Synopsis
Poor Will, AKA Flappy the Clown. He lives in a dump, is dumped on by his mother, andis tormented by just about everyone he meets. Then he’s brutally raped. Just when he’s ready toend it all, he saves a little girl, and his instant celebrity turns his life around. But the men whoassaulted him haven’t forgotten him… I really didn’t know what to make of this flick, and thisis reflected in the middling star rating. Is it supposed to be a comedy or not? There are enoughcharact…rs spouting moron-speak to suggest that it is. But what do we do with the attacks? Notto mention the scene involving a little boy, rapists, a camcorder, and a blowtorch. These scenesare certainly disturbing, but are they supposed to be? Or are we supposed to still be laughing?The brutality doesn’t have the same clarity of purpose here as in something like Baise-Moi. Theeffect is a bit like combining the Gimp sequence from Pulp Fiction (only going further yet) withKrusty the Klown. I just can’t quite figure out how I was supposed to react.
Audio
The sound is pretty good, and its limitations (a certain thinness and some buzz on thedialogue) are more to do with the tiny budget of the film than with the transfer. The music isgood, and the effects are too. There’s an especially effective and nasty use of left, right and rearspeakers during the rape scene.
Video
The picture, like the sound, is more a product of the source material than of the transfer. Sosure, there is a lot of grain during night scenes, and there are occasional speckles, but the coloursare very good. Ditto for the contrasts.
Special Features
The menu has a scored and animated main page, transitions, and scene selection page. Theextras include something odd: “Judge Not… In Defense of Dogma.” Shouldn’t this featurette beon the Dogma disc? Whatever. There’s still plenty for Vulgar: commentary featuring muchgoofing around by Kevin Smith, writer/director Bryan Johnson, star Brian O’Halloran, producerMonica Hampton and editor Scott Mosier; 12 deleted scenes, complete with introduction; aphoto gallery (with rather small images); rejection letters from film festivals (the one fromSlamdance is hilarious); and an Easter Egg (click on the Lions Gate logo and you get thetrailer).
Closing Thoughts
I don’t know. I just don’t know. It’ll stick with you, I can promise you that.
Special Features List
- Audio Commentary
- “Judge Not… In Defense of Dogma”
- Deleted Scenes
- Photo Gallery
- Film Festival Responses
- Theatrical Trailer
