Tusk is a 2014 horror "comedy" film directed by Kevin Smith, and it is one of the most bizarre and ridiculous films I have ever seen. While the film does have some redeeming qualities, such as its impressive makeup effects and occasional moments of humour, its unlikeable main character and ludicrous premise make it difficult to take seriously, and it raises questions as to how it ever got made.
The film follows Wallace Bryton (Justin Long), a podcaster who travels to Canada to interview a strange and reclusive old man named Howard Howe (Michael Parks). During the interview, Wallace is drugged and wakes up to find that Howe has surgically transformed him into a walrus. Yes, you read that correctly. The rest of the film follows Wallace's slow transformation into a walrus, as well as the attempts of his girlfriend, Ally (Genesis Rodriguez), and his podcasting partner, Teddy (Haley Joel Osment), to find him.
One of the biggest issues with Tusk is its main character, Wallace. From the beginning, he is portrayed as unlikeable and arrogant, which makes it hard for the audience to feel any sympathy towards him. His actions throughout the film are often selfish and cruel, and he seems to revel in making fun of Howe's physical disabilities. While the film does attempt to give Wallace some depth by exploring his troubled past, it is not enough to redeem his character or make him relatable.
The film's premise is also incredibly ridiculous. While I appreciate the creativity and originality of the idea, the execution is so absurd that it is difficult to take seriously. The idea of a man being surgically transformed into a walrus is so outlandish that it is hard to suspend disbelief and become fully invested in the story. Additionally, the film's attempts to generate horror and suspense through the transformation process often come across as more comical than frightening.
Furthermore, Tusk raises questions as to how it ever got made. The film's production budget was only $3 million, but even that seems like an exorbitant amount for such a bizarre and niche concept. It is hard to imagine any studio or producer looking at the script and thinking that it was a good investment. While I can appreciate the creativity and daring of Kevin Smith as a filmmaker, Tusk seems like a misstep in his career.
Despite these flaws, the film does have one positive aspect. Michael Parks delivers a chilling and unsettling performance as Howard Howe. Unfortunately , the alleged moments of "humour", such as a running gag involving a Canadian convenience store clerks played by nepo-babies, and Jonny Depp in an all time low performance provide further evidence this should never have been made. And that ending....oh dear.
In conclusion, while Tusk has impressive makeup effects, its unlikeable main character and ridiculous premise make it a difficult film to take seriously. The film's attempts to generate horror and suspense often come across as more comical than frightening, and it raises questions as to how it ever got made. While it may be worth a watch for fans of bizarre horror-comedy films, Tusk is ultimately a misstep in Kevin Smith's career.
The film follows Wallace Bryton (Justin Long), a podcaster who travels to Canada to interview a strange and reclusive old man named Howard Howe (Michael Parks). During the interview, Wallace is drugged and wakes up to find that Howe has surgically transformed him into a walrus. Yes, you read that correctly. The rest of the film follows Wallace's slow transformation into a walrus, as well as the attempts of his girlfriend, Ally (Genesis Rodriguez), and his podcasting partner, Teddy (Haley Joel Osment), to find him.
One of the biggest issues with Tusk is its main character, Wallace. From the beginning, he is portrayed as unlikeable and arrogant, which makes it hard for the audience to feel any sympathy towards him. His actions throughout the film are often selfish and cruel, and he seems to revel in making fun of Howe's physical disabilities. While the film does attempt to give Wallace some depth by exploring his troubled past, it is not enough to redeem his character or make him relatable.
The film's premise is also incredibly ridiculous. While I appreciate the creativity and originality of the idea, the execution is so absurd that it is difficult to take seriously. The idea of a man being surgically transformed into a walrus is so outlandish that it is hard to suspend disbelief and become fully invested in the story. Additionally, the film's attempts to generate horror and suspense through the transformation process often come across as more comical than frightening.
Furthermore, Tusk raises questions as to how it ever got made. The film's production budget was only $3 million, but even that seems like an exorbitant amount for such a bizarre and niche concept. It is hard to imagine any studio or producer looking at the script and thinking that it was a good investment. While I can appreciate the creativity and daring of Kevin Smith as a filmmaker, Tusk seems like a misstep in his career.
Despite these flaws, the film does have one positive aspect. Michael Parks delivers a chilling and unsettling performance as Howard Howe. Unfortunately , the alleged moments of "humour", such as a running gag involving a Canadian convenience store clerks played by nepo-babies, and Jonny Depp in an all time low performance provide further evidence this should never have been made. And that ending....oh dear.
In conclusion, while Tusk has impressive makeup effects, its unlikeable main character and ridiculous premise make it a difficult film to take seriously. The film's attempts to generate horror and suspense often come across as more comical than frightening, and it raises questions as to how it ever got made. While it may be worth a watch for fans of bizarre horror-comedy films, Tusk is ultimately a misstep in Kevin Smith's career.