Review: The Taint (2010)

The Taint (2010)

Directors: Drew Bolduc, Dan Nelson

Stars: Drew Bolduc, Colleen Walsh and Cody Crenshaw

All too often “underground” cinema is used in conjunction with “crap” films. It seems that if somebody makes a crappy movie with low production values, week scripts, and horrible acting they get a pass if they stick the “underground” label on it.

There was a time when these films were real movies with coherent storylines and a DIY aesthetic that were so far from mainstream in subject and content they really were outsider art that could only be described as underground.  

The film “The Taint” by directors Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson hearken back to the edgy days of underground cinema with a movie so exploitive it would probably garner a XXX rating if reviewed by the MPAA. 

Please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying, this is not pornography, although male genitalia is shown throughout this is not a hardcore film, at least in the most widely used reference.

What is it then, you ask? Well it’s a movie so wild, creative, and original it smashes the walls of box you try to place it in. Although exploitation, comedy, and gore can all be found inside the film makers themselves have labeled it a horror movie.

The plot of the movie is so ridicules and quirky it would fail in the hands of less capable film makers. Someone has poisoned the world’s water supply with a formula that will grow men’s penises to huge proportions; the bad news is the unfortunate side effect that turns the men into woman hating killing machines with the desire to smash female’s heads with rocks.

One lone male survivor hooks up with a tough female making her way to an untainted water well. Along the way the couple runs into infected males, a gang of homosexual jocks, and the possible creator of the “taint”.

As much as I love this film it’s not perfect, quite a bit of the film is taken up by flash backs that run a little too long.  Director Drew Bolduc plays two different roles not related to one another and seems to be a joke that just didn’t work.

Beyond that there really isn’t much to not like. The budget limitations only add to the fun but gritty feeling of the film. Although virtually the entire cast is overacting it all feels right in the context of such an over the top type movie.  You will also be hard pressed to find a movie containing as many exploding penises as this one.

Almost every review I read that was positive said something along the lines of “would like to see what they’re capable of with a bigger budget.” I don’t really feel the same way; I think this movie would have been something entirely different if they had more cash to spend.   

These film makers have really done something unique here and the film is well worth your time. Visit the official site’s store to buy the film on DVD or VHS[!] and help support real underground filmmaking.
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Preview: NSFW!