Vulgar

Plot synopsis:
Will Carlson is a 20-something loser who lives in a rundown neighborhood in New Jersey, where he ekes out a living as a birthday party clown in order to pay the rent for his abusive mother's nursing home and the rent on his rundown house. Despite the difficulties of the job, clowning is Will's one escape from the realities of his miserable existence: Will genuinely likes kids, and takes great joy from making them happy on their birthdays.
Struggling to make ends meet, but not wanting to give up his dream job, Will comes up with the idea to be a "bachelor party clown." Will's idea is that men throwing bachelor parties can hire him as well as a stripper; Will enters the room prior to the "real" entertainment, wearing clown makeup and lingerie, tricking the bachelor into thinking that there was a mix-up and a gay clown stripper has been sent in lieu of a female one. Will invents the persona of Vulgar the Clown (after his friend Syd tells him that the entire idea is "vulgar") and solicits himself in the want-ads. Before long, he is hired to appear at a bachelor party being held at a nearby motel.
When Will arrives for the party — wearing stockings, garters, clown makeup, and a trench-coat — he is attacked and brutally beaten by a middle-aged man, Ed, and his sons Gino and Frankie. The three men then proceed to gang rape Will, taking turns videotaping the attack. The trio hold Will hostage in the motel room for an indeterminate amount of time, during which they subject him to a series of violent and humiliating sexual assaults. They also break a bottle over his head and drug him. A tearful Will goes home and spends the remainder of the night and part of the next morning crying while he washes himself clean in the bathtub.
Will spends a considerable amount of time after the attack in a crippling depression, which nearly costs him his home. Eventually, Will fulfills a promise to appear as a clown at one of his past-clients' children's party. When he gets to the party, Will discovers a hostage crisis is occurring; the father of one of the children, in the middle of divorce proceedings, has kidnapped his own daughter and is threatening to kill her. In a near-suicidal reaction, Will sneaks past the police barricade, breaks into the house, and subdues the father. News reporters capture some of the event on film, and before long the story makes national headlines. Will becomes known as "the hero clown;" the attention and outpouring of support breaks him out of his depression, and he is eventually given his own syndicated children's television show.
The media coverage attracts the attention of Ed and his sons (who are still raping young men). They threaten Will with a copy of the tape of his being raped (edited to look like amateur porn) and begin to extort him. When Will tries to pay the men off, they attack him in a bathroom stall. Will finally strikes an agreement with the men wherein he will come to a motel room and "perform" for them, allowing himself to be taken advantage of again, and they will give him all of the copies of the tape; secretly, Will plans to ambush and murder them with the help of Syd.
When the time comes, the gun jams and Will finds himself unable to kill his tormentors. Just as Ed and his sons move in to rape and murder Will, Ed's son Frankie accidentally shoots himself in the face. Then, a shootout ensues with a vagrant lowlife at the hotel, who robs Syd and then plots to do the same to the others. Both the man and Ed's other son (Gino) are shot to death. Ed panics, and Will chases him through the motel parking lot to a nearby playground. As Will approaches him, Ed has a massive heart attack and starts to die. Will takes off as he hears police sirens coming. His conscience clear, Will retrieves the tape and goes on to live happily ever after, hosting his television show.
=== Extended ending ===
The director's cut DVD features an extended ending, wherein Will finds a note from Syd along with a clipped newspaper article on the Fanelli's death, Ed's heart failure from panic and overdose of crack cocaine, as well as attributing Ed's sons' (as well as the vagrant lowlife's) deaths to a random incidence of criminal violence and natural circumstance. A stunned Will determines that the men's deaths were all karmic retribution.

Tags: cult, comedy

Review:
These scenes all shows strength, talent and feeling with both O' Halloran's acting and Johnson's directing.Johnson himself, like Tarantino and producer Kevin Smith, once jockeyed in a video store.
Which means they;ll be in for some serious shock and disappointment.Johnson's only real mistake, in my opinion (and this is one that hurts the movie more than anything else) is his decision to act in it as the clown's only friend.
His roommate(Bryan Johnson, the director of VULGAR) is probably the best character in the film.
For others, you could probably do with this film.Pros: -very engaging and moving at times -decent acting -well established dark tone -intense -a guilty pleasureCons: -unneeded humor -graphic violence, rape, and sexual torture may be too much for a lot of viewers -bad marketing.
American Me also received a similarly low rating from IMDB users, likely for the same reason, and that film is definitely one of the best films ever made, certainly the best and most realistic and, more importantly, relevant, gang/prison film I've ever seen.Though it was neither written nor directed by him, Vulgar is played off much of the time as a Kevin Smith film (e.g. Dogma, Clerks, Mallrats, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back), and also stars the main character from Clerks (O'Halloran), as well as Kevin Smith himself and one or two others.
It's not a comedy, though, and the sex in the movie is most definitely not meant to be funny or entertaining, nor are the sarcastic comments from the main character's cynical but supportive friend.It's mainly a good look at how someone deals with a horrible set of life circumstances and events and how it changes them.
With such a small cast of characters and a believable premise (men are gang raped in real life all the time, outside of prison), it has the added relevance of many independent films   in that it makes one imagine themself in a similar situation and how they might react.
The film also has the sort of flatness and flabbiness that characterised much of this type of film.The sorry tale of Flappy the clown and his treatment at the hands of a bunch of sickos isn't the greatest of stories and there are some agonisingly boring scenes but it is enthusiastically made with a caustic misanthropic eye.The greatest controversy will doubtlessly be about the rape scene and its perpetrators.
I am a big fan of Kevin Smith's films, and was eager to see this when I learned of his involvement (and Jason Mewes too!), having enjoyed his unique brand of humour many times before.
I mean of course I didn't like the raping sequences but the plot was pretty good, and it starred Dante from Clerks, and it has some funny lines in it.
Good guys and innocent people get raped by it all the time (Note how our protagonist is nothing more than an innocent children's clown.)  You almost have to get ugly yourself in a way in order to deal with it because you can never really get beyond it.
Even Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes show up in this movie.Inclosing, if you think you can deal with a movie exploring topics like rape and violence then check out this movie.
The film plays like a drunk nihilistic comedy that demonstrates an absolute vile contempt for humanity and life in general.Brian O'Halloran is not a very talented actor and should especially steer clear of serious roles.
It tries to be a comedy, but there is no comedic value in rape, even if the raped is dressed as a transvestite clown.Everything about the film equates to "vulgarity".
Its mixture of sexual violence with children's television shows, its poking fun at psychological anguish suffered by a son mentally abused by his mother, and its apathetic attitude towards murder and death.Films like "Vulgar" cause me to feel unclean, a filth that only the buffer of several days can rinse away.
Bryan Johnson incorporates the humorous stylings of its producer, Kevin Smith, with a sinister tale of extreme abuse, and a weak man's response to it.
Nice touches are Kevin Smith's blessing, in the form of a brief appearances as a TV show producer (and his first appearance will cause many a double-take).Overall a good movie, but not a great movie, certainly worth a watch on video.
I'm not sure how long the film's rape scene actually is, maybe 10 minutes, but it felt like 30.
If you like clown rape, then this is the movie for you.Seriously though, from anything but a technical standpoint, Vulgar is not a bad movie.
The film is "vulgar," plain and simple, though you could also call it "disgusting," "disturbing," "stomach-churning," or even "unwatchable."I guess I tried to watch it because I love "Clerks" (1994) and since the Askew-crew was involved I expected a certain level of quality.
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.
One of that friends was Brian Johnson, and his project was named "Vulgar".People are using words like original, shocking, vulgar, violent for this movie.
And they are pretty right, but I add just one more  very bad.Brian O'Halloran who's not a great actor to begin with, plays Will  blunderer, who works as clown at children parties.
Its not the idea is total rubbish, it had potential, but execution is so bad its almost depressing.The one shining thing in this mess is of course Kevin Smith, playing gay TV-producer, he is really funny, and maybe Lewkowitz playing pretty scary villain.
If you like Kevin Smith you'll probably know about View Askew.
And If you are a dork like me and watch the view askew movies a lot you'll know that steve-dave and walt.
Being an ardent fan of Kevin Smith films, I was looking forward to seeing this effort by one of his close colleagues Steve Johnson.
This is a film about a down and out clown called 'Flappy', played by the impressive Brian O'Halloran from Clerks fame.
Funnily enough, the laugh came from Kevin Smith who might be cursed with the over-expressive Silent Bob acting technique, but was at least fun to watch and was obviously having a good time.
Jason Meweswas amusing too in a brief appearance.The movie dragged...and if the dialogue was bad enough, Brian Johnson'sacting made it ten times worse.
Hey, Bryan, stick to acting and leave directing to someone else.Some of the highlights of this bad film:  the waitress in the "posh" restaurant (looked like a Dennys to me) who threw the burgers down in front of the two male leads.
A film that sets out to both physically (through a piercing overloud soundtrack) and emotionally (through horrible imagery, rape scenes, abuse of children and much more) hurt its audience then expects them to switch gears and follow their cute little comedy scenes.It doesn't work.
Which is a shame, because despite the fact it does suffer from a cripplingly low budget and some occasion aimlessness in the structure, I found it quite enjoyable."Clerks" star Brian O'Halloran plays Will Carlson- a kid's party clown who loves entertaining children, but is struggling to make ends meet while getting absolutely no respect.
I don't think there has ever been a KS movie that has disappointed in terms of dialogue.Vulgar features one of my favorite actors, Brian O'Halloran who plays a twenty-something loser on the verge of becoming suicidal.
Flappy, who was once a loser, is now a big time clown with his own TV show.I don't want to say the conflict, but this movie, surprised me much so.
This had a pretty low budget like Clerks and Mallrats, but it seems other Kevin Smith movies like Chasing Amy and Zack and Miri Make a Porno covered it up as well.
kevin smith(whose work i sometimes really like) has his fingerprints all over this movie.
The other being that the movie that the character of Vulgar inhabits is actually a pretty good one.The story involves a clown(played by Brian O'Halloran of "Clerks" fame) who lives a fairly happy life.
The only selling points this movie really has are the fact that it's affiliated with ViewAskew, it's got an "In Defense of Dogma" special feature which interviews the cast and crew of "Dogma," and that Vulgar the Clown is actually the cartoon clown from the opening credits of "Clerks."   But I strongly suggest you don't bother seeing the live action version - it's really not pretty at all..
Yep, there are view askew regulars like Jason Mewes, Ethan Suplee, Brian O'Halloran, and the man Kevin Smith himself.
I loved it.Acting ranges from really good to really goofy, Brian O'halloran is really quite impressive as Flappy/Vulgar.Try this movie only if it appeals to you, don't see it because your expecting some Jay and Silent Bob. You're not getting it..
Where the movie fell short (aside from the low-budget lighting that plagues the whole film) is in the dialogue that is exchanged between Will (the clown) and his best friend Syd.
The one thing that drives a Kevin Smith film is the ingenious dialogue that makes you relate with even the darkest or most disturbing characters in a way that you can imagine yourself in even the silliest situation.
So I think this movie was a comedy, just a very dark comedy intended for an audience who wants more than Jay and Silent Bob. I give this movie a 7/10 and remember kids, a clown gets raped in the movie so it may be relatively disturbing..
The problem, though, is that the film doesn't know what it wants to be.Our main character, Will, is a children's party clown named Flappy.
Good movie, but not what you would expect from kevin smith.
Kevin Smith is immortal for his comedic works on such films as Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and recently Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Kevin Smith portrays a television exec that sees potential in Flappy the Clown instead of Silent Bob, and Jason Mewes is only in the film for a short couple of minutes instead of a movie-long role as Jay. There is much controversy over the "20 minute rape scene" (mainly because of The Howard Stern Show).
Though the male rape scene did make me cringe at times, it wasn't as bad as it could have been, given then context of it, i think it was done quite well, as was the movie overall..
I had heard nothing about this film save that Bryan Johnson, he of "Steve-Dave" fame in Kevin Smith's movies, was the director.I was absolutely blown away by this movie.
I don't want to slam a View Askew movie, but it should be said that controversial content of Vulgar is not why it fails.
Brian O'Halloran is often good in the sad and traumatic aftermath of Vulgar's first ordeal, but for much of the movie he is more a victim of what must be some bad calls of the director.
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.
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).
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.
I had no idea what this movie was about when I rented it, I just remembered that Kevin Smith produced another film, I think I heard it was made by one of his friends and it was called Vulgar.
The rape scene was more than a little disturbing and dragged on and on, much like the film as a whole.
Watch any of Kevin Smith's other movies!.
Performances are all excellent from View Askew veterans, including Brian O'Halloran, Jason Mewes, Bryan Johnson (also the writer and director), Ethan Supply, and of course, Kevin Smith.
A good flick for anyone who enjoys dark comedies, independent films, and/or clowns..
I'm not sure exactly how much artistic input Kevin Smith invested in Vulgar so I'd suggest that all credit must go to the writer/director Bryan Johnson for this deeply disturbing movie.
Cameo performances from Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes will undoubtedly widen Vulgar's audience (it's the reason I watched it), but Bryan Johnson is the name in the frame.
Saw "Mallrats" and could only wonder where Mike Rooker's career would go from there...Before VULGAR, I had recently, seen both "Dogma" and "Chasing Amy"...So, suddenly I'd been after Kevin Smith associated stuff like a foaming monkey in a banana bazaar."Vulgar" is not your typical clown gone bad movie, despite its cover art.
The movie Vulgar is a flawed yes to dark to be a comedy maybe but it does have an original story and some go acting.Its hard to watch mainly because of all the bad things that happen to the star of this movie .The production was pretty cheap which only made the movie look like pure poo,but it has some good moments to it.
I was expecting one movie, but I had instead watched two completely disparate films with the same actors.
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes IS in this movie..
Well he is best none to View Askew fans for his role as Steve Dave-Pulasti in Kevin Smith's films Mallrats, Chasing Amy(Deleted Scenes) and Dogma.
Well now he can be known for making a great film like Vulgar.
First time film maker Bryan Johnson, better know for playing Steve Dave-Pulasti in Kevin Smith's Mallrats, Chasing Amy(deleted scenes, and Dogma.
This Film is about Will Carlson, who is a childrens clown named Flappy, but things arent going too good so he re-invents himself as Vulgar the transvestite clown.
The director Bryan Johnson(also the guy who plays "Steve Dave" in Kevin Smiths films) ventures out on his own, and does a great job.
The Most Disturbing Movie About Clown Rape This Year.
Vulgar is the story of William, a down-on-his-luck schlub, played by Brian O'Halloran ("Dante" of Clerks) whose over-abusive mother doesn't appreciate him as he constantly tries to make ends meet financially as a party clown named Flappy, who hasn't had much luck getting jobs or getting paid.
In an effort to make more money from a cleintelle he doesn't usually get, he spawns the idea of being a prank clown for bachelor parties, dressing up in fishnets and other ladies garments as Vulgar (the View Askew film logo on which this movie was based).
I just saw it at Kevin Smith's Vulgarthon film festival and had no idea what to really expect.
I watched this film about 6 years ago and still to this day every now and then it crosses my mind like a bad memory, because that is what it is....in fact I got up tonight because I was laying in bed and the thought of this movie ran through my mind.
Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier acted in and produced this film.
I implore you, Kevin, next time you feel like producing a movie for a friend, get Affleck and Damon to write "Good Will Hunting 2."Moviegoers, avoid "Vulgar" like the plague, and don't be sucked in by the View Askew Seal of Approval.
I can honestly say that while I found some scenes hard to watch in Vulgar, by no mean does that make the movie any bad, wrong, offensive or whatever.I think it deals with rape and crime in a very believable way, one that does not limits itself to only transvestite clowns in particular.
It does have Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes in minor roles, not as Jay and Silent Bob. And Brian O'Hallaron as Flappy the Clown.
If you're expecting an actual Kevin Smith movie, this is not it.
It makes you think and you really get to feel for the main character Will Carson aka Vulgar the clown as played by Brian O'Halloran an outstanding performance on his behalf.
I was lucky enough to see this movie at Vulgarthon 3 (Kevin Smith's View Askew film fest) earlier this week, and I have to tell you this was a fantastic flick.
Brian O'Halloran (Dante in CLERKS) plays Vulgar the Clown dead on, you could feel the pain (mental not physical) that he was going through.
This movie shows that bad things can happen to good clowns.
I first saw this film at Kevin Smith's Vulgarthon 3 on January 7th, 2002 and i have to say that i have never seen a movie like this.
I posit that this movie is Bryan Johnson's (another Kevin Smith troupe member, obviously with a story to tell) labor of love-- shot at a time earlier and laboriously assembled over years.
He must be a great friend to Brian Johnson to do that part as the clown.I give this film...
For those who would consider themselves fans of View Askew and other Kevin Smith ventures, Vulgar is nothing like Clerks...
The only problem with Vulgar being a View Askew film is that it's beyond the average Kevin Smith fan..
Vulgar, a low-budget, disturbing, gritty film by Kevin Smith associate Bryan Johnson, who wrote, directed and co-starred is one of those films one questions the motivation and presence.