Vulcanizadora
The Duplass Brothers and their peers continue to make quality films. But for me, Joel Potrykus is the standard-bearer for true independent cinema.
“Burst on the scene” is maybe not quite applicable for what the writer/director/editor/actor does, so let’s say he idiosyncratically wandered onto cinephiles’ radars just over a decade ago with his second feature, Buzzard, which introduced the world to mismatched buddies Marty Jackitansky (Joshua Burge) and Derek Skiba (Potrykus).
The film also ushered in an extremely particular brand of humor, rooted in a dry, deadpan tone, out of which Derek’s hilarious filter-free commentary can thrive, complemented by such wacky, low-fi imagery as competitively eating Bugles off a treadmill belt. (Buzzard also beat The Killing of a Sacred Deer to the “let’s watch our protagonist eat an entire plate of spaghetti” punch by a good three years.)
Marty and Derek triumphantly — well, more like troublingly — return in Vulcanizadora, which finds the duo out on a seemingly innocent camping trip. Their old dynamic is alive and well, particularly Derek’s goofy verbal ways. But as they get deeper into the Michigan woods, subtle clues reveal that there’s far more to this excursion than it originally seemed.
Potrykus captures it all with a stunning visual clarity that punches far above the film's obvious low budget. And as the journey reaches its jaw-dropping climax, the filmmaker gives himself an acting showcase via a long-take close-up as Derek delivers a heartbreaking monologue on regret.
From there, Vulcanizadora becomes a far more melancholy work and the time to shine shifts to Burge. As he has throughout Potrykus’ filmography, the actor comes through, this time imbuing his scenes with the dark comedy we’re accustomed to from Marty, colored by a sense of remorse and love that this character has yet to exhibit.
The end result provides an emotionally rich topper on the two men’s oddball relationship and deepens Potrykus’ reputation as a filmmaker full of surprises.
Grade: B-plus. Not rated, but with adult themes and language and disturbing images. Now playing in limited release.
(Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories)
