Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Tusk’

Written by Scott Edwards 

There have been special instances that happen to people to make them rise to fame and one of these happens to be podcasting. Something about having your voice heard over the internet can make even the most somber person think they have become someone other than they really are. With fans coming out of the wood work, people that do this have to transform into the person that the fans love listening to, but sometimes that is not the person that they really are. Hey, I have been on a podcast, but I do not pretend to be who I am not…not yet at least, I think I am enjoyable the way that I am and I hope other people agree as well.

Wallace Bryton is at the top of his game, performing podcasts with his friend Teddy Craft for the Not-See Party web site. The two have found the perfect chemistry and know what the people want to hear and bring it to the masses. Being able to say what they want at all times and show what they want on the site is also a huge plus, especially when Wallace gets a note from an internet sensation that managed to cut his own leg off. With the kid being extremely popular on YouTube, Wallace knows that this is his chance to take the show to the next level with a very special interview. But not everybody feels the same way about this one and are asking Wallace not to belittle the boy as he has been through so much already.  

Arriving in Canada to visit the YouTube sensation, Wallace is shocked to find out that the boy has killed himself. Needing to do something while in the great north, Wallace finds a note hanging in the men’s room saying a tenant is needed and the property owner will share stories of his fascinating life. With nothing else to go with, Wallace jumps at the idea of talking to the old man and at least come back to the States with a story to tell. Even with the location of the house being far outside of the main city, Wallace is not deterred and makes the trip as fast as he can.

Arriving at the house and meeting Howard Howe, Wallace is speechless when he hears a couple of the man’s stories. Howard is happy to share them with the young podcaster, but there is one story he has to tell about his time being lost at sea and the only thing that saved him was a walrus he named Mr. Tusk that led him to land. As Wallace listens to the tale, he starts to get loopy and passes out before the ending. Waking up in a large empty room, Wallace is shocked to find that his leg has been removed due to a spider bite. Wanting to get out of the house, he is not able to convince Howard to contact anybody. As Wallace is treated with the upmost respect from his host, he finds out quickly that Howard is not the man he thinks he is and Wallace will be a longtime fixture in house, but not as himself, but as the reproduction of Mr. Tusk.

I am still kind of blown away by how this movie played out. I am a sucker for Kevin Smith movies, but I never saw this coming out of his mind. I will admit, I did not know what I was getting myself into when starting this movie and that is the best way to go into it. I was shocked by Howard Howe and his obsession with the walrus that had saved him, but also how strong Wallace had to be to survive what was happening to him. With some flashbacks, explaining who Wallace was before he became the popular podcaster, it is easy to see why his friends may let the phone ring without thinking twice, but I would hope if I am ever put into a situation like this, that they would always answer their phones on the second ring. With plenty of Smith’s humor being infused into the movie, it makes it easy to keep watching, even when the worst of the worst is going down in front of your very eyes. Stay Scared!

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