Publisher: Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots June 23, 2021
If there’s one thing to take from “Butt Boy,” director Tyler Cornack‘s dark, stomach-churning tale of a serial killer who uses his anus as his weapon of choice (yes, really), it’s that playing a silly idea as straight horror can work. This kooky and wildly weird movie will exceed the needs of its very, very small niche audience: those fans of deranged midnight cult flicks and deadpan, exceedingly dry indie humor. Bored IT engineer and suburban dad Chip (Cornack) dreads his first prostate exam. After he assumes the position on the exam table, Chip has an awakening and takes great pleasure in the sensation of the procedure. It starts out as a seemingly harmless sexual kink, but quickly grows into a dangerous addiction that turns the man into an unstable predator (he even plays a role in the disappearance of a young boy at the park). As Chip’s life becomes consumed with his new fetish, things get increasingly dark, eventually causing him to seek help from Alcoholics Anonymous. The story jumps ahead five years, as Chip becomes the sponsor of newly sober (and badass) detective, Russel Fox (Tyler Rice). Chip seems to have everything under control in the butt department, but he has a moment of weakness and relapses. When Russell is brought in to investigate another missing child, he begins to suspect that something is seriously wrong with Chip. It’s a crazy story that churns out scenarios that are equal parts hilarious, revolting, and ridiculous. If you’re a fan of work by directors Yorgos Lanthimos, Gregg Araki, John Waters, or Jim Hosking, this movie may be right up your alley. This sicko fantasy lands far outside of the mainstream and is aimed at only a handful of open-minded viewers. In other words, you know who you are. As a director, Cornack has a distinct vision that’s manifested in a solid, well-made film. He creates a detailed sense of place and has near-perfect timing when it comes to filmmaking technique and talent. There’s a low budget charm that outshines the gimmicky story, but there’s still substantial character development from co-writer Ryan Koch (it’s best to ignore the countless plot holes). Everything comes together with memorable performances from the entire cast, as well as effective editing and cinematography from the crew. The fitting original score by Cornack and Koch is the icing on the cake. This is a well-made, outrageous movie that by design is meant to be unforgettable. Mission accomplished.