Review of Tyrel (2018) by Mmadnessgames — 28 Mar 2019

Another reviewer said "Tyrel is Get Out without the horror or the comedy," or something to that extent... I agree. It doesn't have a genre. It isn't funny. It isn't scary. It has no real dramatic element. But (for me) it functions as a somewhat interesting film nonetheless. Although, unfortunately, it is muddied by a completely unnecessary racial component.

The main character's name is Tyler (not Tyrel). At one point in the film, somebody calls him Tyrel then flippantly apologises for getting his name wrong. Even the title makes a so-called racial commentary. The thing is: people get names wrong. Especially when they're drunk. I don't see the world in black and white, like Tyler does.

Tyler goes a long to a weekend of drinking in the woods with his friend. Everybody knows everyone (except him) and he feels out of place. It's a birthday weekend celebration with a bunch of close friends and him. I've felt like this before. I can relate to it. I just don't see what it has to do with race, unless the white characters are supposed to be racists.

Why go drinking with a bunch of guys you don't know, if you're going to spend the whole time judging them and distancing yourself?

The film has it's moments. Michael Cera always amuses me... but, I'm getting tired of seeing him in bad art-house films all the time (rather than good films, art-house or otherwise).

I watched Green Book just before watching this, which is kind of a reverse Driving Miss Daisy. I'm getting tired of seeing films about black people versus white people.

You want to know what grinds my gears: people who focus on skin colour in the name of anti-racism. If skin colour is irrelevant, why do we keep discussing it? And why are we selective when discussing it?

Tyrel could be white and the film be exactly the same, with a couple of minor tweaks. The racial aspect massively detracts from my ability to enjoy the film.

By the end, I don't even know what the commentary is supposed to be.

The main character is anti-social, judgemental and sulky. He treats the people who feed him and house him and give him alcohol with suspicion and contempt, after deciding early on that doesn't want to be there... but he's stuck and can't get away. Even before they arrive, right at the beginning of the film, he is apprehensive. He says something like "I haven't met Nico yet, so we'll see," in response to a comment about Nico (the homeowner) being a nice person.

If the point of the film is that Tyler is in the wrong assuming racism and shouldn't have gone to the woods with his friend to celebrate a stranger's birthday (considering how he behaves), that's fine. Although I'm not sure it justifies a feature length film... But, I don't think that is the point.

This film is suggesting there is a subtle layer of racism against black people in white America. The opposite of this statement can also be made. But, you basically never see films about black people being racist towards whites.

I've seen at least three films in the past year - Get Out, Tyrel and Green Book - that paint white people in stark contrast to black people.

It's difficult when you're out of your element. It doesn't matter if you're black. In Tyrel, it would be super awkward for anyone. Going on a weekend-long drinking session in the woods with a bunch of people you've never met before (who are all close friends, celebrating a birthday of someone you've never met before) is awkward. Especially if you don't want to be there in the first place. Being black maybe makes it more awkward for some people. I've hung out - in Africa - being the only white guy in a group of black guys. I felt left out, but if they were white I also would have felt left out. I don't think there's a significant difference. But, like I said, I don't see the world in black and white.

It's a pretty boring film. I'm not a genre Nazi. But it's not funny or sad or thrilling or scary, so it ends up being a bit dull.

Without the racial stuff, maybe it deserves a 4/10.

Would not recommend watching this.