RUBBER (2011)

Written, Directed, Edited & Cinematography By: Oscar Duplieux

Cast: Stephen Spinella, Wings Hauser, Jack Plotnick, Roxanne Mesquida


At first you would think the film would be simple a Rubber tire comes alive and goes on a killing spree. The tire has telekenisis and has a attraction to a young drifter and finds itself following her on her journey. Now there were a few ways the film could have gone either campy with it’s tongue firmly planted in cheek or a exploitation film homage. It ends up being neither it is it’s own strange animal.
Watching this film it is obviously European influenced though it takes place in the Midwest. The director is French as well as it’s female star. The film is quite humorous in a dry and dead pan way. While it surprisingly has a lot of gore. The film isn’t exactly a horror film.

I like to think of ht efilm and describe it as if David Lynch made a horror movie for a studio with a low budget and got a script by Charlie kaufman and filled it with meta and pop culture refrences. But only both of them only doing it for the money so their hearts weren’t really into it. Then they both came up with the silliest idea they could.

The film has a excellent score which drives you through the scenes with excitement. There are times where the film seems to slow down and becomes a bit boring but not too many times as the movie is very unpredictable. The main problem is that the film has all these art house indulgences that come off rather pretentious a lot of times. That to me take away the enjoyment of the WTF factor as if the directror thinks he is smarter then you and showing you his art. While the film is beautifully shot. It really has no story which the film tells you in the beginning and revels in it.

The film isn’t bad. It is quite entertaining but it is truly a midnight film that will not be for everyone. I happened to like it more then I thought I would. Luckily it is short so it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome where it get unbearable. The film is not as genius as it thinks it is, but if you are a fan of different films then I think you will enjoy it and find yourself having a opinion about it.

GRADE: B