Customer Reviews

Vulgar

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

It seems that a lot of people are missing the point of this film. It isn't exploiting rape and violence. It's giving the viewer a close look at the horror and shame of being the victim. The film doesn't dwell on the attack, but looks at what happens next. There is a bit of fun and silly stuff in it too, just like life.....but then we are caught off-guard.
Maybe the problem is that everyone expected the Kevin Smith "formula", which is great fun, and probably the reason we all watched this to begin with. But this is very different.
I think it was a very brave human study and I hope Bryan Johnson has more for us.
Just remember...Nobody said it was a comedy!
And Kevin....thanks for helping with this!

I feel Vulgar is a MASTERPIECE, even though it made me sick. I have never thought about a movie as much as I thought about Vulgar. In Vulgar, I never knew what to expect, it was very unpredictable.

I originally got the movie because it had Kevin Smith's name on it (I love his movies), however, be warned this movie is nothing like Kevin Smith's movies, it is in a class all by itself. I have to say Vulgar is my FAVORITE movie. It made me think a lot about society, crime, our justice system, and revenge. This movie changed me in a way I can't describe and I recommend it to anyone over the age of 18.

what an unusual movie. this is one of those movies that you cannot unerase in your mind. uneasy and uncomfortable. i have to give props to the producers for putting this one out, but i know not many people will watch this or recommend this. i watched it once and that is enough for me.

what to say about this, a clown doesn't make enough money so he creates a gig to go to bachelor parties a gag but ends up getting raped by rednecks reminescent of the ones from deliverance. there is a very sick rape scene in this. i don't want to give much away for the plot, so i will leave it at that. the tension in vulgar is thick enough to cut with a knife. it also isn't for the light hearted. the sound is crappy, but it is low budget so what was i expecting.

overall, this isn't a comedy. there a few parts that might be slightly funny from an extremely morbid point of view, but not what i expected "from the producers of clerks and dogma" as stamped on the package. that should have been left off. it is totally misleading. check this out only if you want to watch something different and unexpected and you are pretty much ready for anything.

Firstly, there's something I must make clear. Vulgar is NOT a Kevin Smith movie, despite it being a View Askew movie. Kevin Smith co-executive produced it and played a bit role, but he did NOT write or direct it - Bryan Johnson did.

That said, I was quite impressed. I rented it not really knowing what to expect; I mean, the only View Askew works I'd seen thus far were Kevin Smith's, but I could tell this would not be the same comedy fare just by looking at the cover. I think it's important that you do not expect to laugh while watching this movie; there are a handful of funny scenes, but that's not really what Vulgar is about.

Brian O'Halloran gives an amazing performance in this movie; I don't think many actors would be brave enough to take on the role of Flappy/Vulgar. For the most part, all the actors are very believable, which is necessary in a film portraying a reality this stark. The cinematography was superb, and the script was well-thought out and solid. Some of the sets were a little drab and lackluster, but I won't hold that against it... hey, it's an indie film.

All that said, Vulgar is a twistedly brilliant film, but it's not for the faint of heart. The final 10 minutes of the film really had my blood pumping - kept me guessing. I recommend you rent it first and test the waters before you buy it.

"Vulgar" came to me word-of-mouth. I'd seen this movie sitting on a video store shelf when it first came out and I had no urge to see it. It wasn't until a couple months ago when a guy I know told me that I "have to see it." Reviews on Amazon didn't look good, the cover looks like it was straight-to-video (it, technically, wasn't. It was shown in a few theatres)...But I was intrigued. The film has Kevin Smith has the Executive Producer and stars Brian O'Halloran, better known as Dante in the "Clerks" films, as the main character Will Carlson. Will lives in a crappy apartment (and frequently finds people sleeping in the backseat of his car) and works as a birthday party clown called Flappy. One day Will has an epiphany. He'll still do kids birthday parties, but he'll also hit up some bachelor parties as well. The plan goes like this; He'll come to the party dressed like a clown and wearing lingerie. Everyone'll be in on the joke, except the groom. He'll freak the groom out, collect his money, and then the babes will show up. On his first night, Will (who has chosen the moniker Vulgar when doing this particular job) runs into a demented trio of father and sons who brutally rape Will. Will, embarrassed and ashamed, goes home and tries to forget about everything despite complaints from his friend Syd (Bryan Johnson, the writer/director). Then, the unthinkable happens. Will saves a child from a hostage situation and finds himself plastered on TV, being proclaimed a hero. A TV show deal follows and pretty soon, he's being blackmailed by his rapists for $50,000 dollars. If you've seen the cover of the film, you can probably guess what comes next. Jason Mewes (Jay) and Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) both make cameo appearances in the film, although not under their famed monikers. The movie has a straight-to-video feel to it and most viewers won't watch it twice. The acting has it's moments of being pretty good, but is usually laughable due to bad dialogue. O'Halloran does manage to get you to feel sorry for the character, although he looks embarrassed. Ethan Suplee (who appears in Mallrats and is now on the hit show "My Name is Earl") plays one/third of the demented trio, as well. The movie is frequently billed as a "Comedy." The film has it's subtle moments, but "comedy" is stretching it. One bit of subtle humor involves a phone call Flappy makes to a parent to cancel an appearance. He's talking to a woman named Mrs. Affleck who puts her son "Benny" on the phone. This is not a great movie, but it is original. Not just the clown thing, but you rarely see male rape (unless the person getting raped is a gay hustler anyway, like in "Mysterious Skin") portrayed in film. Johnson could've made this a campy comedy, while making a deeply disturbing portrait of that subject. I think he wanted to, but he just wasn't sure how to film it. Vulgar succeeds in less ways than it doesn't, but if you're into films that fall into the category of this films name or like something a little different you might enjoy this.

GRADE: B-

Some have obviously termed this movie as depraved and uncomfortable, and they are absolutely right. "Vulgar" is the definition in films of acquired taste, you're either into it or you're not. Granted "Vulgar" in general is not great cinema, it's not even great independent filmmaking, but from the first scene it is clear what the movie's intentions are and in that sense it succeeds. What director Bryan Johnson gives us is a dark comedy mixed with the trappings of the typical psycho movie. From the start Johnson chooses a subject that is already creepy to some people, clowns, and then throws in homosexual rape, paranoia and a gunfight finale to make this into PURE B-movie material. Had Kevin Smith not produced this movie it could indeed have been worse than what people already think it to be. As a dark comedy it works, we laugh and feel guilty sometimes about it (at least some of us), the story has a creepy of way of getting under your skin with the gritty, low-grade photography and isolated settings, there's even a strangeness to the dialogue and though some complain about the sound mix, it adds to the movie's weird allure. Like the much superior "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "Vulgar" looks cheap but that is precisely how it manipulates the mood of the viewer. Even the music sounds like that dark monotone score you hear in the occasional PSA on television. Yes, it is true that the actors aren't exactly A-list stuff, but this is a small budget production and you can't expect anymore from it than what it is capable of delivering. "Vulgar" is creepy, strange and certainly memorable, it is not great but for those looking for something RADICALLY different, here's a movie that fits that category.

I knew this film was going to be great, i just didn't know the extent until watching it. Brian O'Halloran plays a childrens party clown that hits it big after saving a little girl. Unfortunatly his past catches up with him and he is then in a tough situation.

This movie is an incredible gem. It definitely is not the Kevin Smith type lowbrow trash that you think when you see his name on it. This movie is written and directed by Bryan Johnson who is great at putting many levels of detail into every scene.

It is primarily an incredible comedy. The comedy is focused mainly on conversational sarcasm between characters and Flappy's undeserved always-a-loser lot in life.

In the middle the comedy gets real dark as Flappy the clown/now Vulgar gets raped by a psychotic father and his two equally psychotic sons.

The character of the father is brilliantly darkly humorous as he just brutally spouts his unrelentingly vicious rape rantings. This guys voice and actions are just so exceptionally well suited and acted.

Brian O Halloran(?) who plays Flappy/Vulgar also delivers outstanding emotional performances throughout the entire movie. This performance easily beats anything Hollywood would give an award for. After the rape, the comedy entirely disappears for a while as Flappy emotionally deals with the rape. This is so well acted, it goes beyond even what films like Schindler's List does in presenting emotions of this type. This combination of comedy and such intense emotional drama is too much for most mainstream viewers and why this movie is so hated.

A favorite aspect I had was when we catch up with the father who raped Flappy back at home and his wife and daughter so viciously berate him.

That people say this is a revenge film shows that people are so put off that they don't even pay attention to the end.

I won't give away the details of how I mean this but Flappy does not get revenge in this movie. My first reaction was that this was disappointing and an anti-climatic ending to the movie. But after other viewings Flappy being cheated of his revenge is a very interesting aspect of the entire story.

I think Vulgar is probably the end of Bryan Johnson ever doing anything as the main drive of a movie project. This movie is so hated and unappreciated. I can only be thankful this movie exists and can't be taken back.

Bryan Johnson is simply above the standards of mainstream audiences which are not interested in anything deeper than obvious punchlines and standard structured presentation of material.

As the other reviews show, either people hated this and called it trash. Or people understood how well crafted the film is but still were put off by the intensity of the dramatic aspects. (At least honest and with the integrity to realize and admit it)

Bryan Johnson definitely is talented far beyond his View Askew/Kevin Smith associations. I wish I could look forward to more brilliant work from him though I doubt many opportunities will be available due to this film's reaction. Cream may rise to the top of milk, yet as the world is a toilet, sh*t is what obviously rises to the top of the bowl.

If you can accept a film that can brilliantly combine two quite opposite aspects (comedy and intense rape drama), this is for you. If you simplistically view this as making rape into comedy, then stay away.

One of the best movies I have seen in a very long time!!!

Since I was the only one to write a review for the flick when it was in theaters I figured I would write one for the dvd also. I bought it last night and I have watched it twice already. It's packed with great special features you wouldn't think and indi film like this would have. It has commentary by Brian O'Halleran, Kevin Smith, Scott Moiser, and Bryan Johnson, there are tons of deleated scenes, and a small outtake real, a cool photo gallery, and all of the rejection letters from all of the film festivals. Also on the dvd is the lost "Dogma" Documentary "In Defense of Dogma" that is very cool it really gives you insight on what the Viewaskew guys went threw to get that movie made and Kevin Smith talks alot about his personal life it's really worth catching. As I said before this movie is not for everyone, but check it out even if you don't dig the movie you can't deny the great performances, the great direction, and all of the cool features the dvd has to offer. For those of you who don't know what the movie is about, it goes like this. Brian O'Halleran(Clerks) plays William who works as a childrens party clown named "Flappy". His life is going knowhere, he's not making any money at his job his mother hates him and wishes he would do something with his life, and his friend Syd(Bryan Johnson)almost never has anything intellegent to say. William comes up with an idea to start doing party's as a tranvestite clown as a gag for men's bacholler party but William is in for a surprise when he gets to his first job to find three men who abduct him, beat him and rape him. They leave him for dead, then William gets up and keeps what happened to him to himself. Moving on with his life William begins doing kids partys again when a heroic act of saving a childs life from the hands of her abusive father puts William right in the spotlight and opens allof the doors that have been closed to him for so long. As the years go on everythin gis going great when William gets a phone call and a voice from his past is on the other end. William not wanting anything to ruin his success must now fight to keep his past a secret wich all leads up to a great ending that you'll have to buy the movie to see. Alot of people flip out of the rape scene in this movie but it is no worse than the scene in "Deliverance", or the graphic rape scene in "The Accused" so don't pass this movie up!!!

I would like to tip my hat to the creators of this film, and for the very surprising performance of Brian O'Halloran.

While I had become accustomed to his performance in films such as "Clerks," I did not expect him in a role where his character is dragged through one of the worst nightmares that anyone could ever go through...rape.

Some viewers may have a hard time watching the film because it deals with such a touchy subject, and because (like in the case of spouse abuse) we tend to see it as a 'female-victims' crime. [Which is a bunch of bull because males can be the victims of such crimes just as readily as females].

One of the best scenes is the segment when Will talks to Syd about the incident. Syd wants him to report the rape, while Will says "no" because he is afraid of how a lawyer could flip the situation back onto him...saying that it was his fault. Unfortunately, this is a real situation that many rape victims have to go through, and his reactions really made me feel for the character on so many different levels.

Also, Will's rescue of Ashley, the little girl being held hostage by her father, spoke loads about his self worth at the time. Most people would have seen it as heroism, but some would have also seen it as a bit of a suicide attempt, in order to save a life deemed more worthy.

While some may take issue with how the film ends, I don't think I could have seen the film end in the 'other direction.' Will/Flappy is a guy with a soft heart, who has taken quite a bit of lumps from almost everyone in his life.