Tusk - D

Rated R, 102 minutes
Wes's Grade: D

Smith's original "Tusk" mostly weird and dumb

The toilet flushing sound you hear is that of Kevin Smith's film career going down quickly, after most audiences see his dark new horror comedy "Tusk." It could've had a dark edge to it, yet it's mostly just creepy and stupid in a shocking sort of "Human Centipede" way. Justin Long is a California podcaster who is targeted by a Canadian sadistic killer while attempting to land an interview with a misanthropic adventurer (Michael Parks), and then his friend co-podcaster (Haley Joel Osment) and girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez) go searching for him. Directed and written by the talented Smith, who charmed us with "Chasing Amy," "Jay and Silent Bob" and "Clerks," "Tusk" is an original but wildly uneven, exceedingly weird and rather slapdash effort that's also misleading when it says it's "based on a true story." "Tusk" actually started as a joke on Smith's podcast, and is hardly grounded in any sort of reality or solid filmmaking skill for that matter, though the first 20 minutes or so isn't too bad. Even worse, it veers off wildly when an A-list actor shows up under a load of makeup awkwardly improvising, but even his poor attempts at comic relief can't save the movie, which is gone too far by then under a tremendous amount of silly shock value. "Tusk" also uses the Fleetwood Mac song of the same name (though they will surely regret letting Smith use it), yet the film really channels the Beatles song "I Am the Walrus," which is about as much of the plot I care to give away. Even more provocative than the plot, you may find yourself asking such questions as "is that really the guy from 'Pirates of the Caribbean'?" (yes, just listen to the voice) or "is that really the kid from 'Sixth Sense'" (whose pudgy character is obviously modeled after Smith himself); I also really felt sorry for poor Justin Long, whose getup looks as unpleasant and ill-fitting as the movie itself. If you're a big Smith fan and enjoy weird stuff like this, go for it, but otherwise I'd skip the disturbingly awful "Tusk."