The Dark Backward (The Man with Three Arms) (1991)
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45% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
59% of users liked it
(513 ratings)
Writer/director Adam Rifkin's The Dark Backward is set in a dark, grimy, garbage-strewn urban netherworld, where a company named "Blump's" apparently owns everything. Marty Malt (Judd Nelson of The Breakfast Club) is an unhappy garbageman who moonlights as an atrociously unfunny… More Writer/director Adam Rifkin's The Dark Backward is set in a dark, grimy, garbage-strewn urban netherworld, where a company named "Blump's" apparently owns everything. Marty Malt (Judd Nelson of The Breakfast Club) is an unhappy garbageman who moonlights as an atrociously unfunny standup comic. His best friend and fellow trash collector, Gus (Bill Paxton), is the only one who laughs at his jokes, and his sincerity is questionable. The obnoxiously exuberant Gus plays an accordion, which he always carries with him. Marty is seeing Rosarita (Lara Flynn Boyle), a waitress, but she doesn't seem too interested in him, either. One day, Gus convinces a talent agent, Jackie Chrome (Las Vegas circuit staple Wayne Newton), to check out Marty's act. Jackie isn't impressed. Marty's luck seems to take a turn for the worse when a large lump starts growing on his back. He goes to a quack doctor (James Caan), who calls him a wimp and puts a Band-Aid on the lump. The lump continues to grow, eventually becoming a full-sized arm. While Gus uses Marty's newfound freakishness to impress his obese girlfriends, a horrified Rosarita breaks up with Marty, and he gets fired from the club where he does his act. Marty is despondent until Gus brings him to see Jackie, who, it turns out, has always dreamed of finding a real three-armed comic. Re-christened "Desi the Three-Armed Wonder Comic," and with Gus now providing musical accompaniment, Marty gets a fresh start on his career. The Dark Backward received devastating reviews upon its initial release, but has since developed a minor cult following. The film also stars Rob Lowe and King Moody, who was the original Ronald McDonald. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Adam Rifkin
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jul 26, 1991 Wide
Critic Reviews
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a film so astoundingly strange that you might think it fell to the earth fully formed from another dimension
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Keith Breese, Filmcritic.com
just too off-putting
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Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Extras on the disc include an interesting 40-minute question and answer session filmed at a 15th anniversary screening of the movie.
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Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Odd and twisted, The Dark Backward has plenty to thrill admirers of ugliness and enough food for thought to interest the rest of us too.
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Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A seriously weird, seriously cool surreal black comedy.
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Cast
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Judd Nelson
as Marty Malt
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Bill Paxton
as Gus
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Wayne Newton
as Jackie Chrome
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Lara Flynn Boyle
as Rosarita
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Rob Lowe
as Dirk Delta
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King Moody
as Twinkee Doodle
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Tanya Banks
as Human Xylophone
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Anna Berger
as Mrs. Malt
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Lydell M. Cheshier
as Dexter
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Claudia Christian
as Kitty
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Tony Cox
as Human Xylophone
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Danny Dayton
as Syd
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Robert Gannaway
as Denny Ginkle
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Arturo Gil
as Human Xylophone
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Landon Godfrey
as Unfamiliar Waitress
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Scott Goldman
as Mouseman
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Theodocia Goodrich
as Mrs. Bielfuss
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John Patrick Hayden
as Human Xylophone
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Tom Hodges
as Marjorie Zipp
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Laurianne Jameson
as Shirley
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Milicia Kastner
as Dirk's Babe
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Charles Knapp
as Sloppy
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Jason Logan
as Man Behind Counter
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Carrie Lynn
as Nicolette
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Richard Morrison
as Elvis
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Debra Perkins
as Pickles
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Ingrid Rifkin
as Cigarette Girl
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Elizabeth Sokol
as Lady Wrapped in Gauze
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Cindy Sorenson
as Human Xylophone
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Clifford Streit
as Raoul
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Gary Vonderlinden
as Joey
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Libby White-Cooper
as Dirk's Babe
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Steve Bing
as Basketball Player
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James Caan
as Dr. Scurvy
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Marc Decker
as Barber
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Tony Markes
as Muscle Man
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Adam Rifkin
as Rufus Bing
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Charles Winkler
as Dirk Delta's Assistant
- Harold Sokol