Customer Reviews

The Dark Backward

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Dark Backward is a sickly twisted comedy of ridiculous and nauseatingly gross proportions that will leave you laughing until you cry and barfing up your lunch.
Judd Nelson plays Marty Malt, an extremely bad BAD stand up comedian. Don't expect the Judd Nelson from The Breakfast Club either; as Marty he is a sweaty, Jeffrey Combs type character and plays the role very, very well. His best friend is Gus, played expertly by Bill Paxton, a greasy and disgusting accordion player whose girlfriend Nicolette weighs over 400 pounds.

Marty and Gus work as Trash Collectors during the day, and while working Gus spies a lump on Marty's back, like a boil. Marty goes to visit Dr. Scurvy, outlandishly played by James Caan, who puts a band-aid over it and charges Marty $200.00.

Gus manages to bring talent scout Jackie Chrome (played by Wayne Newton) in to hear Marty's routine, and Jackie walks out on it, telling Gus that Marty is the worst comedian he has ever heard. Marty is crushed but Gus keeps his good spirits about it all. Marty's "lump" grows some more, and Gus discovers he now has a hand growing out of his back, like a baby's hand. When Marty goes to see Dr. Scurvy again, Dr. Scurvy again places a band-aid over the baby hand and accuses Marty of "picking at it". Marty's waitress girlfriend, Rosarita, played by Laura Flynn Boyle, leaves him because she can't date a man with a three hands.

The hand grows into a full sized arm, and Jackie Chrome winds out taking on Marty as a client, turning him into Desi The Three Armed Wonder Comedian. Gus joins up as a sidekick to play his accordion inbetween Marty's terrible jokes. Watch for Rob Lowe to show up in a cameo role as Hollywood Bigwig Dirk Delta.

This is a tongue in cheek, very dark comedy with scenes of pure grossness. The entire background of the film is seedy, filthy, and nauseating. From the grimy offices of Dr. Scurvy to Marty's mother's apartment where he clips her toenails while she chainsmokes though on oxygen, to the trash filled streets they are supposed to be cleaning, to the seedy bars and lounges, it is plain that there is a great amount of detail focused onto the overall atmosphere of the film, setting the perfect mood for the plot. Pay attention!

All throughout the movie we see the omnipresent Blump's, a company so encompassing that it owns the garbage company Gus and Marty work for, and also manufactures such delicacies as Liquid Bacon. Go ahead and make the connection, I did. Gus is the grossest imaginable character, even finding an old lunch pail in the landfill, opening it up, and eating the sandwich that was inside. Gus will eat anything. Also not to be missed is Marjorie Zipp and the Human Xylophone as they audition in Jackie Chrome's office. There are some hilarious twists in the plot, and an ironic ending, and some amazingly good acting throughout from this stellar cast.

The overall filth of the atmosphere and the disgusting physical and mental attributes of the characters make for one bizarre flick. Very funny movie, but only for those with sick and twisted funny bones. I wish it was available on DVD. Enjoy!

Cult director Adam Rifkin (Never on a Tuesday, The Chase, Detroit Rock City) delivers once more. Those of you familiar with his work will undoubtedly be familiar with his oddball characters and outlandish plots. For those of you new to his work, 'The Dark Backward' is the best place to begin.

Marty Malt (Judd Nelson) is the worst stand-up comic in the entire world. He is equally terrible at his day job, a garbage collector. It seems that Marty is not destined for stardom ... until one day something strange happens that changes his life forever.

His accordian playing, garbage-collecting co-worker, Gus (Bill Paxton), notices a lump growing out of Marty's back while they are doing the rounds. This odd growth is diagnosed by the disturbingly incompetent Doctor Scurvey (James Caan) as a third arm.

What would normally be an embarrassingly freakish human deformity, turns out to be Marty's comedic calling. Before, Gus was his sole fan; now he has a mass following. Enter the slimy Dirk Delta (Rob Lowe), who offers Marty the chance of Holywood stardom. So begins a successful career in comedy ... ?

Seemingly straight out of a Ray Bradbury short tale, Rifkin's film is furnished with carnivalesque characters. You will be astounded and revolted by characters like 'the fat woman', 'the muscle man', and 'the human xylophones'. Rob Lowe is unrecognizable in his role as slick Hollywood bigwig (a role he would later reprise in 'Wayne's World' and 'Tommy Boy'). James Caan is frighteningly brilliant as Dr. Scurvey, and leading man, Judd Nelson, puts in his best performance since 'St. Elmo's Fire' and 'The Breakfast Club' (look out for Judd's oddball cameo in Rifkin's 'Never on a Tuesday').

'The Dark Backwards' is arguably Rifkin's best film, not having directed anything since to equal it. It is certainly his strangest movie since 'Never on a Tuesday'. If you are a fan of cult movie directors like David Lynch and John Waters, check this film out. If you are afraid of zombies, freaks, midgets and men with three arms I suggest you look elsewhere.

Cast: Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Rob Lowe, James Caan, Lara Flynn Boyle, Wayne Newton, et al

My name is Mattt Potter I along with director Adam Rifkin put this DVD together. I talked to the manager of DVD Programming and Content yesterday on the phone. She assured me there is no truth to this, that there is no release date even set for it yet. We are still clearing up some licensing issues. The DVD will be in anamorphic wide screen. I know this because Adam supervised the transfer himself. All the supplements will be included with the disc.

Audio Commentary with Director Adam Rifkin, Bill Paxton, Judd Nelson, producer Brad Wyman and Mattt Potter
Arclight 15th Anniversary Q & A with Adam Rifkin, Bill Paxton, Judd Nelson and Brad Wyman
Deleted Scenes
Gagreel
Blumps Squeezable Documentary - Directed by Mattt Potter
Full length color version of the Cat and Mouse Cartoon from the film animated by Family Guys Dan Povenmire
Cannes Film Festival Video Promos starring Judd Nelson and Adam Rifkin
Director Video Intros
Music Video
Trailer

Please don't say things like BOYCOTT this disc. Because misinformation like this spreads very quickly on the internet. And it can affect sales on a disc that we spent a lot of hard time and work on for fans.

But I realize its not your fault that, that department gave you false information. I just want to make certain that everyone knows how important it is for this disc that we squash this as soon as possible.

Thanks! Adam and I hope you dig the disc!

Mattt Potter

I recommend this film every chance I get. Very dark, very twisted. Not at all for the squeamish, weak-stomached or anyone who helps to perpetuate the "need" for the nauseatingly saccharine tripe that Hollywodd feels it must churn out in abundance - in other words, mediochre, mainstream "film".

With one of the most eclectic, well-put-together casts I've ever seen in one film, this one delivers a bleak, seedy urban fable unlike any other. Speaking of the cast, don't be put off by those listed in the credits: Judd Nelson wonderfully portrays our pathetic, sweaty "hero" Marty Malt; Bill Paxton gives 110% as the loathsome sidekick Gus (this performance alone sold me as a Paxton fan forever!); Wayne Newton (yes, straight out of Las Vegas) is perfect as greedy, out-for-number-one talent agent Jackie Chrome; Lara Flynn Boyle makes a great, dead-pan girlfriend for Marty; James Caan is hilarious as the callous & horrible Dr. Scurvy; and look out for Rob Lowe's cameo as slimy Hollywood bigwig Dirk Delta (I didn't even recognize him the first time I saw it). I feel it's best not to give too much of the plot away. It just needs to be seen to be believed, not to mention appreciated.

If you appreciate "cult" films and love blacker-than-black humour, please, do yourself a favour and pick this one up. It's definately a keeper and one well worth viewing many, many times. I give it three thumbs up!

Okay, just sit back, relax, and plan on seeing one of the oddest and darkly comedic films you will ever see. If your idea of funny is Bad Boys II or you listen to top 40 music and base your film experience around the same mind set, then forget it. But, if you can keep an open mind and appreciate odd for the sake of being odd, then indulge yourself with this film. Judd Nelson is a VERY bad stand-up comic by night and VERY bad garbage man by day. His friend (Bill Paxton) is Marty's (Judd Nelson) only fan. They live in a bizarre world where a company named Blumps is supreme provider of all human needs i.e. food, drink, etc. though it is all chemically synthisized. This toxic existence causes Marty to grow a third arm out of his back and boosts his comedy career. With an unlikely cast such as Wayne Newton, James Caan, and Lara Flynn Boyle, not to mention the 3 women well over 300 lbs. each, that Bill Paxton has . . . with on a nightly basis. There are midgets, freaks, losers, corpses, and Judd Nelson's chain smoking, abusive mother. If that's not enough to get your curiosity up, then go rent Love Story and leave the freaky comedies to those with a bit more sense of adventure. You should laugh, gag, cover your eyes and peek through the cracks, and stare for long stints at a time with your mouth open in dis-belief. John Waters? Ha! This is a different brand of weird...
In a good way.

Whathehellever this movie is I haven't figured out yet, but I do know one thing: this is one strange freaking movie. Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton and Lara Flynn Boyle star in this bizarre piece of cinematic history, including a surprise twisted cameo by Wayne Newton. Yes, THAT Wayne Newton. How they got all these stars in this movie I will never know but hell, the more the merrier. Judd Nelson takes on the role of a greasy screwed up garbage man that harbors dreams of becoming a comedian with glee. His slicked down hairdo and nasty clothing automatically make you cringe every time you see him, that and Bill Paxton's role as his accordion playing sidekick. Bill really outdid himself in this movie as a weirdo psychopathic pudgy girl loving maniac that does nothing except act really strange and play the accordion as Judd twirls in circles during his routine. If you think that is weird then you ought to see when Nelson (as Marty Malt) discovers a bump on his back during shirtless garbage run. He goes to a doctor and all he does is put a band-aid over it. As time goes by the arm grows bigger and bigger until it eventually becomes another arm. And each time he goes to the doctor all he seems to be able to do is put another band-aid on it. Babylon 5's Claudia Christian takes a sexy comic turn as the doctor's nurse who does nothing but giggle and preen. Judd's Marty takes his routine on the road after being signed on by an agent, fittingly played by Wayne Newton with panache. It consists entirely of Nelson telling some really corny jokes and then twirling in a circle with his third arm jutting out, while Paxton's character plays a maniacal accordion and giggles like a fruitcake. Paxton's character has to be the weirdest one in this movie, he spends the entire time chasing around his hefty girlfriend and her friends, all the while he looks like the last time he bathed was probably when he was 5. I have no clue who wrote this or actually got the people to star in this but I can say one thing: if you want a movie that is really bizarre and makes no sense whatsoever then this is the movie for you. Oh, and make sure you are buzzed when you see it because otherwise it won't make sense. Not that it will if you are sober but still....

Story: Brilliant. Linear, yet non-Aristotelian. The most satisfying surprise ending in cinema history.

Mise-en-scene: Brilliant. The specter of the Blump's company hangs over ubiquitous filth & decay so well realized you can almost smell it.

Performances: Uniformly excellent, although Boyle doesn't get to do much with her character. Nelson cast surprisingly effectively against type. Newton was born to play Jackie Chrome. Caan is perfect. Paxton deserves an Oscar, he is indescribably fantastic as the demented Gus.

Direction: Why hasn't Rifkin ever done anything else even remotely as great as this film? Every shot, every frame stands on its own, and they're woven together perfectly. The pacing is flawless. The Dark Backward should be studied in film schools around the world.

Highlights: Gus eating dog poo (in a sugary creme sauce) with obese prostitutes; The barbershop joke; "The old fake third arm out of the back trick."

Final Analysis: Not for everyone, to be sure, but those with appropriately twisted minds will find a treasure well worth the price (which ain't coming down). One of my favorite films. Leonard Maltin doesn't know what he's talking about.

this movie made me be sure to wash my hands before eating

The Dark Backward is a terrific movie in the most offbeat way. The movie takes place in the not too distant future and it is grimey and full of garbage. Judd Nelson is oily. Bill Paxton is filthy. Together they are garbage men hoping for a big break in show business. Paxton is so over the top and positive about the future that he screams it. Nothing good seems to happen to Nelson. James Caan is in this as a wacky doctor. Rob Lowe is great wearing a false nose and talking like Sammy Davis Jr. Mr. Las Vegas Wayne Newton is a main player as talent agent Jackie Chrome. All this and more in a pretty strange movie. It has found an audience and newer VHS copies can go for $80.00. Let's hope the Oct. 3, 2006 date happens. If you like odd movies try this one out. As dark as it is the movie's ending is strangely uplifting.

Remember the "brat pack"? Remember CABIN BY THE LAKE? Well....wayyyyyyy before he visited that cabin, he was well warped and deliciously off center in DARK BACKWARD. This is a sweet tale of a unsuccessful stand-up comic/sanitation worker. He tries and tries to get the kind of recognition he so craves. But it never seems to come to him. .....that is until his special "talent" comes to light. He has a hand growing slowly but steadily out of his back. It grows into a full arm. And *poof* like magic, his career is made! The old saying is true: "Everybody loves a circus freak!!"
It is a terrific movie for those of you who like the less walked path of cinema; who think movies like FREAKED and BASKET CASE are a good way to use your extra time. You will love it if you want to see Judd being both nerdy and dark at the same time. And, as ol' Joe Bob Briggs used to say: not a lot of cussin'; not a lot of breasts. Just good old fashion perverse entertainment at the expense of a deformity! Get a big bowl of popcorn with extra butter and salt, put your feet up, and have a great time. This is a movie very worthy of midnight movie viewing. Hard to believe Judd has not gotten an emmy or oscar yet in his career. Can we say "razzie". I knew we could.