Vulcanizadora (2024)

I’m a fan of indie director Joel Potrykus, particularly the two films I’ve seen where he collaborates with actor Joshua Burge, Buzzard and Relaxer. They’re both slacker comedies smashed into dark and surreal places, increasing anxiety and discomfort while also being funny. One inspiration for Vulcanizadora (2024) was Potrykus seeing Gerry and wanting to make his own version, delving into aspects that […]

Buzzard (2014)

Heavy metal music blaring and a freak out over a busted Nintendo power glove, this is the first scene of dark indie comedy, Buzzard (2014), one of the several collaborations between Michigan based director Joel Potrykus and star Joshua Burge. I loved their last film together from 2018, the surreal Relaxer, and I was keen […]

Relaxer (2018)

Relaxer (2018) is a strange hybrid of Beavis and Butthead, Castaway and David Cronenberg. Set in one location, a dilapidated living room, and focused on Abbie (Joshua Burge) who suffers a tortured life of constant “challenges” by his older punker brother Cam (David Dastmalchian). Set in 1999 during the lead up to the millennium (and […]