The Indie corner: TAINT-ed Love

When a film opens up with black and white images zoomed in on ladies' breasts then immediately has our main character interrupted mid-coitus and chased down by a dookie-dropping, sickle-wielding psychopath who has his cock exposed through shit stained onesie pajamas, you get a fairly good idea from the outset what kind of time you're in for. Drew Bolduc's low budget opus The Taint manages to be equal part hilarious and offensive by providing the kind of film the retarded love child birthed by John Waters and David Cronenberg would create.

When the water supply becomes tainted, women find them selves under attack as the menfolk become violent, sadistic killing machines-hellbent on maiming limbs and pulverizing pretty faces to atoms. It's through these wanton acts of violence the men achieve mind shattering orgasms, the likes of which haven't been seen this side of a "Best of Peter North" DVD.In the midst of the mayhem is dimwitted Phil O'Ginny (also the writer and co-director alongside Dan Nelson), who manages to stumble from place to place, trying to make sense of it all.

The Taint works because of Bolduc's everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach to schlock cinema. There's no act too depraved, too violent or too offensive o be shown on screen. Bolduc and crew set out to make as cheesy a film as possible, and as over the top violent and nauseating as it can appear at times, it's impossible not to laugh knowing full well the crew of The Taint are well-in on the joke with the audience. ANY idea that could be deemed over-the-top in its violent or gross out nature gets a free pass and makes its way on screen. You'll see closet case gym teachers get their face peeled off by Kabuki scientists. Our Busey Jr. lookalike goes Bronson in Death Wish performing "castration by .44" while draped in Old Glory. Paper mache heads get caved in mercilessly while brains come spilling out. Oh, and there's a brief appearance by Nazis. We even get a 80's style homoerotic workout montage that reminds us just how sexually confused that era's cable TV staples actually were.

Edging The Taint to near-genius category are the smash cuts editing and deadpan reactions to the bizarre breakdown of society. Bolduc's O'Ginny doesn't have any real character arc so much as he just wanders from place to place and shit happens around him. He's a dimwitted prep school kid that looks like Gary Bussey Jr. overdosed on an iPod of shitty mall punk emo after injecting a month's supply of quaaludes. In all the reviews I've read-no one's mentioned the hysterical introduction of the just barely in the closet sadistic gym teacher and his merry band of idiots. Eighties synth builds to a crescendo as he introduces his crew (among them-"Chili dog." "Brown Eye. "Alligator Fuckhouse") when the scene cuts on a dime to Phil's over the top wave and "Pleased to meet you". That one stupid moment amongst hundreds was the one where I knew these guys knew exactly what they were doing. His lack of reaction to the insanity around him makes up the bulk of the humor. The Taint embraces its low budget nature with its cheesy practical effects and a never-ending parade of rubber dongs spilling seed from the exposed zippers of the male extras.

The question's come up in a number of reviews as to whether The Taint is a work of misogyny or a film that's meant to combat misogynistic tendencies. I don't think Bolduc's film is anti-woman at all. However, you have to wonder if the kind of film that ends with a woman bound and whipped while writhing in ecstasy as her tormentor projectile spews a gallon of manjuice in her vicinity is going to attract the kind of audience best suited to discuss the issues Bolduc at least attempts to address. However, fans of satirical horror films like Larry Cohen's  The Stuff or raunch fests like Street Trash are going to love having The Taint to add to their collection.  


Go to the official site to download the film or buy DVD


The Taint Trailer (NSFW) from Dan Nelson on Vimeo.