Tusk: Searching for the Answer to the Ultimate Question

Contains spoilers!

Tusk is one of the most entertaining films to watch with someone that’s not yet experienced it. Directed by Kevin Smith and released in 2014, Tusk depicts the story of Wallace Bryton (Justin Long) traveling to Canada to interview an internet sensation for his podcast. When this fails to pan out, he comes across a note from Howard Howe (Michael Parks), an elderly man who wishes to tell someone his life story. What ensues is nothing short of hilarious, followed by boredom, and the return to hilarious.

Howe does wish to tell someone his life story, but it’s so much more than that. His earnest desire is to recreate the walrus that saved him during his youth and, in the process, to see if man will succumb to its basic animal instincts to survive. In other words, “Is man, indeed, a walrus at heart?” To do so, Howe sews Bryton into a walrus suit, made from the skin of those who have previously conversed with Howe. Think (though I’m sure you’d rather not) of The Human Centipede if it were a comedy.

It is undeniable that Bryton and Howe have amazing chemistry. The way Parks delivers his line, one finds themselves hanging on his every word. He switches from a feeble, sophisticated, eccentric old man to a deranged Dr. Frankenstein in the blink of an eye, and he does so flawlessly. Likewise, Bryton’s reactions to what’s happening to him as he slowly realizes what’s going on are top-shelf comedy gold.

What brings the film down is when it switches to its other narrative. As his situation starts escalating, Bryton contacts his co-host, Teddy (Haley Joel Osment), who is also secretly sleeping with Bryton’s girlfriend Ally (Genesis Rodriguez). Concerned, the two rush to Canada to save Bryton from his fate. When the authorities fail to help them, they hire Guy Lapointe (Johnny Depp). This film is one of the few times I’ve not been happy to see Johhny Depp make an appearance. His accent is atrocious, his monologues aren’t an enjoyable watch, and none of Depp’s extraordinary talent can give them anything resembling a modicum of seeming interesting.

When Bryton, at last, dons the walrus suit, seeing him in it is both entertainingly shocking and shockingly entertaining. It’s impossible not to be simultaneously repulsed by it and wanting to laugh at how ridiculous it is. It truly is one of the most unique designs for anything I’ve ever seen in any movie.

Bryton, at the start of the film, is not a good person, exploiting “weird or interesting” people via his podcast for his own benefit. The internet sensation he travels to visit in Canada is known as the “Kill Bill Kid,” made famous by accidentally cutting off his own leg with a katana. He learns the Kill Bill Kid, due to the online backlash he’s received, has committed suicide, and he displays no sort of empathy. He then visits Howe for the same purpose: intending to exploit Howe and his stories for his own benefit. It could be argued that Wallace deserves his fate, as someone exploiting weird or interesting people becomes one himself.

Johnny Depp’s Guy Lapointe is one of the most annoying characters that’s made his way to the silver screen. He’s been searching for Howe for several years and tells a story of an interaction that takes far too long and contains nothing humor wise. Johnny Depp is one of the most talented and iconic actors working today, and it’s a shame to see his talents wasted here. On the contrary, his daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, makes a cameo as one of the clerks. This was the first thing I’d seen her from, and it was great to see her stretch her legs in 2024’s Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers.

When Tusk is good, it’s hilarious. When it’s bad, it comes quite close to putting one to sleep or, worse, turning it off.  It’s a middle of the road film that would be greatly improved if three-fifths of its characters were greatly overhauled. Despite these issues, though, it remains one of the most unique and bizarre movies I’ve seen and leaves me questioning if I am, at heart, a walrus.

Cast

Justin Long as Wallace Bryton

Michael Parks as Howard Howe

Genesis Rodriguez as Ally Leon

Haley Joel Osment as Teddy

Johnny Depp as Guy LaPointe