Bagworm: A Gruesome Satire of the Manosphere
Oliver Bernsen's 'Bagworm' is a darkly comedic and surreal exploration of the toxic world of the manosphere, as seen through the eyes of an everyman named Carroll. The film takes a break-up and turns it into a near-death experience, complete with strange shots of gore and a bizarre sense of humor. It's a body-horror movie with a twist, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart.
Peter Falls stars as Carroll, whose life begins to unravel after a simple accident with a rusty nail. His dating life is already a mess, but things take a turn for the worse as he tries to fake his way through life, taking selfies in other countries that he didn't actually visit. His job, working for an online company selling a gadget called a 'Handmer', is equally absurd. But instead of using his newfound freedom productively, Carroll doomscrolls through YouTube and follows a motorist home to return a piece of trash.
As the film progresses, Carroll's life becomes a series of minor but incremental disasters. His house is in a state of disrepair, and his attempts to upgrade his furniture lead him to buy a shabby armchair on Craigslist that was previously occupied by a comatose, incontinent old lady. The event that the film is headed towards is a friend's bachelor party in Vegas, which Carroll clearly doesn't want to attend. But, somehow, he ends up there, and by that point, he's become a physically repulsive wreck, an open sore riddled with gunge and pus.
Despite the graphic nature of the film, Carroll eventually pulls out of his tailspin. Falls does a great job of showing the tragedy of Carroll's situation without playing the role for pity. The toxic world of the manosphere has seldom been so graphically or gruesomely rendered.
Bagworm is a unique and unsettling take on the manosphere, using dark humor and surreal imagery to explore the consequences of toxic masculinity. It's a thought-provoking and entertaining film that will leave a lasting impression on viewers.
