Eccentric, Horrifying, Funny and Satirical, ‘Tusk’ is One to See (Review)

Written by: Paula Limbaugh

Directed by: Kevin Smith

Cast includes: Michael Parks as Howard Howe, Justin Long as Wallace Bryton, Genesis Rodriguez as Ally Leon, Haley Joel Osment as Teddy Craft, Johnny Depp as Guy Lapointe and Ralph Garman as Frank Garmin.

Whoa, what a concept!  Can you imagine being one with the walrus and no I’m not talking like The Beatles tune “I Am the Walrus”, I’m talking like your body is encased in a walrus pelt, your bones are made into walrus tusks, you are being morphed together as one.  Freakin’ nuts, eh?

Kevin Smith is a genius; I hope people viewing this flick will appreciate the subtle mockery involved.  This is such a macabre horror comedy that I can’t really compare with anything else.

Wallace Bryton (Long) is a jackass.  Along with his friend Teddy Craft (Osment) they run a podcast called The Not See Party where they basically humiliate people. When the chance comes up to interview the Kill Bill Kid, Wallace flies to Canada only to find the Kid is dead.  Stuck in Manitoba for the night he answers an ad for a free stay in the home of an adventurer with stories to tell.  Geez, don’t these guys ever learn nothing is for nothing!

It is at this home that Wallace meets the beginning of his demise and the awakening of his inner walrus.  As Howard (Parks) so eloquently put it, “Are you really mourning your humanity? I don’t understand, who in the hell would want to be human?”

Howard keeps Wallace captive ala ‘Misery’ and slowly with abuse and terror begins to transform Wallace into a walrus.  Meanwhile Wallace’s girlfriend Ally (Rodriguez) and friend Teddy are searching for him.  Ralph Garman plays a detective and Johnny Depp is a washed up ex-cop who has been looking for Howard over the years for past crimes.  I should add that Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny’s daughter has a bit part as a store clerk.

I really can’t say too much more without spoiling the film so instead I will mention how Kevin came up with the idea of Tusk, while airing his own SModcast podcast.  He asked his listeners to vote on whether they wanted his story put to film, obviously they said YES!  Tusk is part of the True North Trilogy; next in line will be Yoga Hosers and then Moose Jaws.  Kevin plans on using the same actors in all three films.  Should be interesting!

Eccentric, horrifying, funny, satirical, this movie is one to SEE!

Rating: 4/5