Gummo
Director: Harmony Korine
Actors: Nick Sutton, Jacob Sewell, Lara Tosh
PlotIn a desolate, post-tornado landscape of Xenia, Ohio, the remnants of a forgotten community linger in their idiosyncratic rut. The film paints a stark, nonlinear tapestry of the townsfolk’s disarrayed lives. At its core are Solomon and Tummler, two adolescent misfits navigating the ruins amidst bleakness and boredom. They spend their days engaging in bizarre antics, such as killing feral cats to sell for cash. Their actions reflect the desensitized environment in which they have grown up, showing an innate detachment from empathy. The town, ravaged and utterly directionless, is a backdrop for gritty vignettes that capture the eccentric habits, hardships, and raw humanity of its dysfunctional residents.
The narrative lacks a conventional structure, opting instead for a series of vignettes that bring unsettling realism to the community's existence. An eccentric girl with rabbit ears meanders through scenes of neglect and chaos, representing innocence amidst ruin. Meanwhile, two sisters grapple with grief and a haunting family trauma inside a home falling apart. Another boy huffs glue while his father apathetically cycles in and out of consciousness. These fragmented stories reveal glimpses into a society that is raw, unfiltered, and steeped in decay, weaving together the fabric of lives barely stitched by resilience and apathy. Through this mosaic, the film delivers a somber yet compelling examination of human survival amidst profound societal detritus, leaving audiences contemplating the boundaries between chaos and normalcy.
Writers: Harmony Korine
Release Date: 24 Nov 1997
Runtime: 89 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English
Home Video Reviews
Gummo's Criterion 4K release delivers a stunning 2160p presentation, making this bizarre classic look better than ever with solid supplements.
Read our review of Gummo 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to find out more