I was first introduced to Harmony Korine’s work with the very, very creepy Trash Humpers, which I ended up liking quite a bit. Not because it’s a good film by any means, or standards, but rather because it left a big impression on me, and lingered in my mind for entire nights. In fact, if there’s something Trash Humpers is, it’s not good, in the classic cinematicway of speaking. As the title implies, it’s more of a piece of trash. But it works as an adventurous piece of experimental cinema, way creepier than any pseudo-found footage film you have ever see in your life. Borrowing the aesthetic of a used up VHS tape (and actually shot entirely on VHS), the films follows the three humpers in various sketch-like scenes of pure mayhem and destruction. They go around killing, vandalizing, and humping things. It’s a disgusting film, with very little moral balance, but satisfies a morbid curiosity I didn’t even know I had before the film started. Some have seen it as a commentary on the darkness that lies in American suburbs (which is a very interesting theory), and whatnot, but I’ll let you judge by yourself. If this has any weight: it’s one of the creepiest, scariest films I have ever seen.
In the months that followed, I seemingly forgot about Harmony Korine, until he popped up again, as a director I absolutely needed to investigate further. After seeing Kids and Gummo this weekend, I can safely say that he’s becoming one of my favorite directors of the moment. I only say “of the moment” because I need to see all of his films before I can say “of all times”.
Gummo was such an unique experience, that put Trash Humpers in context, and offered me an hour and a half of odd, touching characters, striking imagery and delectably nihilistic themes. The film has a very strong aesthetic I have rarely seen in any other. I could go on talking nonsense about this film, but it’s really something you should explore by yourself. And I don’t think I’m qualified to talk about it in much more detail. As for Kids, it was everything I expected it to be, and more. I love when films are so honest and straight-to-the-point. It’s a simple, yet very effective narrative, that brings you places only real life could. And in the case of Kids, those are places I don’t want real life to take me.
I cannot wait to see the remainder of his filmography, especially Julien Donkey-Boy, which looks phenomenal. The fact it stars Chloë Sevigny and is a Dogme 95 film makes it all too exciting. If you haven’t seen any of his films, I’d suggest you to start chronologically, including his written-only films (Kids and Ken Park). Gummo might be a shock after the realism of Kids, but what the hell, you can take it.
Filmography
Kids (1995)
Gummo (1997)
Julien Donkey-Boy (1999)
Ken Park (2002)
Mister Lonely (2007)
Trash Humpers (2009)
