What Is It? (2005)

What Is It? is a bewildering, unnerving, surreal, blackly comic film from the visionary mind of Crispin Glover that tells the inner and outer struggles of a young man facing villains and demons on multiple planes.

Director:

Crispin Glover

Writer:

Crispin Glover

Stars:

Michael Blevis, Carlos Richardson, Lisa Fusco

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Blevis	...	The young man (as Michael Bleviss)
Carlos Richardson	...	The young man's alter ego
Lisa Fusco	...	The young man's fantasy girl
Steven C. Stewart	...	Dueling Demi-God Auteur / The Young Man's Uber Ego (as Steven Stewart)
Crispin Glover	...	Dueling Demi-God Auteur / The Young Man's Inner Psyche and Id
John Insinna	...	The Young Man's Outer Sanctum Friend / Inner Sanctum's Choked Victim
Kelly Swiderski	...	Inner Sanctum Concubine / Outer Sanctum Snail Collector
Robin Adams	...	Inner Sanctum Concubine / Outer Sanctum Girl Who Recognizes Burning
Adam Parfrey	...	The minstrel
Rikky Wittman	...	The minstrel's nemesis (as Rickey Wittman)
Lynn Conley	...	The Minstrel's Concubine / Mocking Tormentor / Ultimate Outer Sanctum Victor
Cheryl Brown	...	Outer Sanctum Mocking Tormentor / Walkie-Talkie Grabbing Woman That Cries Later
Tom Carroll	...	Grave Digger / Mocking Tormentor
Eric Yates	...	Inner Sanctum Puppet Show Audience Member / Outer Sanctum Victim / Inner Sanctum Victim
Mary P. Hayes	...	The young man's mother

Storyline

What Is It? is a bewildering, unnerving, surreal, blackly comic film from the visionary mind of Crispin Glover that tells the inner and outer struggles of a young man facing villains and demons on multiple planes.

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Plot Keywords:

cult director | swastika | female nudity | unsimulated sex | vengeance | 

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Taglines:

Being the adventures of a young man whose principle interests are snails, salt, a pipe, and how to get home. As tormented by an hubristic, racist inner psyche.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 2005 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Volcanic Eruptions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally intended to be short film, "What Is It?" expanded out to be a feature over the 9 years of its production.

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Quotes

Dueling Demi-God Auteur and The young man's inner psyche: Good. He's dead. Now we can have a good time.

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Crazy Credits

This film has not advocated the assassination of Steven Spielberg in any way.

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Connections

Referenced in Brows Held High: The Brown Bunny (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Some Niggers Never Die (They Just Smell That Way)"
by Johnny Rebel
Keyboard music for end credits by Anton LaVey

User Reviews

I had the privilege to see What Is It? last night...

All of the internet talk had gotten me thinking that this was going to be over an hour of plastered swastikas, snail killing and sex. That couldn't be less accurate. In my opinion, anyone who is offended by this movie has already been brainwashed by today's standards. If this movie isn't an absolute work of genius then I don't know what is. It hearkens back to the earlier days of classic film, where a filmmaker's movie was actually the filmmaker's movie and not a big budget studio production geared towards pleasing as many people as possible to make an even larger profit. What Is It? contains creative, complex characters, a thoroughly original storyline, and moves along at an appropriately leisurely pace. With the added bonus of Crispin's great knowledge and understanding of what makes a great film, it cannot be missed. This film will make you laugh, make some cry, and most importantly make you THINK. This is certainly the best film I have ever had the privilege of seeing. I eagerly await parts 2 and 3 of the IT trilogy along with anything else Mr. Glover is generous enough to throw our way.