TAD Film Fest Review: Suburban Gothic

By Less Lee Moore

Even though it’s a movie that still feels fresh and influential, Beetlejuice came out almost a quarter of a century ago. It’s no secret that many of Tim Burton’s biggest fans feel like he hasn’t done anything in the last 20 years to rival it. Those people need to see Suburban Gothic immediately.

Richard Bates, Jr.’s second feature film has many of the same Burton hallmarks: the satire of suburban life, a fascination with the occult, and lots of twisted comedy. But instead of sublimating its critiques within sentimental nostalgia, Suburban Gothic‘s attacks are pointed, obvious, and eminently quotable. It’s a movie that gently mocks the good guys but shows the bad guys no mercy. As it should be.

Matthew Gray Gubler is quirky and charming as Raymond, a would-be hipster who can’t find a job despite an MBA. He grudgingly returns to his childhood home in shame and near-poverty. His cheerful, loving mother Eve (Barbara Niven) fawns over him, while his father Donald, portrayed with uncomfortably funny precision by Ray Wise, is that loudmouthed conservative relative everyone avoids like the plague.

As a means of escape, Raymond takes his dejected, ascot-wearing self to the local dive bar, which is run by fellow outcast Becca (Kat Dennings), she of the snarky zingers and killer punk rock wardrobe. She wonders why Raymond, who has an X-Files tattoo, has never seriously sought a career in the paranormal realm. Cue paranormal activity! Instead of a movie about the supernatural with some characters shoehorned in as an afterthought, however, Suburban Gothic is a satisfying comedy that just happens to be about a guy who sees dead people.

If you’ve seen Bates’s first film Excision, you’ll recognize a lot of his hallmarks: dreamlike sequences, vivid colors, great cameos from people like John Waters (whose influence is keenly felt), and a skewering of life in the ‘burbs. The characters are all slightly exaggerated but never to the point of being too on the nose. While Excision was distinctively disturbing, it wasn’t funny ha-ha in the way it felt like it was trying to be. Suburban Gothic is laugh-out-loud funny throughout and it isn’t afraid to be raunchy, too. It’s also got some great, gothic creepy moments and terrific special effects, especially considering its purportedly low budget.

Suburban Gothic is the movie I hoped Richard Bates, Jr. would make. After hearing about his troubles getting a second feature made, I’m grateful that he did. When I saw Excision I said Bates was a director worth watching. I’m so glad that he proved me right.

Suburban Gothic screened at Toronto After Dark on October 16. It does not currently have distribution but is making the festival rounds. Follow the film on Facebook and Twitter and please go see it if you can.