15 writers and a randomizing DVD which creates a unique sequence of 26 scenes on every view. And some great extra features. Exquisite Corpse is the senior thesis monster from University of Iowa alumni director, David Fishel.
Quite a departure from his previous material namely, H-POL and a myriad of other slick comedy shorts. Exquisite Corpse uses Dada / Surrealist references to deliver a self-contained yet fractured narrative of the life of small town mechanic Del. There are some surprising events on this little disk which mark the beginning of David Fishel's professional career. (Possibly someday be his equivalent to Tre Parker's Cannibal! - you heard it here first). The film is rather slow paced, so it is not recommended if want in-your-face slapstick. In some ways I think of it movie as a really beautiful series of moving photographs rather than a film, because each randomized scene is very much a glimpse through the camera lens. The question is does this world translate. As someone who lived in the same town as Fishel for many years, I can't answer this.
This film actually demands multiple viewings in order to get a sense of the random assignment of scene order. Harsh criticism might lump this in the heap of collegiate "art-films," however the writing and acting are the highlight.
The score for the film deserves mention, and at moments it features William Elliott Whitmore and Ten Grand, bands local to the area which imbue the film with authenticity.
The funniest moments actually happen during an interview, featured as an extra, between the director and an SVP (Student Video Productions) interviewer. The result is amazingly couched in the tradition of Mr. Show (David Cross), and such mockumentaries as Best of Show, although in this case I understand that this was an completely ad-libbed affair. The polar bear art in the background sums it up. I feel bad finding this all so funny when it really wasn't meant to be but I just can help it. Upon first viewing I thought the whole interview was scripted and that the SVP interviewer was an actor.
Exquisite Corpse goes for the whole fruit-wagon and steals away with everything save some bruised oranges and a case of lemons. This is a well produced professional polished effort on the DIY/student level. Along with the film America's Funniest American, (director Paul Rust, University of Iowa), it was the best feature length work I saw coming out of the Iowa film school at the time. This film might find some appeal in those who are looking for a more moody comedy in the vein of Napolean Dynamite. Small town/ rural environments navigated but here our protagonist is elusive and withdrawn, making this film a more serious comedy/art-drama set in the George W. Bush voting part of our country.
