Left Field Cinema

Although damned to the world of obscure cinema, Bad Boy Bubby is certainly a film among films. It is not for everybody, especially for the first 30 minutes. The protagonist of the film is named Bubby. Every waking second of his life has been spent in a two-room apartment with his horrifyingly disturbed mother who has convinced Bubby that the air outside is poisonous. Throughout his life, Bubby has been served bread with gravy as a meal every day, and he engages in incest with his mother consistently. The mother is considerably cruel to Bubby. While she is at work, she orders Bubby to sit completely still for hours on end. “Be Still you little cunt! Jesus can see everything you do, and if he tells me you moved, By Christ I’ll beat you brainless!” Bubby’s only companion in the world is the simple house cat that he abuses the same way his mother abuses him. Due to lack of education, the only words he knows are the ones his mother uses (which is a central concept throughout the film).

The Boredom of his life comes to an end when his long lost father shows up and becomes “re-acquainted” with his mother. The man becomes irritated and soon enraged with Bubby after Bubby starts dressing up like him and acting like him. Soon the film makes a turn and he ventures outside. His discoveries in the outside world are interesting. The world seems as weird for us as it is to curious ol’ bubby. He meets a colourful bunch of people: An atheist that tries to convert him, a group of musicians that make him the lead singer of their band (he sings all of the things he has heard from his mom and pop), and a group of mentally ill children. In just a week, Bubby’s bizarre and underground music becomes a hit, he is thought of as a miracle worker when people learn he can talk to speech impaired mentally ill children, and he falls in love with one of their nurses. The film goes from one of the most disturbing motion pictures, to a very touching, religious, and challenging film. As far as religion is concerned, the film is very controversial. Due to the offensive religious remarks that Bubby’s mother uses, and the scene where the man tried to convert Bubby to atheism, some people have taken offence, but due to the idea that Bubby is thought of as a miracle worker, it definitely sparks the idea of debate. I have heard mixed reviews for "Bad Boy Bubby". Some people watched the first thirty minutes, took the DVD, and threw it into the ocean. Some people considered it a rather predictable journey after Bubby escapes his home, but respected the integrity of Christopher Hopes performance. Some consider it a darker version of The Enigma of Kaspar Housar but with an unnecessarily happy ending, and some considered it a life changing experience. That's what is to appreciate here. The film is disturbing but with a debatable, touching and satisfying pay off. Flawed but unconventional and provocative.

Christopher Bryant Arnett