The Death of Dick Long

This is a dark comedy that's rarely makes one laugh out loud, but it's still funny, and extremely weird. For me it has hints of Fargo, Beavis and Butthead, and Dale and Tucker vs Evil. The twist is disturbing (without being graphic), unique and utterly unexpected. The characters are (sadly) believable, even if most are stereotypical. Worth a watch.

Well we know the premise of this movie basically from the title. Dick dies and only his two best friends and band mates know how it happened, only thing is, they're not talking.

I have to admit, I did NOT see that twist coming due to how suspenseful and shrouded in mystery of Dick's death was throughout the majority of this film. Chances are you won't see it either. So just do your best to imagine how 3 low IQ, bumbling, no talent, drunk, high, rednecks act up to when they're left alone to their wild shenanigans.

This movie isn't a "comedy" in the sense that there are jokes or any sorts of punchlines. The characters themselves ARE the punchline to a really bad and tasteless joke. There's no slapstick or outright humor to be found, yet it's comedic aspect comes from just how clueless the main character is and how every decision he makes just makes things worse for himself.

So it's a weird movie and it's pacing definitely won't be for everyone. I rated it a 6 because while it kept me interested and curious the entire film by the end of it I wished it had gone further with the content. It's equal parts mystery, suspense, and comedy with an answer to a question you just plain aren't expecting but at a relatively slow pace. There's no gag or gross out humor, no nudity, just some occasional swearing.

This is not that funny of a film. The stupidity of the characters actually plays more to tragedy than comedy in my opinion. The movie is a mixture of dark comedy, situational humor, investigative ineptitude, surprisingly good acting, and an entertaining (if aimless) narrative.

Maybe my love for the Trailer Park Boys predisposed me to liking podunk humor, but I was entertained throughout the whole thing.

It just feels weird to give this an 8...because...you'll understand when you see it.

The Death of Dick Long is a film so weird that the film simply existing is a big win. It's just a bonus that it's also a very sincere drama hiding the weirdest answer to what seems like a fairly simple question. There's some substantial pacing issues but originality makes up for a lot in this case.

Everyone here nails the specific kind of quirk this film is going for however, Michael Abbott Jr. Is the standout. Spending a lot of the film stressed out with a level of incompetence that would make Coen brothers characters feel smart by comparison. He even turns the wildest twist into a heartbreaking moment.

Daniel Scheinert's direction starts the film strong, then gets some solid tension out of its interrogations and Zeke's struggles to hide the truth. The frenetic score by Andy Hull and Robert McDowell is an ideal companion to what's on screen and the decision to end on a nickelback song really fits.

One thing to remember about people who descend into a life of crime is they can be incredibly stupid and make poor decisions. On top of that, add drugs and alcohol and you set the stage for this film. None of the actions taken by the characters are really all that unbelievable, especially when you consider the backwoods area where it all takes place - there is a certain culture you'll find among working class, low income people in the rural south, and this film captures it well. That said, it does branch into comedy given the pure buffoonery of these people. Some of the dialogue is also layered well to provide comic relief. I think comparisons to Fargo are fair; I don't think the merits of this film quite raise to that level - but it does go into similar territory. It's a fairly light film overall that doesn't carry much much of a message or delve too deep, but it remains entertaining on a superficial level.