Review of Tusk (2014) by Gage J — 20 Dec 2014

When I first saw the propaganda for the movie tusk, I knew that people would never be able to fully comprehend the beauty of this film, and I myself, admittedly didn't quite grasp how good it could be that early in.

This film creates a web of plot-lines all surrounding and revealing the true core character of the individual known as Mr. Howard Howe, and also reveals the wickedness of his very average, yet unique victim Wallace.

All of Howard's monologues of his long life rife with misfortune spin a truly believable villain's profile. The way he deceives and the way he confides show the duality of his character, an eloquent, intelligible man who has a savage and sociopath underside brought out by his ill treatment as a child, and his eventual salvation by a walrus that he in turn betrays and feels the need to redeem himself for.

His redemption comes in the form of resurrection; resurrection of a walrus in the body of a man named Wallace. He says to Wallace in his final climactic scene, where he intends to fight his old walrus savior to the death that he must go full walrus or die.

I feel like, in Kevin smiths own weird way, going full walrus, or being a walrus at all is a way of being noble and beautiful. This idea is build throughout the film, and creates a believable delusion for the main antagonist, one that leads him to commit his crimes.

This movie is not a comedy, nor a horror film, but more of a fusion of the two, yet neither. There is no true way to put to words the amazing mixture of plot and passion, as told by the actors who truly become their characters.

Wallace is a scumbag of a man, as told by the story, but he is still a human and still has loved ones. When turned to a walrus his character shifts completely into a raging beast, one that cannot communicate as a man.

His act of personal redemption is becoming the walrus, and freeing his captor of his past, thus ending a serial killers reign, and thus allowing his girlfriend and best friend to become romantically entangled, openly rather than in the shadows.

His sacrifice, becomes unintentionally noble at the end of the film, and this is recognized when his girlfriend, Ally, says, tears running down her face: "I love you Wallace" and a tear Trickles down Wallace's patchwork of a skin, down his tusk as she and teddy walk away, teddy comforting ally.

This scene at the end is a reference to the middle of the film when Ally says to Wallace in an intimate, sexual setting, "Crying is what sets us apart from the animals." this is a genius way of showing that though he is physically a walrus, Wallace is also a human.

When the movie ended there, I myself could barely hold back my tears, because that scene was so touching and so tragic, as well as messed up, that I was at a loss of words and feelings. It was the most magical, and horrible experience, and it made me ask the age old question that has plagued us since we crawled from the surf and stood erect, the sun shining upon us, "Is man really, a walrus at heart?".