Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird

Like his contemporary Charles Addams, Gahan Wilson had his own unique take on things- and, like Addams, it was more often than not ghoulish. As a kid, I marveled at Wilson's almost Basil Wolvertone-like renderings (which seem ridiculously simple until you try to emulate them)- and marveled even more at the bald-faced TRUTH of most of his observations; sometimes sarcastic, sometimes poignant, but always right on the money. If you haven't leafed through a Gahan Wilson collection, I recommend (as does Lewis Black in this documentary) you do so at the first opportunity: you WON'T be disappointed. (Footnote: Wilson can be seen in the 1990 remake of George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD as one of the zombies who crowd around the heroes as they attempt to make it to the gas pump: he reaches over another zombie to try to get at a torch-wielding Tony Todd, and then clearly RECOILS as the torch sweeps past him.)

"Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird" is a documentary about the cartoonist who passed in 2019. He left behind him a weird legacy of disturbing cartoons which were often in bad taste...which is exactly why many folks, like myself, love his work.

The film consists of a few interviews where folks talk about why they love Wilson's work, though most of it consists of Wilson himself talking to the camera and talking about his life since childhood. It helps to give some insight into his sick sense of humor, though NOTHING can completely explain this!

While I loved listening to Wilson talk about his life and reveal some shocking things about himself, there were two big problems that prevent me from scoring this one higher. First, there was a long segment showing how cartoons get published...interesting but it wasn't about Wilson and should have been in its own film. Second, no matter how hard you try, watching his cartoons on the screen isn't how you should enjoy Wilson's work...it's to see it and read it yourself in books and magazines. Worth seeing if you are a fan, otherwise one you might want to skip.