Review of Closet Monster (2016) by David M — 12 Aug 2016
Oscar lives with his Dad since his Mom left when he was 8. He hangs out with his friend Gemma, talks to Buffy (voiced by Isabella Rossellini), the hamster he's had since his Mom left, and dreams of attending Joe Blasco's effects school in New York.
His relationship with Gemma is a bit flirtatious, but when he meets Wilder at the hardware store he works at, feelings of a completely different nature start stirring in him. This is a pretty fantastic first feature from Newfoundland director Stephen Dunn.
It blends melodramatic teen angst with strange fantasy touches in a manner not quite exactly like anyone else. Sometimes it feels like Xavier Dolan, and there are deliberate references to early Cronenberg, but it's not really beholden to its influences.
I don't think it completely succeeds ... it builds towards a climax that feels a bit disappointing given what came before it ... but this is an extremely promising debut.
This review of Closet Monster (2016) was written by David M on 12 Aug 2016.
Closet Monster has generally received positive reviews.
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