Relaxer (Joel Potrykus, 2018): USA

Film Review by: Bethany Burns Viewed at AFI Film Festival 2018.

If you are looking for an escape from reality via a comedic and cutting edge work of cinematic narrative fiction, Relaxer (2018) by Joel Potrykus in just the film you are looking for. A simple yet intricately detailed film which portrays the world of one disillusioned young man who is stuck by his own vices on a leather couch in a small room desperately trying to beat the 256^th level of the Pac-Man video game before the looming threat of Y2K unleashes its fury on the world. This film is an ode to both the state of Michigan in the 90’s and video gamer’s all over the world. Potrykus takes his viewers on the cruel and unusual journey of a pair of brothers who are stuck in a cycle of rivalry and stagnation. The juxtaposition of their relationship in many ways a mirror of the life lessons and communication tactics they seem to never have learned.

The entire film takes place in the same room and from a total of about 12 different perspectives. The narrative tells the story of a young man Abner (Jason Burge), or Abby as everyone else calls him who seems to have been a failure his entire life. He sits sweaty alone and shirtless on an old leather couch, bewildered by and disconnected from the outside world. His main interaction is with his older brother Cam (David Dastmalchian) who rents the apartment the two live in. It is quickly revealed that Abner is the constant butt of his brother’s jokes and victim to what his brother refers to as “challenges”. These challenges are disgusting and cruel ideas Cam comes up with in a demented attempt to validate Abner living in his home rent free.

As the film opens Abner is making an attempt at finishing a gallon of milk that he sips from a straw in a baby bottle in a short amount of time set by Cam. As he is aggressively prodded by Cam to finish the room temperature gallon Abner becomes increasingly uncomfortable and the moment climaxes with Abner projectile vomiting the milk all over himself and the room. This moment in the film is merely the icing on the cake of awkward and uncomfortable moments throughout. Abner’s discomfort with the outer world is also reflected through his use of 3D glasses to hide behind in tandem with his belief that he has telekinetic powers. All in all, this story is full of surprises and littered with interactions that had me laughing from the core.

I had my doubts about a film shot exclusively in one controlled environment, and being that I am from Michigan I was really hoping for full character commitment and development on the part of the actors, I was certainly not let down. From his bumbling interactions with others to his strange behaviors when left to his own devices, Burge truly embodied every nerdy gamer I have ever known from my hometown. Everything from his accent to his candor was true to what I remember and was consistent throughout the film. As each new character was introduced their personalities were more and more eccentric. The actors commitment to the narrative and the development of their characters truly made this film for me. It certainly could have gone horribly wrong if it weren’t for the talent and dedication of the actors.

The set design was also perfectly styled; a dirty monotone room full of cockroaches, nitrous oxide bullets, shelves built from cinder blocks and plywood and an old ripped brown leather couch from which Abner does not stand up from until the very end of the film. This set was designed by Potrykus and DP Adam Minnick. It was built inside a small garage and every element completely controlled during the two week shoot in Grand Rapids Michigan. The soundscape of this film is mostly diegetic, with an overlay of gaming sound effects and high pitched tones during Abner’s moments of discomfort and attempts at telekinesis. This added the layer of subconscious competence Abner’s character was working to hide from those he interacted with.

All in all, even with the surprise and rather graphic ending I found this film to be successful all around in its production quality from the casting to the set design and clever cinematography. It painted a very accurate portrait of what I remember of all my nerdy friends who would sit in their own filth awaiting the moment they beat just one more level of whatever game was newest and most exciting.