2019’s Relaxer, written
and directed by Joel Potrykus.
Starring Joshua Burge, David Dastmalchian, Andre Hyland,
Adina Howard, Amari Cheatom, and Mahfuz Rahman.
What is it about?
Set closely around New Years Eve 1999, early 20’s
adultescent Abbie (Joshua Burge) survives on a steady diet of video games and
juvenile challenges issued by his brother, Cam (David Dastmalchian). Buoyed by
a dare from Cam, Abbie agrees to not leave his couch until he passes level 256
of Pac Man. Checked in on by select friends and unfortunate landlords, Abbie
endures and develops various levels of psychic traumas and potential powers.
Will he be able to complete his challenge before his body and soul atrophy into
an embodiment of pre-millennium tension?
Why is it worth seeing?
Writer/Director Joel Potrykus specializes in single
location, small cast films where the protagonists are driven into the mouth of
madness. As in his previous The
Alchemist’s Cookbook, it’s unknown (or at least vague) what exactly drives
our protagonist to pursue their goals- they’re just in it to win it. A quest to
finish the final level of a video game that is unconquerable? Of course I can.
It’s juvenile male wish fulfillment fantasy at its most potent.
As in most fantasies, actual satiation is impossible when it comes to satisfying one’s urges. Relaxer demonstrates how our younger selves’ parading their respective Id’s around leads to some hardcore lessons. Some of them are about the value of compromising our post infantile scaffolding to create personal growth so you can do stuff referred to by some as, “adulting”. Others are bed sores. However, there is no word about the value of toilets installed in couches.
As in most fantasies, actual satiation is impossible when it comes to satisfying one’s urges. Relaxer demonstrates how our younger selves’ parading their respective Id’s around leads to some hardcore lessons. Some of them are about the value of compromising our post infantile scaffolding to create personal growth so you can do stuff referred to by some as, “adulting”. Others are bed sores. However, there is no word about the value of toilets installed in couches.
Potrykus and his student budget focused production are able to expand on a perspective that is unfolding in a space no larger than a bachelor suite- the ultimate nightmare bottle episode. Like most nightmares, there is no relief- except here, the relief is begged for from oppressive escapism (and our hero’s patina of grossness). Working within the limited budget and location, reality and fantasy start to blur together, and the introduction of 80’s based themes such as telekinesis further enforce the film’s hilariously cautionary message towards overactive imaginations and unproductive competitive urges.
Featuring a hilariously ironic title, Relaxer is anything but, but it will make you glad you didn’t spend Y2K eating pellets in a maze while being chased by ghosts.
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