COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - THE PEOPLE'S JOKER (ALTERED INNOCENCE BLU-RAY)
Parody isn’t easy in the horror/sci-fi business. While the kinship between horror/sci-fi and comedy needs no introduction, parody is one of the lesser-explored themes in modern horror and sci-fi fare. This wasn’t always the case, as movies like Young Frankenstein and even Abbott and Costello Meet The Wolfman harken back to a time when horror was secondary to the satire that preceded it, but something has changed ever since the last Scary Movie entry came out. Maybe it is a reflection of society today that we just can’t take a joke about something sacred, or perhaps the industry is so afraid of the backlash that the decision to omit any reference to parody is an easy risk mitigation one. Whatever the reason is, the world would be a better place if we had the chance to respectfully make fun of the genres we love and hold dear. Parody is the name of the game, however, for Actor, Writer, Editor, and Director Vera Drew in their semi-autobiographical / parody-laden “The People’s Joker.” Does this superhero satire hit the spot, or is it too silly to sit through?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
This revolutionary DIY parody film and hilarious reimagining of the classic autobiographical coming-of-age story follows an unconfident, closeted trans girl as she moves to Gotham City to make it big as a comedian by joining the cast of UCB Live - a government-sanctioned late-night sketch show in a world where comedy has been outlawed. As mainstream success eludes our heroine, leading her to unite with a ragtag team of rejects, misfits, and a certain love interest named Mister J, 'Joker the Harlequin' is born again as a confident (and psychotic) joker on a collision course with the city's fascist caped crusader. Vats of feminizing chemicals, sexy cartoon interludes, scarecrow psychiatrists, CGI Lorne Michaels, and psychedelic gender dysphoria all play supporting roles.
HOW IS IT?
Now and then, a movie comes through the crypt that is so singular and unique that it defies prerequisite or comparison. Movies like “Santa Sangre”, that challenge us both as viewers and as film fans to explore new perspectives and approaches to storytelling. They are movies that remind us of how exciting and interesting experimentation with aesthetics and narrative can be, and how the medium of film can be both playful and poignant at the same time. “The People’s Joker” is such a film. A charmingly confident, aggressively silly, and deeply personal story that uses well-known comic book characters and stereotypes to weave in a powerful story about loving yourself no matter what. “The People’s Joker” is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s all the better for those who it is for so they can revel in its glory undisturbed.
Summarizing “The People’s Joker” is a chore given how dynamic and eccentric literally everything about it is. From the plot to the storytelling style, and the various visual mediums used interchangeably and all at once “The People’s Joker” is an onslaught of style and subtext. What it all boils down to is the life story of a Trans Woman, Joker the Harlequin, and their journey of self-discovery told through the lens of the infamous Joker and Batman-laced origin story. It borrows from almost every iteration of Batman and Joker, even the 2019 Todd Phillips film, “Joker” which it feels like the antithesis of in many ways. The story feels deeply personal and certainly is for Actor, Writer, Editor, and Director Vera Drew, and anyone who is part of or an ally to the Trans community. What Drew does so well is weave in very serious and necessary discourse about Trans people, while putting a thick layer of comic book archetypes on top to combine a familiar origin story with the actual origin story of what it’s like to be a Trans person. “The People’s Joker” isn’t bashful about presenting the traumatic and heartbreaking aspects of how society stigmatizes Trans folk, and so cleverly delivers a good joke or silly pun just at the right time to provide some levity without numbing the impact.
Aside from the personal and powerful storytelling is a visual style that has to be seen to be believed. Those who grew up on early internet culture videos like The End Of The World will surely appreciate the DIY efforts made to add green screen backgrounds from simple visual editing apps that add charm and hilarity at the same time. It screams amateur in the best possible way as “The People’s Joker” is clearly in on the joke and laughing with you. That isn’t to say that what you see is “bad”, it is just intentionally as low-budget as it gets but also liberating to see just how creative Drew gets with all the different uses of media. Some sets look as if they are papier-mâché, whereas others are cheap CGI and green screen. It is fair to say that at no point is “The People’s Joker” boring to watch because it is constantly throwing new and zany ideas at your eyeballs for 92 minutes. One small critique is of the final act, which seems to lose some of the plotting and coherence more so than the earlier parts of the film. They serve a purpose for the overall character arc but veer into absurdity at times for little to no reason. These are marginal issues with what is a rather triumphant and personal piece of art. “The People’s Joker” is beautifully unapologetic and delightfully weird while packing in an important message at a crucial time in our history.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Altered Innocence has put together a great Blu-Ray release for “The People’s Joker”, but don't go in expecting a new benchmark for your OLED TV. Part of the charm of “The People’s Joker” is the DIY spirit of filmmaking and production which is coursing through every single frame. This means that while the image is clear and crisp thanks to digital video, the production value is not intended to be show-stopping visually. Nevertheless, the 1080p picture looks great and images from the release can be seen throughout the review and below.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Sometimes smaller independent releases like these will surprise you with some novelty and in the case of “The People’s Joker” it’s a 5.1 DTS-HD surround soundtrack! While the 5.1 mix sounds great and comes through clearly with well-balanced dialogue and music, it doesn’t get much use considering so much of the action is contained. It does sound loud, and we didn’t compare it to the 2.0 mix to see if that made any significant or noticeable difference. There are also subtitles included for both English and Spanish speakers.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
As fascinating as the material within “The People’s Joker” is, the special features delve even further into things to give fans and viewers a deeper perspective on the pathos of the film. One of the standout features is a 45-minute interview, A Discussion with Director Vera Drew and 'Corpses, Fools, and Monsters' authors Willow Catelyn Maclay and Caden Mark Gardner. The conversation was recorded virtually, and the two co-interviewers are certainly two of the best to hold court with filmmaker Vera Drew on this topic. It is interesting to hear how Drew used the Batman archetypes to inform their vision, and even more interesting are some of the connections made in the film that are explored more here. For example, the inclusion of commentary that associates Batman with pedophilia based on his relationship with the iterations of Robin isn’t just good satire, it is a fascinating observation that is there for all to see. Drew also drops some hints of influence and aspiration as Drew confidently states that “Neil Breen is the only American auteur” and claims to have watched “The Room” more than any other movie. Their love of the irreverent side of humor is clear not just in the film, but also in the conversation. A full list of special features is listed below.
Bonus Materials
24-page Comic Book
Commentary Track with Director Vera Drew
Commentary Track with Director Vera Drew and Actor Nathan Faustyn
Commentary Track with Assorted Cast & Crew
A Discussion with Director Vera Drew and 'Corpses, Fools, and Monsters' authors Willow Catelyn Maclay and Caden Mark Gardner
Queebso TV
Behind-the-Scenes
Original Theatrical Trailer
Other Trailers
English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English SDH & Spanish Subtitles
LAST RITES
“The People’s Joker” is wildly original, deeply personal, and often hilarious in its depiction of a Trans woman becoming the most recognizable villain in comic book history. With an earnest respect for the source material it is parodying and some wildly imaginative production value, “The People’s Joker” is a truly one-of-a-kind experience that deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at MVD ENTERTAINMENT for providing a review copy for the crypt! The People’s Joker is available NOW and can be purchased via MVD DIRECT!
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