Synopsis
The Chumscrubber is a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn't bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won't care. Everyone in town is too self consumed to worry about anything else than themselves. And everybody is on some form of drug just to get through their days.
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Cast
- Jamie BellDean
- Camilla BelleCrystal
- Justin ChatwinBilly
- Glenn CloseCarrie Johnson
- Kathi CopelandParent #1
- Rory CulkinCharlie Stiffle
- Thomas CurtisCharlie Bratley
- Tim DeKayMr Peck
- Lauren HollyBoutique Owner
- Carrie-Anne MossJerri Falls
Recommendations
- 100
Christian Science Monitor
At once dreamily surreal, acutely intelligent, and strikingly tough-minded, this pitch-dark dramatic comedy recalls David Lynch and "Donnie Darko" while remaining fresh and original to its core. A stunning directorial debut. - 75
Portland Oregonian
A frustrating combination of inspiration and routine, acuity and dullness, originality and fashion. Part web-of-life indie film, part troubled teen drama, part suburban satire, part comic book fantasy, it vacillates between the engaging and the silly, buoyed by energetic performances but pulled underwater by self-satisfied writing and direction. - 60
Dallas Observer
Either a bit more humor or a bit more heart could exponentially improve things. - 50
Film Threat
A series of pretentious social commentary punctuated by windows of excellence that only make it more frustrating. - 50
Austin Chronicle
It's a Big Idea movie that comes out only half-baked. - 42
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The few genuine moments of connection -- are as refreshing as they are out of place. They only highlight how false and affected the rest of the film is. - 30
Variety
An insufferable, self-conscious cult movie, The Chumscrubber smugly heaps on half-baked ideas about media violence, the homogeneity of suburbia and the disintegration of the American family. - 30
The A.V. Club
The resulting film is an example of how a film with camera and acting skills in its corner can still fall flat on its face.
