View Askew Productions, home of Kevin Smith (writer and director of Clerks, Chasing Amy and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back among others), have put their name, stable of talent, and considerable marketing reputation behind a movie with what appears to be absolutely no budget. Why? Because it’s based on their mascot, Vulgar the Clown.
Brian O’Halloran, best known as Dante Hicks in Clerks, plays Will Carlson, a part-time clown. Being “Flappy the Clown” doesn’t exactly pay the bills and William’s got a lot of them. His mother’s in a retirement home and Will’s footing the bill. In an attempt to make more cash, he creates a new clown character named Vulgar. While Flappy plays to the kids, Vulgar will be a bachelor party prank, arriving instead of the usually expected stripper. Will sees this as his way out of debt.
On Vulgar’s first gig, things go horribly wrong. Will is brutally raped by three rednecks, led by Ed (Jerry Lewkowitz). After one of the most disturbing scenes in recent memory, Will makes it back home and tries to put the event in his past. He tries to go back to being Flappy, but his heart isn’t in it. A phone call is made to cancel a gig but, after talking to the child who’s expecting him, Will can’t let the kid down and soon he’s on his way to the party. While driving over, he manages to get involved in a hostage situation. Yet another twist of fate for poor Will. However, this one changes his life forever.
There are two ways to look at Vulgar. One is to see it as the work of a guy with a lot of friends in the business and no money. The other is to see it as a genuinely unique — albeit uncomfortable — bit of cinema. Bryan Johnson, who wrote and directed the film and appears as Syd, has definitely appropriated the Kevin Smith style of writing dialogue. It’s very hard to watch Brian O’Halloran and not think of Dante Hicks. Will Carlson, the character O’Halloran plays here, sounds exactly like Dante Hicks. I’d chalk that up to a lack of acting chops if it weren’t for the fact that virtually every character in the film acts like they walked out of Clerks. In fact, many of the same actors are from Clerks. Scott Mosier (who also produced both films), Jason Mewes, and Kevin Smith actually appear in the film in small roles.
The appearance of — and constant references to — members of the View Askewniverse actually serve to dull the edge of what is otherwise a raw and very creepy little movie. The film starts as a seemingly light comedy but immediate degenerates into the type of film that makes you squirm as you watch it. Not so much because of what’s shown but because you know that people like Ed exist. (And what’s shown isn’t exactly easy to watch anyway.) The zero-budget trappings of the film work in its favor to give it a grimy and unpleasant feel. While there are moments that are embarrassingly amateurish, there’s a definite talent on display here in Bryan Johnson’s directing. His dialogue might be best served up by someone else, but he’s got a true knack for imagery and scene composition.
While Vulgar might make some people sick, those with a stronger constitution might want to take a look at this diamond in the rough. Just don’t get suckered into thinking it’s going to be a comedy or a horror movie. It’s neither. It’s both.
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
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