Three handicapped losers, who basically can’t play musical instruments but want to start a band, enlist the services of famous writer Dries, who pretends that he can’t play the drums in order to use their lives as source material for his new book. As the band attempt to play Dries exploits the weaknesses inherent in their lives, unravelling the tenuous ties of their existence...

Ex-Drummer (2007) is from first time director Koen Mortier, the film won three awards and was nominated for a further one, though to be honest I’m really not sure why. The plot is tenuous at best and the endless assault of violence and swearing soon wears a little thin. Obviously, given its gritty nature and subject matter (remember this is supposed to be funny), some will compare it to Trainspotting (1996) and This is Spinal Tap (1984). However, the former had wit and a plot, the latter humour by the bucket load.

What we have here is the depiction of the worst side of humanity. I struggle to find anything of worth in the film. Certainly there are a number of shots which are initially engaging. One of the band's members, Geyter (Norman Baert), lives his life upside down, literally, and the opening shots grab the attention. But, in the end, style over content does not a good film make. Nor does having your characters shout expletives make up for a thin plot and lack of characterisation.

Certainly this is supposed to be a black comedy, but you would have to go some way to find humour in rape, forced sodomy, child neglect and gay bashing. If this is an in-your-face raw slice of life then your welcome to keep it.

The film can be played in either 5.1 or stereo, though this is so low budget that the 5.1 track is almost superfluous. Language is Flemish with English subtitles. The extras perk the package up a bit with a Making of documentary (31 min 38 sec), which if nothing else has the director being refreshingly honest.

The piece opens with him reading the endless letters of rejection for the project, mostly on the same grounds of lack of plot and the endlessly pointless use of violence of all sorts, but what the hell... He went and made the film anyway. What follows is a set of audition tapes which are frankly funnier than the main feature. Following this it settles down into the usual making of stuff. After that you get the original trailer; a music video for the Feminists (the ironic name of the films moronic band) played by The Millionaires; a Flip Kowlier music video; and some half completed song by the Overdo Hykers.

In the end the film is pretty much an attempt to shock which, apart from some nifty camera work, falls down fairly quickly. Only buy this if you want to shock your granny.

4

Charles Packer