Kaboom
Kaboom
Format: Cinema
Release date: 10 June 2011
Venues: UK wide
Distributor: Artificial Eyeg
Director: Gregg Araki
Writer: Gregg Araki
Cast: Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Chris Zylka, Roxane Mesquida, Juno Temple
USA/France 2010
86 mins
Finally arriving on the big screen in the UK, Kaboom is not as stunning and exceptional as you might expect from the American enfant terrible Gregg Araki, especially as a follow-up to his wonderful Mysterious Skin. A campus B-movie sci-fi comedy romp totally out of this world, the film spins an insane narrative of teen sex of all kinds, drugs, dreams, cuckoo conspiracies and animal mask–wearing cultists. At the centre of this maelstrom is handsome but shy college student Smith, who secretly lusts for his surfer roommate Thor, but prefers hanging out 24/7 with his sarcastic lesbian best friend Stella. It’s a candy-coloured, bizarre, chaotic, silly joyride that wins you over instantly once you abandon yourself to its wackiness. A continuation of Araki’s confrontational earlier work in terms of directorial style, it is suffused with the same dazzling blend of playful spirit, questionable taste and truly anarchic fervour. Twin Peaks and Donny Darko might obviously have been influences for Araki here, but Kaboom is way too soft and outright ridiculous to ever draw you in in the same way. Nevertheless, it’s sexy to look at and a fun piece of cinema for short-term pleasure.
Pamela Jahn
