Ball in the House

RELATIVE EVIL is a well-made black comedy about addiction, recovery, and the people -family, "friends", and nefarious doctors- who try to derail the entire process.

JJ (Jonathan Tucker) is trying to get along after rehab. Jennifer Tilly is perrrfectly wicked as his conniving Aunt Dot, who convinces JJ's dad and uncle to do what is necessary so they can all cash in on JJ's life insurance.

All of the temptations, pitfalls, and disasters of recovery are amplified as the vultures circle.

Funny, frightening, and sometimes devastatingly real, this movie points out the horrors of trying to stay clean in an addicted world. If you've ever struggled with addiction or know someone who has, you'll recognize the truth behind the dark humor...

"Relative Evil" is a tough movie to describe. The story of a teen's turbulent reintegration back home after a stint in rehab, it's pitched somewhere between gritty family drama, twisty suspense and camp-infused black comedy. I actually found the tonal messiness intriguing: it's certainly not like any other coming-of-age film or addiction drama I've seen. The movie looks a good bit better than most independent films of the time, despite the lighting being too dark in some scenes.

Although unfocused at times, I was won over by the unusual plot and strong cast, particularly Jonathan Tucker, Ethan Embry and Jennifer Tillly. Fans of Tilly should take special note, as she provides a deliciously eccentric performance as the amoral and cruel Aunt Dot, who will stop at nothing to cause her nephew's demise.

I saw the movie at the Chicago premier. I have to agree with zooeyfan. Extremely powerful amazing performances. Jennifer Tilly is poisonous. Ethan Embry is menacing. Jonathan Tucker is excellent. The cinematography is quite good. But what a bunch of dysfunctional characters, and what a sad movie!

This is a great movie--rent it on DVD as fast as you can....The acting is superb, and the writing is some of the best I've seen in years. Nothing rings false, which is rare in my experience. Jonathan Tucker, David Strathairn, and Jennifer Tilly all give true performances, and Ethan Embry is perfect. The setting--the locations--the music--all add to the atmosphere and pull you in till you can't look away. I want to see this movie again in the theaters, but I'll have to make do with the DVD for now... Never predictable, and achingly funny and sad at the same time. See this movie--if you have to go out in the freezing cold snow right now!!

A little dark- literally and in plot. Jonathan Tucker is excellent, as is Tilly. A little like the Roseanne Barr show without basal morals. Chunks of sad and chunks of funny. Like Tilly with the grocery delivery guy .

I don't know what possessed Mr. Swan to write this because it's depressing. Hopeless people doing what fate programmed them to do?