"The Residents Present: Triple Trouble" - Editorial Film Review
- wcthompson
- Mar 30, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 2, 2024
Written for The Soundview Media Partners (originally published May 2023)
“Have fun while you can, and care about something…” - Randy Rose of The Residents
Few films have the ability to make the viewer feel uneasy, intrigued, and creatively inspired quite like The Residents Present: Triple Trouble. An avant-garde feature created by American art collective and rock band The Residents, and directed by Homer Flynn, starring Dustin York as Randall “Junior” Rose, Isabelle Barbier’s voiceover as Randall’s AI drone Cherry, with late actress Gerri Lawlor as Junior’s mother, and Isabelle Ellingson as Suzi. Most notably and mysteriously, Randy Rose, a former member of The Residents, makes a cameo as a semi-fictionalized version of himself, in the role of Junior’s deceased father. The picture premiered at the Chicago Underground Film Festival in 2022, finally making its debut after years of production uncertainty.
Set in present-day San Francisco, priest-turned-plumber Junior becomes increasingly paranoid that an unknown fungus is taking over humanity, potentially turning them into zombies (George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” is prominently referenced). Having lost his faith in God, he descends into mania after his mother’s death, and the breakup between he and his ex-girlfriend, Suzie. While he grapples with his past, he contemplates loss and remembers the strained relationship with his departed father, rock star Randy Rose. Through a series of flashbacks and monologues, the story of his troubled existence unfurls into a comically nightmarish fever dream.
This film is not for the faint of heart or those seeking easy-viewing, but for anyone who follows The Residents or appreciates the theater of the bizarre, there is much to be captivated by. Triple Trouble has a production history spanning 50 years, containing footage from a previous project, Vileness Fats, filmed between 1972-1976, which was never completed, accompanied by original music from the band. The included pieces of Vileness Fats were shot on “industrial grade” open-reel tape giving a raw and gritty vibe which complements the strangeness of the narrative. “Cinema of the unsettling” is how I would describe it.
The film’s winding plot challenges the viewer to figure out whether the madness lies within Junior’s mind or within the fibers of society itself, like the fungus allegedly plaguing the world. There is very little evidence to suggest the “epidemic” of Junior’s vision has any basis in truth. Perhaps it could be mental illness, but who can say with certainty what is absolute truth or rampant psychosis? Throughout the storyline, he mentions his hyper-awareness of his own mental instability, but cannot shake the feeling of something going horribly awry. There is some sort of sickly veil that hangs over every encounter he encounters. In his search for meaning, for connection, he is using the fungus as a metaphor; mycelium fibers utilized for communication, a stand-in for the human connection he longs for and cannot seem to find.
Endlessly fascinating and vaguely troubling, this is a piece of art that deserves attention, and will receive it from those who keep an open mind. Prepare yourself for unconventional content, this is not something to be watched if you’re easily put-off. It’s likely to leave you with a “what did I just watch?” feeling. Let’s just say that things are not as they seem, and much is left open to interpretation. Also, be prepared for jump-scares!
Triple Trouble (2022) is the embodiment of fantastically odd chaos, and I mean that in the best way - this is worth your time, and will add value to the tapestry of your viewing history, with plenty of stories to tell your friends. The uncomfortable but illuminating situations presented may resonate with you more than you would expect.
For Strong Consideration - C. Sterling for The Sound View
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