Closet Monster
- Director: Stephen Dunn
- Writer: Stephen Dunn
- Producer: Fraser Ash; Niv Fichman
CGiii Comment
Life after childhood trauma, coming out and of age...and, a talking hamster!
It's a first feature from auteur Stephen Dunn...so, everything - including the kitchen sink - has been thrown onto the screen. Some of it works and some of it reeks of film-school experimental poop...or, to be a little more polite, indulgence can be a formidable foe!
That said, it's a mightily watchable film...due to the quality of the central performance, everything revolves around Oscar (amply played by Connor Jessup) - when the focus wanders, it gets a little lost...albeit temporarily.
Oscar is a fully-formed, three-dimensional character, a labour of love to write no doubt. The other characters, they all needed to be a little tighter...especially in the writing department.
Technically...both sound and cinematography have got to be commended. For an independent first film, this is a well-executed, polished production...well done, Mr Dunn.
It's a good film...with a few tweaks - here and there - it could have been a great one.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Oscar Madly is a single child who comes from a broken home in St. John, Newfoundland, whose closest friend is a talking hamster named Buffy (with the voice of Isabella Rossellini). Being a child, he witness a hate-crime involving teenagers who killed a young gay man. Fearing that he too might be gay, Oscar is driven to hide it. But when Oscar comes of age, his resistance to his sexuality weakens as he starts to feel attracted to a tattooed co-worker who opens his eyes to a whole world of new possibilities. However, as Oscar begins to reclaim his identity, he experiences confusing sexual fantasies that are fueled by fear. When Oscar finally confronts and triumphs against the fear instilled by his father, the result is an explosive spectacle of human empowerment unlike anything Oscar could have ever expected.
Cast & Characters
Connor Jessup as Oscar Madly;
Aaron Abrams as Peter Madly;
Isabella Rossellini as Buffy;
Joanne Kelly as Brin Madly;
Aliocha Schneider as Wilder;
Sofia Banzhaf as Gemma;
Jack Fulton as Young Oscar;
Mary Walsh as Allison;
Marthe Bernard as Bridgette;
Jonathan Watton as Larry;
Igor Pugdog as Allison's Dog;
James Hawksley as Andrew;
Paula Morgan as Christine