by Jon Partridge
Bobby Miller first brought his offbeat sensibility to life with the short film Tub back in 2010 in which he told a tale of a man with commitment issues who, after jerking off in his shower, accidentally impregnates his tub. His first full feature, which debuted at SXSW 2016, is a similar parable, offering up another look at people’s inner anxieties that manifest in a very surreal way.
Paul (Johnny Galecki) is wallowing in depression; recently dumped, he is finding it hard to care anymore. He’s awoken from a fast-food fueled slumber on his sofa by an advert for a free retreat promising renewal and a fresh outlook on life, courtesy of renowned self-help expert Ken Roberts (Oliver Platt). After applying online, he finds himself in an office building alongside several other candidates being interviewed for his eligibility. His pitiful story wins him favor, and he is selected to attend alongside actress Maggie (Anna Friel) and a couple comprised of the loutish Eric (Kyle Gallner) and soft spoken Laurie (Diana Bang). Taken to a secluded resort, they meet caretaker Fredericks (Kevin J. O’Connor) and their guide Lily (Anjelica Huston) who explain to them how their journey to renewal will unfold. For the first step, each of them is given a tailored juice mix to purge their bodies. Upon completion, they find that what they expelled is something entirely unexpected.
We all carry emotional baggage. How much we hang on to can affect our mood, relationships, and eventually function. Some can process and let go, but others hold it tighter, snowballing the effects. Mental health isn’t a subject easily mined for laughs, but Miller deftly explores this with sympathetic characters and still manages a subtle poke at the ever growing “self-help” industry. As you’d expect if you’ve seen Miller’s short, his approach is a creative one. I hesitate to reveal too much, but if you were given the chance to literally face the demons inside you, how would you deal with it?
The resulting feature is not a full blown horror, but more of a surreal take on a regular narrative. Think what it would be like if a self-help retreat was tucked away in Joe Dante’s cinematic universe: a delightfully oddball take on something that is largely played straight and steadily ramps up the intrigue and weirdness. This is balanced by a genuine message about forgiveness and about letting go, a final shot providing an unexpectedly emotional sense of closure. It’s an impressive debut and one whose only flaw is the sense it was at times restrained in scope due to finances. The prospect of Miller’s imagination being matched by a budget is a tantalizing one.
Black humor and a endearing charm add to the mix thanks to a tight script and an impressively assembled cast. Galecki channels his affable quality, and Friel is always a welcome presence. Her Maggie is interesting from the off and shaded with increasing detail throughout. Gallner has perhaps the most interesting journey in the film despite being more of a background character, whilst Platt, Huston and O’Conner impart their distinct abilities on the feature while nestling comfortably as people who belong within this curious world.
That perhaps is the most applaudable aspect of The Master Cleanse. It depicts a familiar world and relatable characters with problems that speak to us all. With this foundation, it adds in an unconventional metaphor that allows for hints of darkness and the curation of a delightfully oddball charm. The end result is a quirky and intimate satire of a self-help process coupled to a Don Coscarelli sensibility. A film that is as equally affirming as it is entertaining.