Buy Bad Boy Bubby on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Rolf de Heer
Directed by: Rolf de Heer
Starring: Nicholas Hope, Claire Benito, Ralph Cotterill
Rated: NR [R]
Watch the trailer
Plot
Bubby has spent thirty years trapped in one small room, tricked by his mother. One day, he manages to escape, deranged and naive in equal measures, his adventure into a modern and nihilistic life begins.
Verdict
While there may be a message in this movie, it's obscured by the depravity throughout. This has more thought in the story than b-movie schlock, but the content isn't that different. This seems to be crafted just to shock and disturb. It's definitely a movie I'll never revisit, and I wonder if I should have followed my initial inclination and stopped after the first five minutes. This could be an examination of nature versus nurture, but the happy ending undermines the credibility of that argument.
Skip it.
Review
It's worth noting, that despite animal cruelty allegations the director and actor both stated no animals were harmed. That's a strong indication of what happens in this movie.
No production logo, no context, just right into the movie. Four minutes in and this is disturbing, vile even. Six minutes in and I'm wondering if I should even continue watching this. Featuring various forms of depravity, this hasn't even gotten into the plot. The root of the movie is a mother that's been abusing her son for thirty years or more; emotionally, physically, and sexually. It's terrible. He's been held captive his entire life, confined to this small, dingy apartment.
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| Nicholas Hope plays Bubby |
Bubby (Nicholas Hope) is unleashed on the world or the world is unleashed on him. I don't know if his immaturity is due to mental deficiency or emotionally stunting due to his upbringing. He's completely unprepared for anything, and he frightens people, not knowing how to act or function in society. It's a direct result of his mother. He assaults people, is taken advantage of, and hangs out with a band. I question their interest in him.
While the message of the movie might be about the harm parents can cause to children, this movie also has no interest in being accessible to a wide audience to ensure that idea reaches people. This could be how Bubby will overcome his upbringing or that he may never be right. Maybe this explores how someone does and doesn't fit into society, but it's so crude that it feels like a generous interpretation. Throughout the movie, I just don't know. This has more thought than a b-movie, but the imagery isn't that much different.
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| Nicholas Hope plays Bubby |
Bubby adventures around this city, just showing up at places. There's not much connection or explanation for how someone that doesn't know much about society travels in it. Bubby ends up joining a band and starting a relationship with a nurse. I don't know how that even starts, but it does cross an ethical boundary. You could say that about much of this movie.
The end is somewhat happily ever after, but Bubby has killed four people and assaulted several more. Ignorance doesn't excuse it. If you want this movie to be a discussion point about parenting or society, why make it so disturbing that you have to address allegations of animal cruelty that will certainly alienate a number of viewers automatically? This assumes the worst both of society and someone ignorant of customs. Everyone is interested in fulfilling their own desires, indifferent to who is harmed along the way.
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