Review of Tusk (2014) by Jake P — 30 Dec 2016

After trying something different with 2011s (underwhelming) Red State, Kevin Smith decided to double down on his horror excursion with 2014s Tusk, an original idea the writer/director conceived of while recording a podcast (along with Scott Mosier), delivering a very impressive, scary, funny exercise in genre.

As the film was thought up during a podcast, it is fitting that the plot centers around a podcaster (played by Justin Long) who journeys up to Canada for a juicy story. The plot is very simple but effective one and the whole thing is shot surprisingly well for a Smith film (with cinematography by James Laxton), with great production design, makeup and overall presentation, signaling a growth for the filmmaker (as his films were not usually the most cinematic in the past).

Carried by strong performances by Long and Michael Parks (who is always great), the duo truly commit in this truly crazy story that is unique, refreshing and (disgustingly) enjoyable to watch. The dark and absurd sense of humor (with the usual crass jokes thrown in) that Smith layers the film in solidifies the depth of work that went into Tusk, establishing it as not just a good horror film but one of the directors best films to date.