Canadiana, 1970s, pinnipeds fuel Smith’s odd horror comedy
Tusk Rating: Starring: Justin Long, Michael Parks, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez Directed by: Kevin Smith Running time: 102 minutes
It has narrative cavities large enough to park a semi-trailer, but Tusk still has bite.
A throwback to cheesy 1970s horror, Tusk marks director Kevin Smith’s return to the world of “commercial cinema.” But even this isn’t a very “commercial” piece at all, given it takes place in Winnipeg, features faux Canadian accents and stars Justin Long as a glib and arrogant podcaster.
Wallace Bryton (Long), arrives in Winnipeg to interview a boy who cut off his own leg by mistake, but upon arrival finds the kid has killed himself. He then finds an old man who wants to tell him about his adventures on the high seas. Looking to recreate his most cherished relationship with any living creature, the old man turns Wallace into a walrus.
Like all Kevin Smith movies, that plot spoiler is immaterial and the denouement is somewhat random. His stories rely more on character than on events.
So even if there’s a monstrous transformation taking place on the surface, the drama lies in Long’s reaction as he’s transformed from human being into blubbery quilt.
Smith also tries to play on the absurdist humour of the situation, creating an entire history for the old man that involves the repressive Duplessis era in Quebec, as well as residential school horrors. It’s a crunchy mix that doesn’t prove all that funny, especially since the most horrific parts of the story were true for so many.