Weirdsville (2007)

Canadian Shaken

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Weirdsville on DVD

Cult director Allan Moyle (Pump Up the Volume, Empire Records, New Waterford Girl) turns in another hilarious, low-key, character-driven comedy. Wes Bently and Scott Speedman star as two stoned Canadian junkies who find their friend, part-time prostitute Matilda (Taryn Manning), passed out and assume she's dead. Rather than involve the cops, they try to bury her themselves, but stumble upon a group of devil worshippers who are sacrificing their own body. From there, characters race around, searching for money, safe combinations, enchanted blood, and Moonies, and avoiding drug dealers with a penchant for breaking thumbs. A band of little people, armed with maces and clubs, shows up to help. The twisty plot, with all its surprise encounters and trade-offs, is nothing new, but Moyle beautifully sustains the film's energy as well as the elusive mixture of comedy and suspense. I was laughing well into the film's third act, when most films stop being funny.

Starring: Scott Speedman, Wes Bentley, Taryn Manning, Matt Frewer, Greg Bryk, Maggie Castle, Raoul Bhaneja, Joe Dinicol, Jordan Prentice, Dax Ravin, Joey Beck, Randy Butcher, Derek Gilroy, Mark Parr, Dax Ravina, Allan Redford, Shayne Wyler
Written by: Willem Wennekers
Directed by: Allan Moyle
MPAA Rating: R for drug content, language including sexual references, and some violence
Running Time: 90 minutes
Date: October 19, 2007