Movie Monday: The Dark Backward

*sigh* Wow, this movie was heavy.  I don't know what was up with Judd Nelson in 1991, but between this and New Jack City he made some really downer movies that year. (Except I really like New Jack City)


The Dark Backward is one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen. It follows the story of a comedian by the name of Marty (Judd Nelson) who is about as funny as Santa Claus's funeral.  His best friend is Gus(Bill Paxton), a fellow garbageman by day and also an accordion player by night. Gus is pretty much the most disgusting individual you've ever met. Necrophilia, sexual deviancy, avarice, etc. none of these are beyond Gus.  Marty on the other hand is loyal, innocent, and naive.

Oh also, Marty starts to grow a third arm out of his back. Did I not mention that earlier?  Yeah. That's pretty much the beginning of his problems. After that happens, his girlfriend leaves him, and then fools around with Gus. Marty's mother disowns him. He gets turned into a freak show. Gus gets to go to Hollywood instead of Marty when the arm disappears and noone will book him now that he's back to being a crappy comedian/garbageman.  So in the end, Gus leaves for Hollywood, Marty is left all alone with no family, no friends, no girlfriend, and no career. He goes back to telling his terrible comedy, but... SURPRISE!!! So much bad crap has happened to Marty that he can just make people laugh by telling them about the horrible stuff that happened to him.  THE END!

Moral of the movie: Things will work out if enough bad things happen to you.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Prozacs for being horribly depressing.