MisterWhiplash Vulgar comes right out of the View Askew universe, sort of. It was produced by the brain-children of the group, Scott Mosier (producer) and Kevin Smith (director), who in their first film Clerks featured its logo for their company as a clown in a tutu and doing a dance around some little kid. It was cute. Really, it's a nice little animation for their company, even if it's never mentioned in the film it gives a good idea of what to expect from the company, their mind-set. But a whole film to that idea, of a clown caught up in dangerous s***? And where the birthday clown decides to be a bachelor party clown as a joke and winds up getting gang-raped by an old crazy bastard and his two grown-man kids? And then he gets a TV show because he decides to save a little girl from the clutches of her father holding her hostage when she should be having a birthday party? And then he... oh, nevermind.Explaining the plot of Vulgar is kind of tiring, and yet it isn't always tiring, or boring, to watch the film itself. As Bryan Johnson's one foray into directing (who knows if he'll have another go, perhaps once was enough, or all that could be given at the time), it goes into dark ground, of which Smith's films usually don't go into (another film, un-seen by me, called A Better Place from View Askew was similarly dark and filled with crime and tragic consequence). Johnson is able to set up and follow through on the dramatic situations- the gang-rape scene, contrary to what some have criticized it, is warped and delirious and just this side of harrowing to keep it something worth watching. And the scenes immediately after it are very good as well, giving Brian O'Halloran (famous previously for "I'm not even supposed to be here today!" in Clerks) some ample room to spread his acting chops, which are limited but present.It's when the film turns its eye at the TV angle, of 'Vulgar' being wiped from memory from William and going back to the happy clown that kids want to see at the Funhouse, that it gets wobbly. A third act involving a crap blackmailing scheme by the old-bastard and his sons is a mixed bag, only getting intense in that final confrontation at the motel room. In-between Johnson, trying to be hip and edgy with his dialog, gives characters witty or just declaratively amusing things to say, and only Smith himself, playing a TV producer-impresario, gets it and kind of pulls it off to the best of his abilities. Johnson should have taken a side: make a really nasty drama that turns violent and really gets into the psychology of a character dejected throughout his life, or make it a character in a really deranged comedy, perhaps not unlike Goldthwait's Shakes the Clown. Johnson mixes and matches, and tries his darndest to make Will a likable character. He's only halfway likable, and even then what his mother keeps telling him he is, a loser.There's promise here proposed with the premise, and some of it is followed through. And sure, there's some fun in seeing a few familiar faces (Mewes plays a junkie, producer Scott Mosier looks clean-cut as a TV talk show host), and Johnson himself gives himself a reasonably interesting side-character who acts as the sound-board for William. But in general, it's a weird package, and not totally sure of its tone to make itself a cult-crown sensation or something worthy of some of its inspiration: Blue Velvet.

paul david a 2000 film which I have only got around to seeing this year. Yes, its vulgar by title and action, yes its shocking but its a film which draw on your emotions and make you watch until the end. the gang rape of the clown is utterly sick and revolting but you will follow it. when will helps to save the little girl, he becomes a national hero and everybody loves a clown. its a splendid movie overall but not for everyone, as people have said previously and don't expose any kids to it or it will put them off hiring a clown forever. not sure what the overall message was of the film and I have watched it through a couple of times, always grimacing at the sensitive moments. it is a unique film in many ways and shows we are all vulnerable when we least expect it. who would be a clown?

James Siegel All right let's get this out of the way first. This is often known as "That Kevin Smith Clown Rape Movie" Let's tackle these misconceptions. First of all, Kevin Smith did not write or direct this movie, Byran Johnson did. Smith produced it, and huzzah to him for allowing this great movie to come about. Smith also had a cameo. Many, many View Askew actors had parts in this. Jason Mewes, Ethan Surplee, Walt Flanagan and others had cameos and small roles. Bryan "Steve-Dave" Johnson also had a fairly large part. Now, about the clown rape. YES a clown is raped. NO, it is not funny. Nor is it supposed to be. This movie is a very serious movie that is full of emotions and you really, really feel for these characters. I mean, you might just cry after all the crud Will "Flappy/Vulgar" Carlson is put through. This movie also has a good amount of comedy in it. Nothing to extreme. Not all of it is funny, but accents the rather serious tone rather well. You must understand though, this is not a comedy. You WILL NOT LAUGH AT A CLOWN BEING RAPED. Unless you enjoy physically raping clowns yourself you will either be offended, horrified or engrossed, or all three. This movie is really great, though. The acting is what sets it apart from all other low budget films. O'Halloran's acting is beyond anything he's put forth so far. No one else would be able to portray the range of emotions he goes through whilst also looking like a common man throughout. You will coo at his heartwarming love of children. You will be thoroughly touched by his depressing life. You will cheer for him when the going is good, and stick with him when the going is bad. And the going gets really bad. The rest of the acting is above par as well, especially the psychotic trio. You will be generally disgusted at these sick, vulgar beings. And that's what makes this movie standout. Amazing acting. Cinematography is also excellent here, with a few shots that make my keen eyes widen. Johnson and Scott Mosier did a good editing job and the soundtrack is quite good, and even worth a purchase for it's interesting mix of under-the-radar music of varying genres, while not overpowering the film itself. Flaws? Yeah, a few. One, it's really melodramatic. Sometimes the drama is just too much. Thankfully it's cut out with some humor, though sometimes in the midst of things it's not that funny. Also, many loose ends that you would like tied up are left open. This works well in the end, but sometimes during the movie you'll go "huh". Overall, this isn't for the "ha-ha Kevin Smith makes nice dick jokes" crowd, so much as die-hard fans. But anyone who has a strong stomach and a sensible mind can relate to this poor clown's existence in perhaps the most underrated film of all time. Go buy it!

aziffle13 (Some spoilers for a portion of the movie to give you a setup for what this film really is and that is not a comedy.) The movie traces the trials and tribulations of a poor schmuck trying to scrape by as a kids party clown with a castrating mother in a nursing home. He is paying her freight, which she has no appreciation for, and is understandably behind on his own bills. He shows that he has a good heart early on with a small kindness that most in his situation would not extend, but life doesn't see it clear to cut him a break.Instead he tries a somewhat odd idea of being a gag entertainer for bachelor parties. He figures he can be a fake stripper showing up dressed in stripper garb and everyone have a good laugh on the groom. The first time out things go horribly wrong when he encounters a nightmare father and his equally sick and perverse sons who set him up to be their 'entertainment' for the evening. (We learn just how sick later on, as of this scene wasn't 'vulgar' enough.) At this point it becomes painfully obvious that anyone calling this movie a comedy is mis-categorizing it horribly. From there on the movie and his life takes some major twists and turns both good and bad.The movie is vulgar as some have stated, but what is vulgar about it is the truth that the horrible people in this movie do in fact exist and horrible things do happen to decent people. I think that was the message this film is trying to convey.His mother, the sadistic father (and his sons), and another father in the film (and many small characters) are examples of what is the worst of our society.Flappy/Vulgar is just a regular guy, along with his buddy, trying to get by in (sometimes) horrible circumstances. I found the end satisfying, others may not. I think two of the biggest problems people will have with the film are: 1) They go in thinking Kevin Smith = funny. It does start out a bit in the vain of a dark comedy. Also, Kevin Smith has a fairly amusing small role. But, obviously it is no comedy.2) The slap in the face that is the transition for the viewer from (thinking) dark comedy to wow this is very dark subject matter and serious.All in all not what I expected knowing only that it was View Askew.However, I give the writer/director and Kevin Smith credit for having the stones to make something original. The movie went from mildly amusing to horrifying to intriguing to disturbing to tense and came to rest on a satisfying ending (at least for this viewer).A decent movie if you go in expecting the right thing.