Review of Kaboom (2010) by Danny R — 28 Jan 2011

Director Gregg Araki's latest film "Kaboom" is a unhinged, candy-colored gonzo teen sex fantasy and apocalyptic cult thriller. It can also be described as a engaging acid-trip, a crazy combination of Twin Peaks, Donnie Darko and The X-Files, with some truly funny scenes, and some eerie ones that has to be seen to be believed.

It concerns the sexual exploits of a handsome perpetually horny, and awkward 18-year-old bi-sexual college freshman named Smith, played by Thomas Dekker in a solid performance who spends his days fantasizing and lusting after the object of his affection, his hot and frequently naked, dumb as a log, heterosexual surfer roommate, Thor, well played by Chris Zylka and hanging out with his best friend a sassy lesbian named Stella, nicely played by Haley Bennett.

Strange things begin to happened when people in Smith's recurring dream begin to show up in real life, Men wearing animal masks start stalking him, and there is a subplot about a murderous cult trying to bring an end to the world, in between the lesbian witches, crazy animal-mask wearing cultists, and a college campus populated by promiscuous teens who spend all their time having lots of sex, both gay and straight and everything in between.

Director Araki has brilliantly captured a real 1980s kitsch feel to this very strange but amusing film, which is without a doubt not for the ultra-conservative or homophobic crowd. So if you appreciate the bizarre, I think you will have a hell of a good time with quirky film.

Highly recommended.