Indie movies are a strange breed of film. They're called "indie" because there's something about them that big production companies feel won't make them a boatload of cash. They don't possess that mass appeal that, say, a fifth Transformers movie does. A lot of indies feature unknowns or smaller actors that you may recognize, but don't know by name. Then, there are those indies that seem to break the mold and, despite what Hollywood deems as worthy, is a mass success (Juno was one of these hits). Swiss Army Man is by no means meant for mass appeal. However, it is a strange little picture that relishes its weirdness and uses that to convey a pretty fantastic story and message. I thought it was very good.
Essentially, Hank (Paul Dano) is stranded on a small island alone. He becomes so bored and lonely he decides to hang himself. Right before ending it all, off in the distance a corpse (Daniel Radcliffe) has washed up on the shore. He decides to befriend the rotting, farting corpse and use it as his means of conversation (think Wilson from Castaway, but instead of a volleyball it's a dead body that farts, vomits, and gets moving erections). Only then does he discover that he can use this corpse as his own multi-purpose tool-- his farts propel him like a jet ski through the water-- his vomited fluids are used as a water source-- his teeth are used to trim hair-- his boner is a natural compass--etc. I know this all sounds incredibly ridiculous (and it is), but it's done in such a way that it isn't crass. It's not a movie that thrives off of the cheap laughs of repeated fart jokes. There is a purpose for every fart and every fluid in the film.
This may be the first film to use farts as a plot device and still have a massive amount of heart. It's a movie for weirdos about weirdos and being able to truly love your weirdo self. The only thing that makes someone weird are the judgements of others. Yes, weird can and sometimes does extend to creepy, but nine times out of ten weird/creepy equals misunderstood. Swiss Army Man takes a good hard look at loneliness brought upon by weirdness which leads to isolation. Hank is able to use the dead body (whom he names Manny) as a sounding board and a person he can teach about life. Manny, who eventually winds up talking, learns from Hank and regurgitates information in ways that only a rotting corpse could. The two of them learn to ignore social acceptance in favor or personal acceptance and love and this makes the movie (which is very very strange) that much more charming.
It's probably not a movie for everyone and is going to be an acquired taste for some, but for those with an open mind, you will find something to love and laugh at. Radcliffe and Dano have a praise-worthy chemistry together. Radcliffe plays the best corpse I've ever seen on screen and Dano keeps the movie rolling with his ability to teach Manny the lessons of life he's never been able to follow, but always wanted to. He's trying to teach Manny... to be a better Hank and, in turn, discovers who he really is.
The writing is very clever, especially in the ways that the writers make use of the corpse as a multi-purpose tool for Hank. And the direction is quite beautiful. Yes, it's a very strange movie and it's not going to appeal to a lot of moviegoers, but it will very much appeal to the weirder side of you-- whether that's something you're able to passionately flaunt or push deep down inside of you only to escape when you're alone. It's a love letter to weirdos and it's a very good one.
B+
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