Dries Van Hegen, Norman Baert, Gunter Lamoot

"Ex Drummer" tells of famous author Dries, who is approached to play the drums for a group of oddball punk musicians who call themselves The Feminists. Their gimmick? They each have a physical handica...( read more  read more... )p. Dries has a handicap too, he can't play drums but the arrogant yuppie is drawn to their squalid life; there could be a story in it, but once in, can he get out again?

Flixster Users

72% liked it

1,401 ratings

Critics

46% liked it

13 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Koen Mortier

Release Date: January 31, 2007

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Flixster Reviews (179)


  • October 20, 2009
    A writer agrees to become the drummer for a band formed by trio of handicapped lowlifes to win a Belgian battle of the bands; he ends up manipulating them into destruction. The movie is explained through Dries? confession when he agrees to join the band as their celebrity drumme...( read more)r: "I want to step outside my happy world. Descend into the depths of stupidity, ugliness, obtuseness, unfaithfulness? Latch onto the life of losers, but without belonging to that world and in the knowledge that I can always return to my own world." In other words, it's socioeconomic tourism among the disadvantaged, GUMMO with Eurotrash subbed in for poor white trash: the underclasses do the craziest things, like constantly rape each other and neglect their children until the tykes chomp down on excrement from hunger. Who wouldn't want to enter such a world for ninety minutes, aside from most film-goers? The soundtrack is the main draw.
  • July 2, 2009
    The dialog in this film is so quick-witted I could barely keep up with the subtitles. It's very funny, and very punk. It's dark and violent and nihilistic and truly bizarre. Each member of the band must have a handicap. One has a really bad lisp and lives on the ceiling (see post...( read more)er)-(only in his own home, tho), another has a debilitating mother complex and a stiff right arm, another is deaf and addicted to crack, and the drummer's handicap is that he can't play drums ... but he's writing the story. The soundtrack is magnificent and the acting is all spot on. If you like punk, you gotta see this.

    sitenoise at the movies: Ex Drummer
  • December 17, 2007
    For those who think that the only good things coming out from Belgium are chocolates, diamonds and its proximity to weed Paradise, think again. In my opinion, this movie is definitely one of the most weird and surrealistic experiences a person can have.
    And I have tried babysitti...( read more)ng.

    Ex Drummer is filled with shocking up-your-ass Trainspotting kind of elements (although they made them even more shocking here), and it's wrapped in a grey, raw punk atmosphere that suits it perfectly. After it's over, you just feel like bashing a guitar right against your sister's face.
    But that's me.

    The acting is fantastic, at least from the main characters. They really added impact to a story that, as simple as it may seem at first, got as sick as it could.

    Sadistic, insane, dramatic, surprising and intelligently humorous.

    (Two guys taking a piss)

    "- Well well, look who it is. Are you writing another book?
    - Yes.
    -I've read all your books. What's the title going to be?
    - The 12:07 train.
    - Oh. And is it going to be another thick book?
    - Yes. In the first chapter it's running half an hour late.
    - Who is?
    - Your brain tumor."


    Being handicapped never looked so great.
    More, please.
  • June 1, 2008
    Now here's a film. Like Gasper Noe directing Trainspotting with characters for Funny Games. Stylish and brutal, this is a consistently entertaining film with great music and excellent performances. A film I'll definitely be revisiting many more times.
  • October 27, 2009
    This shocking and sexually explicit gorefest is probably the most offensive film ever made, but it's also one of the funniest films I've ever seen in years!
  • October 8, 2009
    Very stylish, weird and fun to watch.
  • September 24, 2009
    SO orginal
    So disturbing
    So good
    But not for everybody
  • August 30, 2009
    Looks like a grimy little movie.
  • August 29, 2009
    Spinal Tap on 5 kilos of acid and PCP. I.e. One of the greatest films of the millennium. Gritty and confrontational, it isn't shy about any of its personality which I would suspect it of being a great adaptation. There's stuff here with the off-putting realism of Gummo and it'll ...( read more)offend and shock hetero males and feminists. I found it to be highly enjoyable and hilarious. Each character with his own disability - who comes up with that? Haha. Though their craziness you can't help but like. Great directorial effort which captures the savagery of "squalid life" and that exposes some unusually funny visions for human body parts. The coolness and soundtrack make me wish I didn't give up on guitar; or rather, inspire. Mongoloid!
  • July 3, 2009
    Esto es para los cretinos que siguen creyendo que hacen buen punk rock. y para los mediocres directores que sólo emplean la música para acentuar lo que su pobre guión no puede reflejar en escena. nada de charlatanería. y el film se mueve constantemente. como cinco acordes en un c...( read more)uarto de compás.

Critic Reviews


November 9, 2007
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

Peters out in mass murder and visual gross-out. full review

View more Ex Drummer reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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