Starring: Stavros Halkias, Wes Haney and CM Punk
Directed by: Ben Kitnick
Rated: NR
Running Time: 90 minutes
Dark Sky Films
Our Score: 3 out of 5 Stars
You ever had an annoying person in a friend group, but you can’t get rid of them? Chip (Stavros Halkias) is kind of like that friend, but instead of being in a friend group, he’s in a cult. In fact, he’s so annoying, the cult commits their mass suicide without him. He’s about to resign back to a life at home, where his own family doesn’t want to be around him, when he finds out that the ex-cult leader, William (Wes Haney) is actually still alive. In frustration, Chip tracks down William, and forces William to reboot the cult so they can commit ritualistic suicide the right way.
Wacky comedies used to be a dime a dozen, but now they feel more like a lost art, if you consider mid-2000s films like “Strange Wilderness” or “Grandma’s Boy” a lost art. “Let’s Start a Cult” doubles down on absurdism at every turn, starting with the film’s lead, Chip. He would actually be an obnoxious individual to be around, but as the film progresses, it peels back layers to reveal this relatable softness which undercuts his chaotic spirit. It’s a lot like a 90s Adam Sandler character, without access to endless pools of money or having some kind of insanely unique talent.
We learn, fairly early on in the film through dialogue and interactions, that Chip joined the cult in search of a family. He really doesn’t seem to have any friends and his family seems to view him as some kind of unwanted adoption. Even around strangers, he’s frequently vulgar for no reason, which is off-putting the every day individual. Eventually this plays into Chip’s charm, especially when sandwiched with William, who may be the most cowardly cult leader in cinema history. Of course, the cast of characters they meet and recruit to their cult, are also broken down souls that have been rejected by friends, family and society.
The film has a subtle, let your freak flag fly, morality to it, which plays into Chip’s odd nature. As for the laughs, they don’t come a mile a minute and they sometimes mistake simple crassness for humor, but the film finds itself tickling the funny bone in several inspiring moments; thanks to Halkias performance. It’s hard to imagine anyone else taking this self-deprecating material like Halkias and elevating it to such dizzying heights. The film is mercifully short, meaning that it does run out of steam with minutes left to spare on its somewhat inspired sketch comedy premise.
It seems like the only comedies I’ve watched this year have been blends or attached to other genres, like “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Didi,” “Lisa Frankenstein” and so forth. Because of that lack thereof, I think I enjoyed “Let’s Start a Cult” more than I normally would. Very few studios or artists are willing to take a leap on a pure comedy, so props to Director Ben Kitnick, as well as Halkias and Haney, for pulling the trigger on something that isn’t as bankable as it used to be. You told a story worthy of comedies from 21st century heydays.
The post Film Review: “Let’s Start a Cult” appeared first on MediaMikes.
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