Directed by: Kevin Smith

Starring: Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Michael Parks, Johnny Depp

Browsing Reddit, I came across an interview with Kevin Smith in which he stated that his new film was ‘gasping for air’ at the box office. I didn’t know he had a new film so I found the closest theater playing his movie, “Tusk”. I have been a fan of Kevin Smith’s for years, his slacker characters, Jay and Silent Bob, are popular for their crass sense of humor. From 1994 to 2006 he released a slew of these foul mouthed, but with a heart of gold, comedies. This film contains neither of these elements. In 2011 Smith played against type, so to speak, and released his first horror/thriller. “Red State” centered on a ‘Westboro meets Wacco’ religious cult that kidnaps and tortures whoever they consider sinners. ‘Tusk’ continues this new side of Kevin Smith.

A podcaster Wallace Bryton (Justin Long) goes on a search for interesting stories. A podcast is like a radio show except that it is online and can be downloaded and listened to at any time. His podcast is named “Not-See Party” (better spelled out than spoken) and is co-hosted by Teddy Craft (Haley Joel Osment). Wallace winds up at a home in a desolate part of Canada, answering an ad for a roommate put out by an older man, Howard Howe (Michael Parks). Wallace is only interested in the stories but it quickly turns out that Howard had some ulterior motives for placing the ad; he explains that on all his adventures he had never had a friend like that of the walrus he met and that he is looking for an approximation. He wants Wallace to become that walrus through a series of involuntary surgeries. The weirdness only escalates from here.

It should be mentioned that the idea for this film came from a podcast that Kevin Smith and longtime producer, Scott Mosier had done together. In this real life podcast, SModcast #259: The Walrus and the Carpenter, the two discuss an English ad for a roommate in which the homeowner would require the lodger to dress up an act as a walrus in exchange for free rent. The two joke and develop a hilarious concept for a movie out of this over the course of the podcast. The finished product is remarkably close to the back and forth brainstorming on the show.

The film seems like a comedy in the first few scenes, but I was a little disappointed at how unfunny the early interactions between Long and Osment were. Smith has proven for a second time that his comic sensibilities may come second to his ability to creep out an audience. I was legitimately unsettled by Michael Parks’ performance and disturbing seems too weak a word for his finished walrus. For that I give some credit. The comedy, however, is weak and the jokes seem few and far between especially if you are not in on the big joke. By the end of the movie I was left with a feeling of pointlessness, but maybe that’s ok because many elements are a lot of fun including a cameo by Johnny Depp in an inexplicable disguise. To compare this movie with any other seems almost unfair and there is little that stayed with me leaving the theater. “Tusk” is bewildering and comes off as more of an experiment and inside joke than a proper movie. I suggest listening to the free podcast first to get the most out of this thing...whatever it is.