This is, possibly, the most foul-mouthed film I’ve seen in 38 years of reviewing.
That’s not to say it the dialogue doesn’t help the character development, because it does.
Joe Begos in “Eli Roth Presents Jimmy & Stiggs” (IMDb)
You know who you are, you fans of films like “Mandy” and Roth’s own “Hostel.” You’re bound to enjoy the characters in this bonkers, grue-soaked story that takes place in an apartment where the out-of-work Jimmy (writer/director Joe Begos) lives.
The movie is smartly meta, with Jimmy drinking and drugging his way through the night while he complains about the crash of his career as a filmmaker.
Jimmy has seen something that has his mind spinning even more than what he’s ingested. He tries to call his old friend Stiggs (Matt Mercer) but Stiggs won’t answer. When they finally do speak, it turns out that Stiggs, who is now sober, wants to stay far away from Jimmy so he doesn’t relapse.
Jimmy rattles off a drug-addled, frenzied tale about extraterrestrials to the surprised Stiggs, who listens as Jimmy tells wild tales of abductions and implants.
Are you surprised that there’s a “Cannibal Holocaust” poster on Jimmy’s wall? That, and the mention of Eli Roth’s name in the title, tell you before the first frame that you’re in for a gross-out, violent ride full of day-glow goo and other eye-popping images along with the raw dialogue.
The low-cost special effects are pretty impressive, particularly when it comes to the aliens and a couple of fight scenes.
The dialogue is the best thing about the movie. Underneath all of that profanity, it tells us about a years-long friendship, and simmering jealousies and anger that the friends share. I’ve known these guys, or at least people a lot like them, and I’ll bet you have, too.
The finale, if you can call it that, was far too abrupt for me. But the rest of the movie is like its characters: Smarter than it might first appear.
2 1/2 stars
Running time: One hour and 20 minutes.
In theaters.
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