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| Raymond (Matthew Gray Gubler) has the best scream |
So, Horror Comedies. Why aren't they funny? I guess because poop jokes, boob jokes, semen jokes, casually racist and homophobic jokes, and jokes about unconscious girls getting fingered (allegedly) really do nothing for me. Nothing. Juvenile, immature humor--kind of like a guy fu**ing a pie. Hilarious. Not. If you like that kind of humor, you will love this film.
First, I'll focus on the positive. No doubt, Richard Bates's horror comedy Suburban Gothic had some amusing moments. A few. Ray Wise is pretty amazing in all things, even if he plays the biggest a**hole ever (something he explained in a bit more detail in the Q & A). Raymond's adventures with Becka (Kat Dennings) are also pretty appealing, but the chemistry between them is uber-forced. A standing joke throughout the film (not so funny), is that because of Raymond's sensitive nature, proper use of the English language, and very eccentric fashion sense, he must be gay. Despite wacking off to some Latina Internet booty, he still has an ambiguous sexual vibe--which I kind of liked. So a romance between Raymond and Becka just doesn't work. Let's just let them be friends.
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| Raymond and Becka don't have to be a couple |
One of the hands down, best things about the film is its production design. The costumes, sets, and mise-en-scene are really brilliant. Every outfit that Raymond wore topped the last. His use of a good cravat is epic.
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| Raymond rocking a denim shorts jumpsuit and ascot |
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| Raymond's outstanding purple scarf |
The film has just enough weirdness to keep you wondering what will happen next, and feels pretty PG-13 (especially suited for the male 13-15 crowd). The flashes of clever visual language and originality are brief, as are the cameos from people like Jen and Sylvia Soska (as two mourners at a funeral) and the much seen John Waters cameo. He fits perfectly into Bates Jr.'s odd world.
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| John Waters fits right in |
And while John Waters's own films, especially Pink Flamingos and A Dirty Shame, have their own bodily fluid-littered universe, at least his earlier work was pretty damn gender subversive. Unfortunately, Suburban Gothic is saddled with a bunch of lazy cliches--fey (formerly overweight) sensitive boy, tough slutty goth chic, macho racist Dad, Mom stuck in the 50s, redneck belligerent thug, crazy psychic lady...even the ghosts are super-typical, as the house is haunted by a father and daughter who must have everything set to rights in order to move on. And the very last image/action. Really? Forced, forced, forced.
Still, the true winners of the evening are the really awesome folks at the Fantasia Film Festival--the people running the show and the incredible audience. No matter how I felt about the film, I was swept up in the auditorium-rocking excitement and fervor of the whole thing. Richard Bates Jr. was PREMIERING his film at Fantasia, and I was so excited for him. His mom (and Gubler's mom) were in the theatre with friends and family, and it was an EVENT! I was proud of the director and his crew, and I didn't really like the film. But man, his heart was all in. I wanted to like it. People went nuts when Ray Wise was onstage--as did I. The crowd was rowdy, happy, and Fantasia knows how to have a really good time. I had seen the other films in the two smaller theaters, and this place was packed with a roaring, delighted crowd. I wouldn't recommend Suburban Gothic, but I would highly recommend Fantasia Film Festival. Here's hoping Bates Jr.'s next film rocks!
