.

In it, Smith and his long time producer and friend, Scott Mosier were talking about a “Gumtree” ad where a man offered up lodging to anyone for free as long as they dressed up a a walrus. The discussion devolved then evolved from there where they created this fantastical, hypothetical story surrounding this ad.

Tusk is a very well made film.

Going into it I had NO IDEA about ANYTHING of this film.

I went in cold on the fact that it was a Kevin Smith film. What I got was, what could be called his seminal film. As black comedy and horror films go this one is pretty amazing. I know of but still have not seen Red State, Smith’s horror film.

However now I shall, after seeing this I am convinced that he is actually a good film maker. Yes he still loves to hear his words on screen, yes his is a sarcastic asshole whom I think Justin Long’s main character, Wallace, is just a shadowy refection of.

But like Wallace, underneath is a sweet loving and caring dude. The performances by everyone were perfect. Michael Parks, longtime Tarantino and Rodriguez film regular, is unbelievably good. His character, Howard Howe, the Antagonist and some might say, the star, of this film is so perfectly off-putting and disarming that even at his craziest he is genuinely sympathetic.

There is literally no way for me to talk about this film without giving away the major plot point. And I don’t want to as I want you all to go in and see it and have it unfold and be revealed to you as I have had it done. I have already said to much already.

Know that if you like twisted, psychological and disturbingly funny films, then this film is for you. If you are a fan of Smith’s View Askewniverse movies will be greatly disappointed.

By the way, keep an eye out for an amazing bit of acting from chameleon actor, Johnny Depp.

Go see it, and like the poster says, it really is “A truly transformative tale…”