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| Images Courtesy of Antenna Releasing |
Zach
Passero's The Weird Kidz is a nostalgia-soaked horror comedy that has
all of the ingredients for a cult classic. Laced with perverse humor,
extreme violence, and a surprisingly sentimental undertone, this animated romp
is a love letter to the 80's, switching the kids on bikes trope with kids on
hormones. Featuring a unique visual presentation, a genre blending
story, and a handful of heartfelt performances, this is one of the most fun
cinematic experiences of the year thus far.
Dug and his friends tag along with his older brother Wyatt and his new girlfriend Duana for a night of drinking, camping, and rock n roll. Their revelry is upended when a local urban legend, The Night Child turns out to not only be real, but also part of a bigger nightmare. Passero wrote the script which takes a raunchier approach to the coming-of-age theme of other, similar works. In this case, the horny teens seem organic and the way each of the three younger characters grapple with the transition towards adulthood is fascinating. Juxtaposing this is Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood) as Wyatt. He is portrayed as one of the possible outcomes for the younger principles, a going nowhere wannabe rock star.
Angela Bettis (May, Carrie) lends her voice as Duana, who is the heart of the story, twisting a genre staple of the promiscuous, ignorant girlfriend into a humorous and soulful performance. Rounding out the cast is Sean Bridgers (Deadwood) as the town's mysterious sheriff. One of the strongest aspects beyond the performances is how Passero's story builds upon its own lore, taking the concept of strange small-town folk and inverting it with a sense of darkness. The result is Twin Peaks' thoughtful, but absolutely shameless younger sibling.
Passero began thinking about the film when his wife Hannah and him learned they were expecting their first child, as he became infused with a sense of nostalgia. Passero created the animation and Hannah then hand painted them. It is this kind of loving collaboration and dedication that make a small project like this mean so much, and it is clear, not only from the performances, the jokes, and the overall layered story, that The Weird Kidz will have a long-lasting legacy.
Now playing in select theaters and hopefully coming soon to streaming, The Weird Kidz is a laugh out loud inappropriate trip. Filled with gore, sex, and endless potty humor, this is the perfect callback to an era long gone.
--Kyle
Jonathan