Relaxer

In a twisted way, this film out-Eraserheads ERASERHEAD. A deeply, deeply disturbed movie.

Not sure what to make of this movie journey. Is it about doing inconsequential nothings in life; addictions/obsessions; submission to others; sitting out the coming Y2K event of supposed doom when tech can't handle a date change. Anyway, totally filmed in a slimy, grungy, filthy small one room apt. we have one brother confined to his couch (by orders of older bro who appears sporadicaly) telling him to periodically drink from a gallon of what is probably soured milk while trying to break a Pac-man video game record of level 256. As time goes by he sits & ages, mostly alone, not going to an actual bathroom; somehow surviving on small scraps of disgusting food, as the game plays on in the background.

I caught this film at Fantasia Festival this summer (July 2018). I had no idea what to expect and found myself pleasantly surprised by what I saw. I found Relaxer to be captivating of my attention throughout the entire film. I'm glad I checked this out.

An interesting point that smacks of the 90s but judging by its thin content it would have served better as a short film.

Cam gives his slacker brother Abbie one last challenge before he's kicked out. To beat Billy Mitchell at Pac Man. If he clears level 256 then he wins $100,000. Cam adds that he can not under any circumstance leave the couch. And if that's not bad enough, the Y2K apocalypse is on the horizon. As weeks go by he begins to deteriorate. Surreal, weird, and gross at times.