The Dark Backward (1991)

"I will laugh so hard, my stomach will burst open and spray bile all over the stage." - Gus

A failing stand-up comedian experiences a bizarre growth.
Starring: Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Wayne Newton, Lara Flynn Boyle

Link to IMDB

I saw this movie years ago and remember enjoying it, but it's definitely time for a re-watch.

Marty Malt is an awkward and depressed garbage man that is trying his hand at stand-up comedy, unfortunately, he's not even remotely funny. The only person who laughs at his jokes is his crazy friend Gus, but he's so demented that his sincerity is questionable. Marty is dating Rosarita and even she has no interest in anything he does or says.
I can understand why Marty wants to bring some laughs to the world because he lives in a grimy, twisted metropolis of oppressive garbage where perverts and vermin coexist in their own filth. In other words, Marty's life is shit in a world of shit.
Gus notices that Marty has a troublesome bump growing on his back, but Marty's doctor is just as nasty as everyone else and offers no help on the matter. Marty has bigger things to worry about though, as a hotshot talent agent is going to be at the local comedy club and this gives Marty a chance to perform his act for him.

Gus

The agent is Jackie Chrome (Newton) but after hearing Marty's terrible jokes he quickly leaves disappointed. The bump on Marty's back is starting to get bigger, and that's when he and Gus see that it's becoming a third arm!! Marty's terrified and embarrassed and Rosarita dumps him, but Gus realizes that this new arm might just be their ticket to fame.
They go to Jackie Chrome's office and try the comedy act again, but this time with Marty's third arm on display. Chrome is impressed because a genuine freak is something that he can sell. They eventually appear on television and get a taste of success, but just as things are starting to look hopeful for Marty and Gus an  unexpected twist is thrown into their lives.

"I can't love a man with three hands!" - Rosarita

The Dark Backwards feels like a hallucinatory mix of influences from Terry Gilliam, John Waters and Lynch's Eraserhead. All the characters except Marty are loathsome weirdos doing nasty things, existing in a feverish fairy tale of smokey rooms and garbage strewn streets. This self-aware surreal tone fits perfect, because I don't think it would work if it took itself seriously. From start to finish, it's dark comedy that always has a new revelation of bad taste to expose you to.
Judd Nelson is fascinatingly sympathetic here and he disappears completely into the role, but you'll never look at Bill Paxton the same after seeing what Gus gets up to! The story suffers from bad pacing and it's probably 15 minutes longer than it needs to be, but overall, any fan of the seriously strange and outrageous should enjoy this trip.

Be sure not to miss:
- Awesome cameos. You'll notice James Caan, but there's Rob Lowe as an almost unrecognizable talent agent and Claudia Christian as the nurse.
- Pork Juice and Squeezable Bacon are now for sale!
- Wayne Newton's moustache does some wild things. It's nice to see he's willing to make fun of himself and this is probably his best performance I've seen.
- Rats enough!

Internet review:
"This is a film that's so gross, grimy, weird, bizarre and acceptingly ludicrous that it makes me happy to be alive." - Findlay

Should I watch it?
Yes, but not while you're eating.

Where can I find it?
Vidzi link here.

The Dark Backward gets...