The Chumscrubber (2005)

34% of critics liked it
(58 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(38,599 ratings)

The death of a troubled teen throws a suburban neighborhood into chaos in this darkly satirical comedy. Dean (Jamie Bell) is a disaffected teenager living in a California suburb that's beautiful on the surface but populated by families who live emotionally vacant lives, with the parents often too… More The death of a troubled teen throws a suburban neighborhood into chaos in this darkly satirical comedy. Dean (Jamie Bell) is a disaffected teenager living in a California suburb that's beautiful on the surface but populated by families who live emotionally vacant lives, with the parents often too wrapped up in their own problems to pay attention to their children. One day, Dean discovers his best (and only) friend, Troy (Josh Janowicz), has killed himself. While Troy's mother (Glenn Close) hasn't figured out her son is dead just yet, Dean opts not to tell her, and besides, his own parents (William Fichtner and Allison Janney) don't appear very concerned. Dean, however, does have reason to worry -- Billy (Justin Chatwin), Lee (Lou Taylor Pucci), and Crystal (Camilla Belle) are three bullies who used to buy drugs from Troy, and they want Dean find Troy's remaining stash and give it to them. When Dean refuses to cooperate, the bullies decide to get tough and kidnap Dean's little brother; however, they end up taking the wrong child and Dean grudging finds himself trying to rescue a child he doesn't know. Meanwhile, as the adults in the neighborhood begin to emotionally implode, "the Chumscrubber" becomes a common presence in town -- a comic book and video game character represented by a decapitated post-apocalyptic teenager who has become an unavoidable pop-culture icon. The Chumscrubber also features Ralph Fiennes, Carrie-Anne Moss, John Heard, and Rita Wilson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Arie Posin
Written By: Zac Stanford
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 5, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 10, 2006
Studio: Picturehouse

Critic Reviews

Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times
An impassioned and occasionally mesmerizing first effort that's at once messier, more complex and more ambitious than many recent suburban dystopias.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
An appallingly clumsy and stupid take on drugs, kidnapping and suicide in suburbia.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
There are some very good performances and some strong writing.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
It's neither funny nor sad, and it's filled with cheats, phony come-ons and red herrings.
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
Exploring suburban malaise is nothing new ... but The Chumscrubber puts a fresh coat on the arguments.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
A shallow, synthetic critique of suburbia loaded with more hand-me-down quirks than it can justify.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
The entire strange magical realism and stinging emotional bite of Chumscrubber's burb wasteland are as captivating and disturbing as can be.
James Christopher, Times [UK]
It's a surreal, offbeat comedy where the kidnappers are hopelessly inept while Bell feels hopelessly at sea.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
Despite the top-drawer cast assembled for his debut feature, the director Arie Posin's account of emotional dislocation in the 'burbs is stymied by a fatally uneven tone and a growing suspicion that we've been down this road many, many times before.
, Film4
A strong cast promises great things, but The Chumscrubber loses itself on the way to its indie aspirations.
Johnny Vaughan, Sun Online
Sadly, despite Bell's eye-catching performance and Glenn Close's disturbing Stepford Wife portrayal, I found this messy movie as self-absorbed as most of its characters.
, Daily Mirror [UK]
Ten years ago, The Chumscrubber might have seemed groundbreaking. Today, it's not just unoriginal but as dull and nondescript as a Barratt home.
, Total Film
It is witty and subversive, with flashes of magical realism and apocalyptic CG that both provokes and unnerves.
Olly Richards, Empire Magazine
A tragic waste of acting talent, with nothing new to say. Can we please now politely close the door on middle-class repression before we get really angry?
Anna Smith, Time Out
Much like its characters: decorative, entertaining and emotionally empty.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Even though it feels derivative, this blackly comical suburban drama is loaded with terrific details. And it features yet another excellent performance from Jamie Bell.
Stella Papamichael, BBC
Posin aims for are out of his reach and he's left to scrabble desperately for a story to plug in the gaps.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Such is the sordid state of affairs in that emerging genre that might be termed suburban noir, as it inches ever closer to horror and the supernatural.
Shirley Sealy, Film Journal International
An agonizingly bad movie.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
The complex screenplay is admirable for its plot structure, its dark humour and its storytelling tricks, but the film ends up playing like a well developed project about teen-parent alienation, while itself alienating many of us in the audience.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

A high school student is blackmailed into recovering a stash of drugs from his dead friend's house by the school bully who kidnaps an innocent boy for leverage. The plot of The Chumscrubber is basically an "indie" version of Alpha Dog, and the whole thing comes across… More
A high school student is blackmailed into recovering a stash of drugs from his dead friend's house by the school bully who kidnaps an innocent boy for leverage. The plot of The Chumscrubber is basically an "indie" version of Alpha Dog, and the whole thing comes across as a patchwork of ideas stolen from American Beauty, Heathers and Donnie Darko. But the biggest problem with it is the fact that not one of the characters is even remotely likeable. They're just a bunch of self absorbed jerks who have zero interest in anyone but themselves and it's impossible to give a crap about any of them. Even Jamie Bell, who is supposed to be the "hero" is just a smug, dour little prick who you just want to slap. There's some kind of message in here about reliance on quickie solutions to life's problems like self help or pill popping, and the scene between Bell and Close at the end does have some of the heart missing from the whole of the rest of the film. But it makes no coherent points on the subject matter and the whole thing is just a derivative, unfunny and slightly tedious shambles that pales in comparison to ALL of the films it rips off.
Jim H

In suburbia, a teen who recently discovered the dead body of his best friend must recover the dead kid's drugs before his classmates kill a kidnapped boy. I was reminded of Alpha Dog when the victim of a drug-related kidnapping rather enjoys the experience… More
In suburbia, a teen who recently discovered the dead body of his best friend must recover the dead kid's drugs before his classmates kill a kidnapped boy. I was reminded of Alpha Dog when the victim of a drug-related kidnapping rather enjoys the experience compared to the stifled restrictions of suburbia, but there is more going on here, and nothing about the drug-dealing lifestyle is glorified. The film's message, condemning the self-absorbed nature of the suburban parents and seeing the kids growing up too fast, encountering issues way beyond their age group, is entirely clear. However, the film's tone is uneven. Often I thought that there were two conflicting styles at play: the parents were in a scathing satire, with Mrs. Johnson's repeated "I in no way blame you for Troy's death" and Michael's vacant-eyed dalliances, and the kids were in a teen drama in the vein of Havoc. This juxtaposition works sometimes, but most of the time I was left wondering if these styles would ever converge; they do eventually, but it's too late and too little. Overall, I'm sympathetic to the film's argument, and I think much of it is well-done, but there
Thomas J

Along the style of a Donnie Darko.... I enjoyed this movie just because it is different than the regurgitated Adam Sadler crap that is always out there! Jamie Bell is a fine actor. Ralph Fiennes could have just stayed home, his character in no way added anything to the movie for me.
Cynthia S

While I appreciated the overall purpose/message of the story, I felt the movie was put together rather poorly. The characters were over-worked and hard to like, the plot was holey, and the cinematography was less than fabulous. In other words, this is one of those movies that… More
While I appreciated the overall purpose/message of the story, I felt the movie was put together rather poorly. The characters were over-worked and hard to like, the plot was holey, and the cinematography was less than fabulous. In other words, this is one of those movies that could've been great but ended up rather mediocre.
familiar s

I found it like a combo of Donnie Darko + American Beauty + Alpha Dog (+ whatnot that I know not). Enjoyed it reasonably but there are too many annoying moments in it to make it thoroughly enjoyable.
♥˩ƳИИ &

CAST: Jamie Bell, Glenn Close, Rita Wilson, Carrie-Anne Moss, William Fichtner, Ralph Fiennes, John Heard, Lauren Holly, Jason Isaacs, Allison Janney, Tim DeKay, Rory Culkin, Thomas Curtis, Justin Chatwin, Camilla Belle DIRECTED BY: Arie Posin SUMMARY: Director Arie Posin… More
CAST: Jamie Bell, Glenn Close, Rita Wilson, Carrie-Anne Moss, William Fichtner, Ralph Fiennes, John Heard, Lauren Holly, Jason Isaacs, Allison Janney, Tim DeKay, Rory Culkin, Thomas Curtis, Justin Chatwin, Camilla Belle DIRECTED BY: Arie Posin SUMMARY: Director Arie Posin transforms his short story into a frightfully honest portrait of suburban dysfunction in this film about Dean (Jamie Bell), a young boy who finds his friend hanging from the rafters during a neighborhood party. Figuring that no one else would care, he doesn't report his discovery to the adults, and instead embarks on a journey of harrowing isolation and loneliness. MY THOUGHTS: "This is a movie parents should see. It's also a movie most teenager's, and even younger kids can relate too. This movie had a very talented cast. Jamie Bell, has become a fast favorite of mine and he is amazing in this role. The movie really has a feel of the likes of 'Donnie Darko' and 'American Beauty'. Which is probably one of the reasons I liked it so much. It's a dark comedy, with many dysfunctional families. There is quite a bit going on, but it all meshes together very well, and has me come to the same conclusion. The parents are way more messed up then the kids are. In my opinion at least. But isn't that the way it goes. Parents messing up their kids and those kids growing up into the mess their parents were and then messing up their children and so on and so on. It's the never ending cycle. Suburban life is made to look so perfect and in this movie it gives you that same sense, but also how the outside is just a mirage to the craziness on the inside. These parents ignore their kids so much that all they have to say every time they needed to do something they just said "it was for school". That made everything and every situation OK. This movie really was such a great movie with a good message to parents. Don't ignore your kids, talk to them, don't push them to the side, or treat them as your own personal guinea pig. Anyone who was brought up in a dysfunctional home (I know I wasn't the only one) can, and will relate to this film. My favorite part is the ending. The talk between Glenn Close and Jamie Bell's characters. That's when it really gets real and raw. Great performances, great movie."
Conner R

While it is a now familiar film style, Chumscrubber brings together a blend of comedy and social commentary that makes the viewer analyze their way of life. It says a lot about ignorance of the world around. The cast is amazing and gave great performances. It is a great story that is… More
While it is a now familiar film style, Chumscrubber brings together a blend of comedy and social commentary that makes the viewer analyze their way of life. It says a lot about ignorance of the world around. The cast is amazing and gave great performances. It is a great story that is original and fun.
E.J. B

I hate movies like this. Movies that try to analyze teenage angst as a result of poor parenting and the drab, artificiality of suburban life. What The Chumscrubber tries to do is go the Donnie Darko route, only to end up with delivering superficial, cookie-cutter ideas about teen… More
I hate movies like this. Movies that try to analyze teenage angst as a result of poor parenting and the drab, artificiality of suburban life. What The Chumscrubber tries to do is go the Donnie Darko route, only to end up with delivering superficial, cookie-cutter ideas about teen rebellion. Jamie Bell plays a loser teen who relies on drugs to feel good about himself. His parents try to understand him, but they do all the wrong things, because quite simply, parents just don't get their children. I guess Jamie Bell delivers a good performance, since he's in almost every scene, and is able to look consistently depressed through the entire ordeal. Maybe he really was, having realized the movie he just signed on for.
Stefanie C

i own dvd
Curtis L

This film was pretty good. The thing about it that I thought was fun was that nobody cared about anyone. All of the adults were completely oblivious to their children at all times, and the kids didn't care about anything but drugs. I hope this isn't really where life is… More
This film was pretty good. The thing about it that I thought was fun was that nobody cared about anyone. All of the adults were completely oblivious to their children at all times, and the kids didn't care about anything but drugs. I hope this isn't really where life is headed, but we all seem to get more selfish by the day. P.S. watching a guy get his eyeball slit open is really gross.
Drew S

Clever but painfully glib hyper-indie film with a plot so ridiculously coincidental that it's impossible to believe.
Lanning :

What a cast! What . . . a . . . movie . . . The acting tends to go over the top, and what might have passed as dark humor, in its best moments, is lost in too many good actors trying too hard. It's good to see Jamie Bell; however, this is not Billy Elliot.… More
What a cast! What . . . a . . . movie . . . The acting tends to go over the top, and what might have passed as dark humor, in its best moments, is lost in too many good actors trying too hard. It's good to see Jamie Bell; however, this is not Billy Elliot. But worth a viewing for interest sake.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"The Chumscrubber" takes place in an affluent suburb where high schooler Dean(Jamie Bell) is running low on drugs. He goes to visit his supplier, Troy, but finds that he has hung himself but tells no one. Troy's support staff thinks Dean was close… More
[font=Century Gothic]"The Chumscrubber" takes place in an affluent suburb where high schooler Dean(Jamie Bell) is running low on drugs. He goes to visit his supplier, Troy, but finds that he has hung himself but tells no one. Troy's support staff thinks Dean was close to him and is holding out on them. First, they ask politely for Troy's stash. Then, they hatch a plan to kidnap Dean's brother, Charlie(Rory Culkin). Only one problem: they get the wrong Charlie...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Chumscrubber" seeks to make a grand statement about the disconnect between parents and children but is too lumbering, broad and unoriginal to be much use.("Weeds" has the drugs in suburbia market cornered. The more recent "Brick" is a much more accomplished take on similar material.) And it is hard to believe that parents would have so little interest in the lives of their children. A good cast does help but Ralph Fiennes is so out of his element, he might as well be on Mars.[/font]
Nicolas K

It has all the ingredients to be either a great film or a total flop. In the end it achieves to be neither.
Adam M

Indie comedy drama about the weirdness of small suburban towns. This one in particular becomes weirder than normal when schoolboy Deans best friend, and school drug supplier, Troy commits suicide, drying up the drug chain. Trouble is, Dean hasn't told any of the adults about… More
Indie comedy drama about the weirdness of small suburban towns. This one in particular becomes weirder than normal when schoolboy Deans best friend, and school drug supplier, Troy commits suicide, drying up the drug chain. Trouble is, Dean hasn't told any of the adults about Troys suicide, knowing that they're far to wrapped up in their own lives to care about anything/one else so he finds himself in a spot of bother when a local gang tell Dean to supply the drugs from now on, something Dean has no idea about, so when he refuses, the gang kidknap who they believe is Deans brother, potentially causing a shitstorm for everybody. If the grown ups bother to take notice that is. This has a great cast including acting veterans Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes and Willian Finchner(not sure if thats his proper name, you know who i mean!) alongside relative newcomers Jamie Bell, Lou Taylor Pucci, Rory Culkin and the stunning Camilla Belle, who i've never seen in a film before but will definately be looking out for, who all give great performances. This is quite a strange one, i guess you could say its what would happen if David Lynch tried to make a normal suburban comedy! Entertaining and cool, nonetheless.
nefnie l

Deep in the heart of an idyllic suburb lies a troubled community. Everyone is so disconnected, it's almost as funny as it is disturbing. No one communicates with each other but more like at each other. One mom doesn't even realize her kid is missing. This quirky,… More
Deep in the heart of an idyllic suburb lies a troubled community. Everyone is so disconnected, it's almost as funny as it is disturbing. No one communicates with each other but more like at each other. One mom doesn't even realize her kid is missing. This quirky, off-beat, dark comedy film isn't everyones cup of tea, in fact, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Recipe - take one part Desperate Housewives, another part of Alpha Dog, add a dash of Stepford Wives, and another dash of Charlie Bartlett, and maybe a tad bit of Donnie Darko (some suggest more); and you have this mixed up concoction of a movie.
Marcus W

Welcome to Suburbia. Life here is perfect and everyone is (on psychiatric drugs to repress their emotions and make all those around them think that they are) very happy. This is a tale of a kidnapping gone wrong where the adults are completely self-absorbed, and the teenagers are… More
Welcome to Suburbia. Life here is perfect and everyone is (on psychiatric drugs to repress their emotions and make all those around them think that they are) very happy. This is a tale of a kidnapping gone wrong where the adults are completely self-absorbed, and the teenagers are either unexploded grenades or misunderstood loners. The cast and acting is first-rate, and if you liked American Beauty this is the next film you need to see. Outstanding.
Lovable M

Good, offbeat, dark comedy.
Sunil J

Really weird but awesome. All the actors are great but Glenn Close is amazing as the mother of a boy who just commited suicide.
Patrick D

Why have people not noticed this film. If it wasn't for me browsing the video store in my younger years I would never have known it existed. This film it a really deeply strange and engrossing film that it really not like anything you've seen. That all I can say. If… More
Why have people not noticed this film. If it wasn't for me browsing the video store in my younger years I would never have known it existed. This film it a really deeply strange and engrossing film that it really not like anything you've seen. That all I can say. If you're bored with Hollywood, take a look here, or stop complaining.