Fried Barry fully commits to insanity. No social commentary, no metaphors, no emotional drama, no tense scares, there's barely even a story tying things together. It just weaves together a series of crazy characters and over the top situations into a drug fuelled kaleidoscope. The cast must be comprised of some sort of local comedy troupe as there are so many great character actors all showing up for one liners, while Gary Green kills it as the lead stoned alien. The psychedelic scenes are all suitably trippy and come at you with manic energy. There are several moments where you can't help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all, but this is hardly a traditional comedy. In fact there are so few traditional movie elements in this that I'm sure many won't find anything to grasp on to and enjoy. You gotta just strap in and appreciate the frenzy for what it is, or avoid this one all together.
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Waking one morning after a bender, a man comes to find he had been abducted by aliens during the night and implanted with a being to experience human life, but the more he tries to keep it a secret the more he wants to utilize his strange powers to help mankind inadvertently risking exposing himself and his mission.
This was a rather enjoyable if somewhat problematic effort. Among its more engaging aspects is the highly enjoyable and evocative manner of bringing about the abduction and his overall change. The psychedelic imagery present in the sequence, featuring all the flashing lights and impressive imagery to denote the machines surrounding and impaling objects into his body from just about every orifice imaginable is quite enjoyable, making for a much grander and overt arthouse influence to the sequence than just a typical abduction and probing. This arthouse style of deep, probing lighting and ethereal sounds indicating the sights and sounds around him continued throughout here quite frequently and adds another dimension to the film. Alongside the constant notion of his initial unfamiliarity with the new world being played off for shyness and an introverted attitude which means no one knows who or what he really is until it's too late, there's a lot to like here both technically and storyline wise. As well, the film scores quite nicely with the fish-out-of-water concept of how he's going through the community and what happens to him. From being a hit at the club because he can absorb dozens of party pills without effect that turns him into a dance machine that's a hit with the ladies, a sexual deviant who's able to endlessly pleasure anyone he comes across from prostitutes to his own wife to get her to stop nagging him and then freeing a group of kids from the hands of a child kidnapper, that he can use his extra abilities for a greater purpose is quite fun and commendable. Graced with a bizarre energy and a likable enough grindhouse aesthetic on top of the arthouse feel, there's a lot to like with this one. There are a few issues to be had here. One of it's biggest issues is the somewhat unappealing second half that takes a lot of the elements that made the first part really enjoyable and completely drops everything for a random series of events that aren't that interesting. Hopping around from just random plot-points about coming across random street thugs to what his wife believes is a strange illness that's never followed up or resolved to randomly meeting a child kidnapper and freeing a group of kids from his grasp, this just seems random and sloppy without any kind of structure to it. This all feels completely tacked on and away from what the original story no doubt was like. More to the point, these are quite boring and just not fun at all in the slightest to watch play out, dropping the intensity of the first part into a dull and uninteresting whimper to the finishing point.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, Nudity, a sex scene and drug use. -
JvH4823 April 2021Saw this at the Imagine filmfestival 2021, usually in Amsterdam but now 100% online. The plot seems simplistic. As a thought experiment, think of yourself immersed in city night life without understanding any of it, yet randomly picking up facts-of-life along the way, testing it on people you meet.
In the first half, too many of the scenes involve sex, be it m/m of m/f. That changed in the second half, paying more attention to other matters of life&death. As in passing we see some unworldly powers, like healing a man with a heart attack, or switching TV channels by blinking. "Barry" (mind the quote) learns sentences he hears, without knowing their purpose nor the appropriate context. Everyone he meets treats him as a normal human being, and only we viewers know it is not true.
The basic idea is very interesting, but it wears out along the running time, merely turning into a running gag. Nevertheless, we must admire the variety of situations we get to watch, each very different from the previous. And finally, a SciFi-ish wrapup, very unexpectedly. -
TwistedContent14 December 2021One look at the trailer, and I knew this will be my kind of joyride. Flawed though it may be, "Fried Barry" is a fun, greasy, sleazy, expressionist nightmare from South Africa, set in the seediest parts of Cape Town. Director Ryan Kruger is selling it as a future cult classic, and, hell, it just might be.
Ryan Kruger and Barry, portrayed by the peculiar Gary Green, go all in here, devoting to the insanity of improvisational nature. There's barely any plot, no real metaphors or commentary, no weaved-through drama or tension for scares, but it is all kept together by a sort of psychotronic sense, a series of drug-induced, kaleidoscopic happenings involving a variety of odd characters and places. There's comedy, there's disgust, and there's even some warm and unexpected heart in the end. Barry is a heroin addict and a problematic husband/father, but that, and much more, changes when he is abducted and possessed by an alien. At the wheel of Barry, this alien is going on a wild exploration journey through the underground of South Africa's capital. He makes his (its?) way through human ways of sex, violence, language, life and death. For 99 minutes there isn't quite enough content, but nonetheless it kept me positively impressed with awesome bits and pieces. It's the kind of all-out-fun experimental flick that gets my juices flowing. Visually, this flick is a hoot, always coated in contrastive colors, crafty cinematography and absolutely amazing sound design/original score.
Some would say it's quite void and a Lynch/Noe/80's throwback wannabe, but I concur. Even though I liked the trailer, I had reasonably low expectations for something irredeemably dirty, but instead I got some funk. You like 18+ funk? Check this stuff out. -
phollyjunk12 May 2021I wouldn't call this a good movie, the story isn't very good, but it's still an interesting watch and has some cool visuals. I definitely wouldn't recommend it as a buy but if you can stream it free, it's not bad if you want to watch something weird.
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icocleric23 May 2023I didn't think it was a horror comedy in the sense I'm used to, but it wasn't an overly serious film either. It has some very weird and trippy moments that aren't going to be everyone's taste. Personally I had fun with it.
Most of the plot is odd, because the main character isn't driving the story. A lot of events tend to happen around him instead. And he is going along with whatever every one else is doing. Which works to some degree with the whole fish out of water, he is an alien inside a human body experiencing things for the first time.
The lead did pretty well with his physical comedy too. -
jacobmeudt12 May 2021It looked promising. The music is good and there are some visually appealing shots, reminding me of 80's horror films.
I would not call this a comedy what so ever, nor a horror movie. I guess the only reason it would be Sci fi is due to it being about an alien.
I love slow, weird movies, but this was nothing more than a waste of my time. -
midnightmosesuk15 August 2021I was hoping for something a little more intense. The set-up was there for something truly anarchic but it just didn't quite pull it off. It wasn't too bad though, it just seemed to run out of steam very quickly.
Gary Green, the guy who plays Barry, could easily play an alien without needing any makeup. His face is fascinating and his expressions are endlessly entertaining. I could see him as a successful character actor. -
Stanlee10717 May 2021This is a film on acid as it is so trippy that it is a strange watch. It feels like a film that goes out of its way to top each scene with an even more grotesque next one... It reaches the point of absurdity that as a viewer you loses interest in trying to follow and enjoy. The plotline is so thin there is not much to it.
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"Fried Barry" is a truly unconventional film that takes the viewer on a surreal and unsettling journey. With a rating of 8/10, the film deserves recognition for its unconventional approach and captivating portrayal.
The storyline of "Fried Barry" revolves around the protagonist Barry, who is unwillingly abducted by aliens and infected with a strange power. From that moment on, we experience the world through Barry's perspective as he drifts through the streets of Cape Town, encountering absurd and often dangerous situations.
The film excels in its unique visual design and creative direction. The cinematography and camera work contribute to capturing the psychedelic and unsettling atmosphere of Barry's world. The use of intense colors, fast cuts, and unconventional perspectives enhances the surreal experience and immerses the viewer deeply into the protagonist's twisted mindset.
The performance by Gary Green, who portrays Barry, is remarkable. He effectively conveys the character's depths and extremes, giving Barry a distinctive presence. Despite minimal dialogue in "Fried Barry," Green manages to communicate Barry's inner state and reactions through body language and expressiveness.
"Fried Barry" is certainly not a film for everyone. The disturbing and often bizarre nature of the storyline may polarize viewers, and those seeking traditional narrative structures may be disappointed. However, the film offers a unique and captivating experience for those willing to embrace its offbeat and experimental nature.
With a rating of 8/10, "Fried Barry" deserves praise for its creative approach, visual design, and Gary Green's convincing performance. For film enthusiasts who are open to an extraordinary and unsettling adventure, this film is definitely worth a watch. -
lafebre-8030713 May 2021A rubber limbed, wild eyed junkie gets wasted and wanders around Cape Town having strange experiences and meeting fellow losers. Another crappy example of weirdness and jump cuts passing for story and horror. Forget it. A time waster.
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imperialjunkyard-9960731 May 2021Great Music. Great scenes. Funny and Fresh.
Not sure why all the negative reviews.
Reminds me of a 1980's fright fest film. Although the dialogue of the main Protagonist is limited, his expressionism, surrounding situation, and the films music score tells it all.
This movie is A LOT of fun and would recommend it especially with friends.
I have no problems with the acting, as everyone performed in an above average manner.
Alcohol and Drug use scenes were accurate. Definitely not written by a bunch of phony Hollywood suits sitting around a table writing what they think it's like.
I can't say is this film is cerebral but, the dark gritty landscape fits well with the story as Barry falls deeper and deeper into isolation and despair, essentially "hitting rock bottom". I found myself wondering what the 'alien', via its first hand research, thinks as it discovers the cruel capabilities of human society, by both criminals AND government, as well as the life hardships people go through but may not realize as it's normal for our species.
I would say this film is a cross between "A Weekend at Bernie's" and "The Faculty" but, not as sinister. -
killercharm20 June 2021Delightful horror comedy à la Bad Boy Bubby. In this flick Barry is captured by aliens who send down one of their own to take his place. The alien Barry then goes all over town experiencing earth and it's quirky inhabitants.
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adxpitz11 June 2021One of the most disappointing, garbage piles of plotholes ridden movies I've watch in a long time. It really brought down the literacy rate of South African movie industry to half.
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Groverdox30 May 2022Here's something different. "Fried Barry" is like a cult/sci-fi version of "Bad Boy Bubby", even down to the long-haired but balding protagonist who barely says anything. Barry is apparently a drug addict who gets abducted by aliens who hijack his body and then send it back to Earth where he has an odyssey through the streets of Cape Town.
I wasn't surprised to find that the script was only three pages and that the dialogue was improvised. The movie has very little narrative to act as a backbone and as such feels pretty freewheeling.
With the tongue-in-cheek introduction, warning of potentially disturbing content, and the R18+ rating here in Australia, the movie is actually surprisingly tame. There's little on-screen violence or nudity; in fact in one sex scene the actors remain fully clothed.
The actor who plays Barry was an odd choice, but you can see why they chose him. With his wild eyes and razor sharp cheekbones he reminds me of Ginger Baker in his heroin days. In other shots he looks like a caveman. His features are striking but not appealing and he remains unreadable throughout the movie.
The lack of narrative deprives the movie of momentum. However, it has lots of interesting shots, surprisingly good special effects, and surprises. I say check it out. -
jmerlino3 November 2023I've been going back and forth with myself about whether or not I liked this movie. It is by turns Interesting, tedious, exciting, and boring.
So, Barry is a real piece of work. He's abusive to his wife, and neglectful of his kid. He's a junkie, and one gets the idea that he's about two weeks away from homelessness. After meeting one of his ne'er do well friends at a bar, they go back to the friends place and shoot up.
Then Barry gets abducted by aliens, and an alien possess him, presumably to experience life as a human.
The irony here is that alien Barry is a far better person than human Barry. Unfortunately, they kind of spoil the effect of the irony by having the wife comment at the end about how things were just starting to get better, which rather gives the game away.
Alien Barry has a bunch of misadventures. He does a bunch of drugs, hooks up with several women, and frees a girl from her abductor.
Overall, it's an enjoyable movie that doesn't quite live up to its premise. Worth a watch, but don't expect to be blown away. -
Otkon10 July 2021....then does a Fear and Loathing in Cape Town.
If that is your idea of an entertaining film, be warned. It wears its premise quite thin the longer it gets.
It might be that South African-style humor is an acquired taste. But the comedy aspect seemed mean-spirited and fairly shrill. The horror aspect was heavy-handed and gratuitous. I could have done without the birthing scene, for example.
The music is the most impactful attribute of the whole movie. It creates more tension than the plot and acting.
The movie might work if it is just considered weird for the sake of being weird. Which is often how foreign film tend to work best for outsiders. -
Watched this on The Last Drive-In, and I was only able to keep going because I wanted to hear what else Joe Bob had to say. Like how there was no script, only a list of scenes that needed to be filmed. Obviously.
I did like Gary Green's "performance" (though I suspect some poor fried junkie was exploited), and the soundtrack was enjoyable...when it was allowed to be something more than droning bass notes.
There is no point, no coherence, pretty much nothing enjoyable. But the writer/director/self-promoting creator of this thing will just mark this review as Not Helpful, like all the other honest reviews here. Sad that anyone can be that deluded as to think he made something so good he has to fight back against people who don't like it. -
"Fried Barry" tells the story of an ugly drug addict who is randomly abducted by aliens and then dumped back on the same corner he was taken from. We see that an alien has taken over Barry's body and we watch as he galavants through the city, learning the ways of human life along the way.
Sounds kinda good right?
Wrong.
Its not very good at all actually. In fact, the only thing this movie gets right is some of the intense acting and animation from the actor playing Barry. Other than that, its a drag and doesn't even qualify as a legit movie viewing experience. There is no story here, just the adventure of a butt ugly fool but its not even an adventure as Barry never does anything out of the box. He stays in the same slum his humanly miserable self dwelled in. That brings me to my next point; why the hell would aliens want to abduct BArry? He is the most uninteresting human they could have picked and he says like five words through out the whole movie.
There is a bucket of creativity on display but the directing is beyond amateur. It reminds me of that other terrible movie from flying lotus, "Kuso" or w.e the hell its called. Another movie that came to mind while watching "Fried Barry" wad "Perfect" which is faaaar superior and actually has a bit of a plot.
This movie just tried too hard but ultimately comes off cheap and hokey looking. Its not satisfying as a film as it feels like we just watched a montage of boring happenings involving a loser. He's bad yo his family, he does drugs, he has no emotions, no friends, no motivation, and no job. Hmmm, sounds like one of my cousins tbh and I assure you, his life would not br fun to watch. Now I get this is all part of the sleazy approach but it just falls too flat mainly because of its terrible direction and directing. This ain't no "Greasy Strangler" and that's for sure. -
GiZ198719 November 2020I have watched this movie at the Lausanne Underground Film & Music festival and front up I loved it all the way. For me these kind of films are more experience than narrative focused. I'd say it feels more like a gritty feature music video than anything with a classical narrative structure - that is only the loose frame here. It is a movie to be definitely experienced in a cinema with the master volume blasting away the roof. Very much in the likeness of films such as "Enter the Void" or "Bliss". This film absolutely lives through the music, it's visuals and the stunning performance of Barry. It has a heart warming twist at the end, but still I doubt this film is meant for a romantic couple evening film than it is for a hardcore roller coaster ride at the theme park.
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rodzombi14 May 2021I had to fast forward through the last 45 minutes. I hated this movie. I can understand that some people may enjoy this, but it did nothing for me other than bore the crap out of me. I normally enjoy movies that are "different" and don't follow the normal tropes, but I'd recommend just watching Under the Skin or Slacker instead, they are both far superior films!
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lionibless27 May 2021Holy smoke!! This movie is laaaaaaame!! The acting was trash I cringed throughout the movie!! I only give it 3 because of the effort put in but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends they'll think I lost it.
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zombie84-114 May 2021Come on... who the hell is voting this as goos. Its painful wanta trash film watch street trash pure fun.
But this junk is about an ugly dude walkin around the city with nothing happening. -
jfgibson7327 July 2021I was expecting something really messed up, but this turned out to be pretty tame and routine. I think they came up with a great concept, and they had an excellent setting to play it out in, but they didn't have many ideas beyond that. Wish I could recommend this as midnight movie greatness, but it's mostly tedious.
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kosmasp29 September 2020I am not even comparing this to the Greasy Strangler as a movie, just referring to the title ... if anything they are both quite trashy as some would say, but in a different sense. This is quite episodic and I reckon some people who did do drugs, may feel some connection to some of the things happening here. Still it has to be noted, you should not try this at home. And even someone like me, who didn't do drugs (alcohol aside if you think it counts per definition), I could relate ... well understand may be the better word, what the main character goes through, to a degree.
Very well played by our lead and far out as some might say. But also completely odd and tough to follow. Also no story - just a few things to be aware of. This isn't anywhere near a "normal" film ... but if you let yourself into the world and the madness this depicts ... you can have some fun, with all the depravities you get to see. Or be entertained by them I should say ... fun isn't really ... well I guess you can laugh a lot, especially if you can distinguish and not compare this to your real life (hopefully) ... no pun intended