Bad Milo (2013) (1st viewing) d. Vaughn, Jacob (USA)
For a movie whose synopsis more or less boils down to “carnivorous demon living in our protagonist’s lower digestive tract escapes from backside in search of fresh meat,” there’s an incredible sense of sweetness and gentle humor amidst the slapstick and the scatological. Ken Marino is delightful as the owner of the unwanted titular intestinal tenant, struggling to avoid stressful scenarios for fear of prompting a bout of explosive (and lethal) demonic expulsion; he carries off the potentially cartoony premise with a surprisingly grounded and relatable performance.
Marino’s interactions with his understandably confused perimeter of supporting characters are where the gold really lies; whether it be with sympathetic bride Gillian Jacobs, callous mum Mary Kay Place, absent dad Stephen Root, ruthless boss Patrick Warburton or frenzied therapist Peter Stormare, Vaughn and his trusty co-writer Benjamin Hayes mine a winning blend of slapstick and zany zippy dialogue.
But the real star, one that at various times evokes Chucky, E.T., Basket Case’s Belial and Minya (aka Son of Godzilla), is Mike Ezell’s fantastic practical eponymous creation brought to life by FX coordinator Josh Hakian (with messy aftermath courtesy of Justin Raleigh).
A surprise treat, a big squishy turd monster movie with a rom-com heart.
--Aaron Christensen, HorrorHound Magazine
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