Tusk

Tusk is a 2014 American horror film written and directed by Kevin Smith, based on an original story by Smith and Scott Mosier. The film is the first in Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Universe, however it is actually an offshoot of this universe and does not involve the iconic duo. The story begins with Wallace Bryton (played by Hannibal Buress), a popular comedian and podcast host, along with his co-host Teddy Craft (played by Justin Long), traveling through the Canadian wilderness. As the two men are driving through the isolated region, Wallace receives an email from a mysterious fan named Howard Howe (played by Michael Parks), who claims to have been a great admirer of Wallace's work. Wallace becomes intrigued by the email and sees it as an opportunity to gain more fans and publicity for his podcast. He decides to contact Howard and plans a visit to meet the eccentric fan. Before their trip, Teddy has to attend an engagement party with Allison (played by Genesis Rodriguez) and her family. Teddy confides in Allison about Wallace's intentions to meet the enigmatic fan, but she remains supportive and wishes her partner well. Upon Teddy's departure, Allison tries to convince Wallace to be more cautious of Howard, but Wallace is too consumed by his ambition to heed her warnings. Upon arriving at Howard's secluded lodge, Wallace discovers that the old man has built a large, bizarre room with an old, wooden, walrus-shaped suit. The room has been designed as a makeshift 'tusk' laboratory for the purpose of undergoing a transformation into a walrus-human hybrid. Although initially perplexed, Wallace is further perplexed by his growing unease as the days pass, which causes a deep emotional strain between Wallace and Teddy. Teddy goes missing during a hike in the backwoods, prompting Wallace to assume that his friend has left him in the wilderness. Feeling uneasy but not alarmed, Wallace returns to Howard's house to wait for Teddy to return. The film's tone drastically changes as Wallace starts to discover disturbing and unsettling clues that reveal Howard's sinister intentions. As Wallace's investigation intensifies, he becomes the recipient of cryptic messages and disturbing audio recordings from Teddy. In his attempts to uncover the truth about Howard's past and his mysterious motives, Wallace becomes trapped in Howard's web of madness. With the help of Allison, Wallace sets out to rescue his friend and bring him to safety. The film reaches a pivotal point when it is revealed that Wallace and Teddy are in grave danger. Howard has become unhinged in his desire to undergo the walrus transformation, using Wallace's body as a guinea pig. Teddy, who is still trapped in the wilderness, sends a desperate plea for rescue to his friend through the podcast. Desperately seeking a way to save his friend, Wallace discovers a hidden journal belonging to Teddy, detailing his experiences at Howard's secluded home. As Wallace becomes increasingly terrified, he also uncovers a tragic story about the death of Howard's son. In the climax, Wallace and Allison launch a desperate rescue mission to save Teddy, while also confronting the horrors that lie within Howard's twisted world. They find Teddy being held captive in a cage, with Howard having undergone a nightmarish transformation into a human-walrus hybrid. A tense showdown ensues, with Wallace managing to overpower Howard before freeing Teddy from captivity. As they escape the Canadian wilderness, Teddy is severely traumatized from the ordeal. In an attempt to help his friend recover, Wallace creates a series of podcasts in honor of their harrowing experiences. Though initially intended to boost his podcast's popularity, Wallace's newfound desire is actually to pay tribute to the horrors he and Teddy faced during their confrontation with Howard. Tusk received an array of mixed reviews from critics at the time of its release. Many found the story unsettling and well-crafted, but the pacing and tone of the film proved to be somewhat uneven. Despite its criticisms, Tusk remains a thought-provoking horror film that raises questions about the darker corners of human behavior and the perils of celebrity culture.