The new film Fried Barry is not one for subtlety. From its blunt, accurate title to the in-your-face tempo of the narrative, the film reveals what it is early on and does not let up from there. The star of this gonzo South African tale is Barry (Gary Green), a heroine addict who finds himself stumbling from situation to situation, be it disappointing and neglecting the wife and son he has at home or hitting up his favorite local bar where his equally drug-addled friends wax poetic about why Mickey Mouse wears gloves. He is typically awaiting his next high, which first-time feature director Ryan Kruger depicts with an icy blue dive into a pool of blissful disassociation. Yet, he literally gets high once he is plucked off the ground by an alien spaceship in brilliant stark red light. Barry is returned, but he is not quite the Barry we knew before – a man who was not particularly chatty in the first place. We are led to believe that something is occupying Barry, and this alien host is in for a wild night once it realizes that it picked one of the most tainted bodies around.
The journey we take with Barry could be generously described as being part of a plot, but in actuality it is just a successive series of strange happenings. It is best to embark on this wild ride with the assumption that everything we are seeing is based on Barry’s skewed perception – both from being littered with drugs in his system and from hosting an alien life form. Dropped into the Cape Town nightlife, Barry walks through life with little understanding of what is going down but finds many people drawn to his gaunt, frankly odd looking self. One gorgeous woman approaches him at a club to slip him drugs, a dude in the bathroom wants to service him and another woman wants Barry to come back to her place to rock her world. Everyone wants a piece of Barry for some reason. It is not exactly what is happening to Barry that is so fascinating, but rather the totally wacky way in which Green is bringing him to life to exist in this world. Eyes bugged out, limbs stiff, mouth gaping and jutting out in the most peculiar ways. Barry does not know how to exist, and this completely committed performance just sells every sequence.
The vignette-esque approach of Fried Barry yields some very entertaining moments, especially since the reality we are observing is filled with characters who seem to be on the same outlandish plane as Barry. A simple visit to the supermarket with his wife turns into a lewd performance showcase from the cashier. You will never guess what happens when Barry gets solicited by a prostitute – I have to leave it at that. There is even Barry the unwitting hero; our dear protagonist runs across the path of an unhinged psychopath harboring a dark secret which escalates upon the introduction of a chainsaw. All of these scenes deliver a tasteless sense of chaos, which will be enough to satisfy certain audiences, but it leaves you wondering if Kruger is trying to say anything of depth with this tale. The characters along this journey are amped up to their highest degree, but rarely do they seem to exist for reasons beyond just existing. For all of the nonstop stylistic flourishes, you never get anything in the realm of emotion from this story.
If this is all Kruger is going for, that is fine. This whimsical acid trip of film can just be an experience without deeper meaning. A series of moments where Kruger thinks “wouldn’t this be weird and cool” and just puts it on screen for Gary Green to execute flawlessly. This is the essence of most recent cult favorites. Few films have been able to capture the out-of-body experience that comes from losing yourself to substances as well as this film does. Kruger along with cinematographer Gareth Place take you on a visually dazzling journey that pushes boundaries in a really intriguing way. It will be celebrated more for what it accomplishes on a visceral aesthetic level rather than anything deeply emotional, but as a feature debut it will appeal to fans of offbeat stories. As an opening statement to the world, Ryan Kruger at the very least got our attention.
Video Quality
Fried Barry comes to Blu-Ray with a fetching AVC encoded 1080p transfer that showcases the look of the film really well. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail both in the drugged-out fantasy-esque sequences and in the real-world moments. Everything from the smallest facial details to the texture in the production design is quite impressive. The cinematography features some nice pops of color with everything appearing very natural, especially in the moments when Barry is on another plane of mental being. These colors bring a vibrancy to the story that is appreciated in the way it keeps with the heightened aesthetic. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. Black levels are admirable but could stand to be a bit deeper. Skin tones are natural throughout with some impeccable details present in certain shots. Overall, this is quite a powerful transfer that should please fans.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite powerful and well balanced. Environmental effects play a substantial role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds, although some dialects have to be supplemented with subtitles. Activity in the low end delivers quite a jolt during much of the presentation, especially in the more unhinged moments. RLJE Films has delivered a fierce track for a film that really packs a punch.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Ryan Kruger, Producer James C. Williamson and Director of Photography Gareth Place provide a raucous and informative commentary track in which they discuss many elements of production, elaborating on the short film, the performances, the unique visuals and much more that makes for an interesting listen.
- The Making Of Fried Barry: A 15-minute featurette in which the cast and crew discuss the origins of the project, shaping the story around Gary Green, the very condensed development timeline, the big swings in the narrative, the tone of the story, shooting locations and more.
- Fried Barry Behind-The-Scenes: A four-minute glimpse at moments from the production of the film.
- Fried Barry Short Film: The original four-minute short film is provided here which shows a very physical Barry getting strung out.
- Deleted & Extended Scenes: Six unused or extended scenes totaling seven minutes featuring an alternate ending, a longer car scene with Chanelle, a lengthy drug odyssey scene and more.
- Outtakes: Four minutes of unused or mangled lines, laughing fits, goofing around and more.
- Barry Advertisements: Three strange commercials totaling nearly two minutes advertising Barry cigarettes, condoms and more.
- “How To” With Barry: Three instructional videos totaling nearly four minutes that aims to help you with your sex life.
- Alternate Trailer: A minute-long trailer for the film is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Fried Barry is a wild ride that is elevated thanks to an irrepressible lead performance from Gary Green and a dark, quirky sense of humor which makes this wacky reality make a bit more sense. Director Ryan Kruger goes a bit for style over substance, but for this type of film that is not a dealbreaker. Those who appreciate an unhinged violent and comedic odyssey will likely reach nirvana with this release. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a robust set of special features. Recommended
Fried Barry is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
