Tapeworm (film)

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Tapeworm
Film Poster
Directed byFabian Velasco
Milos Mitrovic
Screenplay byMilos Mitrovic
Fabian Velasco
Produced byMilos Mitrovic
Adam Brooks
Stephanie Berrington
Fabian Velasco
Kevin Tabachnick
Ian Bawa
CinematographyMarkus Henkle
Edited byMarkus Henkle
Fabian Velasco
Milos Mitrovic
Release date
  • September 2019 (2019-09) (VIFF)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Tapeworm is a 2019 dark comedy directed by Milos Mitrovic and Fabian Velasco.[1] It had its world premiere in the Future//Present section of the Vancouver International Film Festival.[2][3]

Described as an "anti-comedy",[4] Tapeworm explores the loosely interconnected, mundane and miserable lives of a hypochondriac, a failed stand up comedian, two stoners and a loner living in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[5] Each of the characters are notable mostly for how bleak and joyless their existence has become.[6] The film went on to have its European premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival[7][8][9] and its US premiere at Slamdance Film Festival.[10][11][12][13]

Cast[edit]

  • Adam Brooks
  • Alex Ateah
  • Stephanie Berrington
  • Sam Singer
  • Milos Mitrovic
  • Jennifer Mauws
  • Julie Simpson

Production[edit]

Tapeworm was shot on 16mm film on a shoe string budget.[14] Using mostly non-professional actors, Mitrovic and Velasco took a very improvisational approach to the film, finding inspiration from real life experiences living in Winnipeg.[15][16] Speaking to Variety magazine, Mitrovic and Velasco explained "We shot the film on Super 16, which gave it a great texture with lots of grain. We really wanted to make a film that showed how bleak it can be to live in Canada. We’ve been making movies for 10 years, and we put so much of our passion for cinema into this project, so it’s very special”[17]

Tapeworm was filmed entirely in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.[18][19][20]

Reception[edit]

Tapeworm received generally mixed reviews, Nick Rocco Scalie of Film threat wrote "It's as jarring, in its own way, as the gross-out in the opening scene - and, maybe, it suggests that the best way to view Tapeworm is not as provocation, but rather, as something like a passion play."[21] Rob Dean of Daily Grindhouse gave it a favourable review writing, "TAPEWORM isn’t so weird that it’s a bonkers hidden gem, and it’s not so dark or cruel that it’s for the joyless gluttons of misery, either."[22] Mallory Moore of Elements of Madness gave it a 4 out of 5 star rating writing "While it may not be the most original work, Tapeworm is more than redeemed by its technical precision and authentic performances."[23] While Ian Thomas Malone wrote a less favourable review writing "the problem with Tapeworm isn't that it's a joyless experience. The film doesn't make you feel anything at all".[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Viff 2019: TAPEWORM Review". Film Pulse. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  2. ^ "Vancouver 2019 Review: TAPEWORM, Canadian Cringe Comedy". ScreenAnarchy. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  3. ^ "State of the Festival: Future//Present at VIFF 2019". MUBI. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  4. ^ Koncan, Frances (2019-11-14). "Filmmaking duo brings 'anti-comedy' home". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  5. ^ "VIFF 2019: Tapeworm". The Georgia Straight. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  6. ^ "Tapeworm | Film Threat". 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  7. ^ "Tapeworm". PÖFF - Pimedate Ööde filmifestival. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  8. ^ "Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival unleashes Rebels With A Cause". FilmNewEurope.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  9. ^ ERR, Kaspar Viilup | (2019-11-27). "Kaspar Viilupi PÖFFi-minutid: kas ulmefilmidel on võistlusprogrammides kohta?". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  10. ^ "2020 Slamdance Film Festival". slamdance2020.eventive.org. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  11. ^ "Slamdance Film Review: Tapeworm". SLUG Magazine. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  12. ^ McNary, Dave (2019-12-02). "Slamdance Film Festival Unveils 2020 Competition Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  13. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2019-12-02). "Slamdance Unveils Films In Narrative And Documentary Competition, Sets Return Of Russo Fellowship". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  14. ^ Prince, C. J. (2020-01-29). "Slamdance Review: In Tapeworm, Numbing Mundanity Rules Over Everything". The Film Stage. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  15. ^ "Slamdance Interview w/Fabian Velasco and Milos Mitrovic from Tapeworm from Bitch Talk". www.stitcher.com. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  16. ^ FM, Player, Tapeworm (Slamdance), retrieved 2020-04-07
  17. ^ Clement, Nick (2020-01-27). "Slamdance Film Festival Continues to Elevate Emerging Talents". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  18. ^ Koncan, Frances (2019-11-16). "Winnipeg film really sucks -- in a good way". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  19. ^ Muir, Nathaniel. "Slamdance: 'Tapeworm' Review: Cringey, depressing, and impossible to look away from". AIPT. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  20. ^ "The Independent Critic - "Tapeworm" Screening in Competition at Slamdance". theindependentcritic.com. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  21. ^ "Tapeworm | Film Threat". 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  22. ^ Dean, Rob. "TAPEWORM (2019) Review - Watching Lives Of Quiet Desperation Collide". Daily Grindhouse. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  23. ^ Moore, Mallory (2020-02-27). "Awkward anti-comedy "Tapeworm" checks all the boxes for quirky indie flick. [Slamdance Film Festival]". Elements of Madness. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  24. ^ "Slamdance Review: Tapeworm – Ian Thomas Malone". Retrieved 2020-04-07.

External links[edit]

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