Review by TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness

I went into "Tusk" with some worry and reservation.

I consider myself a fairly big Kevin Smith fan. Particularly admiring his films "Chasing Amy", "Dogma" and "Red State." And I think the (fairly recent) "backlash" against Smith is unwarranted for the most part. His films have always been unique and had a flavor all their own. And the man himself has always been open, candid and participatory with his fanbase. (Heck, this film's production was decided by his Twitter followers.) I just don't see why, in the past year or so, an increasingly vocal portion of the internet has turned against him.

But I wasn't sure what to make of this new film. Knowing it was inspired by an episode of his podcast left me worried it would be one-note. Knowing it was his first real foray into the world of "body horror" (a sub-genre that is incredible when done well, but laughable when done poorly) left me worried it might not quite work. And knowing full-well of its ludicrous premise left me worried it would either be too restrained or go way too far. I was worried this might be the first Smith film that I just couldn't get behind or even like. (And yeah, I even kinda dug "Jersey Girl", albeit admitting it was flawed.)

But boy, was I wrong. While it's definitely far from perfect, and far from being his best work, "Tusk" represents a bizarre, hellish and hilarious thrill-ride that left me constantly gasping and laughing. It's a terrifying fun-house ride and a twisted clown show that should please Smith fans and horror/comedy audiences looking for their fix of "weird."

Justin Long stars as Wallace Bryton, an American pod-caster who savagely makes fun of people in popular viral videos with his co-host. (Haley Joel Osment) When his trip to Canada goes wrong, and he discovers the subject of an interview he had scheduled has passed away, he attempts to salvage the journey by finding someone new to talk to for the show. He stumbles upon an open letter from "Howard Howe" (Michael Parks), a reclusive old man seeking someone to share his lifetime's worth of stories with.

However, Wallace soon discovers Howe has an ulterior motive. Obsessed with a hatred of humanity and an idolization of a wild walrus he had "befriended" while at sea, Howe wishes to use surgical means to transform Wallace into the animal friend he had known years ago. As Howe slowly begins to alter Wallace's body into a grotesque new form (while mentally conditioning him to embrace his wild side), Wallace's girlfriend Ally (Genesis Rodriguez) begins a desperate struggle to find Wallace and save him from his demented captor.

The acting is excellent all around, but Parks steals the show. Howe is equally charming, amusing and perfectly over- the-top, while also still able to be threatening. As weird as it is to say, I could see Parks winning some major awards for the role. Long is fantastic as Wallace. Though undeniably unlikeable, you still feel for him, and get a sense that beneath his cruel exterior, there's a fragile soul. And his role as the "transforming" Wallace/Walrus is just a hoot to watch. Rodriguez and Osment ground the film perfectly, giving wonderful weight to their smaller roles.

The only actor I cannot really comment on is the well-known and even mythical guest-star who shall go unnamed, to save the surprise. But what I can say is that this guest-role will definitely leave audiences polarized, as it's VERY "out there." But I felt that, within the context of the film, it worked. The movie is quite zany on its own during the second half, and I think this character did a good job "ushering in" the audience to the film's true craziness when he showed up. And he supplied PLENTY of laughs.

Smith's work on the film is an undeniable sign of growth as a storyteller. His script is tight, concise and full of great moments of shock and hilarity. And I found this to be by far his most visually striking work. Smith often used to sort-of belittle his own skills as a director and visual storyteller. (In part because his first film films were basic and simple in their execution) But this film is slick, stylish and wickedly shot. His guidance of the camera and performances is expert, and the senses of dread and humor he builds are wonderful.

However, this is definitely a film of some flaws, which is where it loses some points. The film has some "fat" to be trimmed. (Or would that be "blubber" in this case?) A few sequences feel too drawn out, which creates a somewhat inconsistent pacing that makes it feel jarring at times. I also felt that the (rather radical) tonal shift that occurs midway through could give some viewers a sense of "stylistic whip-lash." And it could be argued that the movie is a bit clustered in it's final half-hour, attempting to juggled a variety of emotions including fear, dread, sorrow, bemusement and amusement. It's almost too hard to concentrate and be mindful of how the film makes you feel, which is a pretty big problem.

That being said, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely absorbed in the movie from start-to-finish. And I most certainly will admit that I completely and utterly enjoyed myself. (And was quite shocked by just how darkly hilarious the film was, even at its bleakest moments.) It's not a film for everyone. And I can understand the polarized reaction. But for me (as a Smith fan, a fan of horror, and a fan of "the weird" and "strange") this was definitely worth seeing. And I will be buying it the second it's out on Blu-Ray.

I give "Tusk" a pretty-good 7 out of 10. Not for everyone. But if you're even remotely curious, it's well worth giving a shot.