Motivational Growth (2013)
"This is the story of Ian Folivor who is a depressed mess. He hasn't left his increasingly messy & disgusting apartment in a year, hasn't bathed in months, and hasn't had any human contact for what seems like forever. His only constant "companion" is Kent, an old cabinet-style television set that's been really the only thing keeping him going. When Kent 'dies', Ian naturally becomes distraught and decides life isn't worth living. He attempts to kill himself with homemade gas in the bathtub. He screws up and ends up hitting his head on the bathtub. When he awakens he learns that the mold growing beside his bathroom sink is talking to him (voiced by great Jeffrey Combs). The mold convinces him it knows what is best for him and he needs to obey his commands..."
With its small cast and limited set up, Motivational Growth turns out to be a pretty fun, original and a great addition to the bizarre, weird or 'WTF I've just watched?!' sort of films. Ian gradually descends into a surreal world contained within the two rooms of his tiny apartment in which time, logic, and human interaction are governed by no rules except those of The Mold. Also, as made evident by Ian's rad cassette tape collection and the bizarre selections of programming on his TV set in the 90s, combined with its video game inspired 8-bit score and a selection of animated sequences, fake television shows & commercials, Motivational Growth is its own fully realized world of weird.
The young actor on the lead, playing Ian did a good job & nicely carried the movie till the end. Ian serves not only as the film's main character but also as its narrator, as there are several times at the beginning when he breaks the fourth wall to give some more direct character insight to the audience. Also liked the way they handled Jeffrey Combs. Most of the time we get small cameos by horror legends and nothing lasting on film but Combs, well his voice, is in a great portion of the film and you can guess easily...he nailed it.
A very inspired effort from writer-director Don Thacker on his first feature film. Overall, a good, original & well written bizarro indie that's definitely worth to check out for a change.
>>: B+