Monster Road

I was unfortunate enough to be exposed to this abomination at a film festival recently. I don't know who Bruce Bickford is, but somewhere, an asylum is missing an inmate. This guy's claymation art, while skillfully done and painstakingly detailed, is truly disturbing. The images are almost unbelievably violent and gory; little clay torture chambers, be-headings, disembowlings, and other atrocities are performed on the inhabitants of his claymation universe. God knows the stuff isn't suitable for kids, and even some adults would be turned off by the sheer enormity of his violent, surreal and grotesque work. On another level, the film is just plain, well, bad. A documentary is supposed to educate and inform; this film really does neither, and instead is a simple collection of "interviews" with Bickford in his home, expounding on matters metaphysical and real, all interspersed with snippets of his claymation films. I was left feeling that I knew little about Bruce Bickford, and didn't want to know more.

Bruce Bickford is the godfather of clay animation. This film won multiple awards for multiple reasons. It is completely in-depth and goes straight to the core of Bickford's art. Monster Road brings Bickford's world right to you. As Frank Zappa's house animator, Bruce Bickford spent many painstaking hours of tedious work on his animation. Today, as an independent animator, he continues the same thing. Weather it be 3-D clay animation or 2 dimensional line animation, Bickford makes sure he gets it just right. What a horror show you say? Most people are too scared to pour their brains out through their fingers and make it visible for the whole world to see and very few have the talent and patience to create such a colorful landscape of images that will haunt you for the rest of your days. I appreciate Brett Ingrams efforts in documenting of this LEGENDARY artist.

Animation fans take note: This doc about the life and work of legendary animator Bruce Bickford has it all. A triumph of the little guy, this documentary kicks a substantial number of asses. If you are someone with a sensible ass (and you know who you are), then this film will kick it! See it and find out for yourself! Don't be one of those dudes that gets impaled on the wheel of torture.

(^ From the viewpoint of the other person in camera for a short rift about small places, I found the film to at long last find me not alone with the Bickford dilemma. Thanks to Brett for allowing me it drag him up to George's in order to give him an angle on Bruce's work that would inspire instead of horrify.

Monster Road works as a documentary by giving viewers a breather between animation shots. I personally wince at the overload of graphics myself, even tho I've been overdosed to the point of inoculation by it.

"WHY , Bruce, WHY?!" seems to somehow finally been resolved, in a way that takes way too long hanging out with Bruce alone for most to bother.

I hope this hitting DVD will open up the viewing audience to Alzheimer care givers' discussion groups.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. This film gives me hope in humanity.

Go see it if you can find it. His art is unbelievable, and his attitude is boldly refreshing. Bruce was there when I saw it and it was like being in the presence of a holy creature. We should all aspire to be our own versions of Bruce Bickford.

It reminded me a bit of American Movie, but this was much more uplifting. It made me want to go outside and climb a tree.