Gregory Dawson (Adrian Edmondson) is a rather humdrum nerd who is obsessed with a movie revolving around a serial killer named, Dr. Ghengis (Keith Allen). So obsessed is he in fact that he has aspirations to model himself on the fictional psychopath, and he sets about creating a video diary where he records himself building his own torture chamber, with the intention of kidnapping his first victim and imprisoning her. Initially, his plan is a success but inevitably his overenthusiastic incompetence leads to his undoing. Footage from his favorite movie, an obvious parody of; The Silence of the Lambs is interspersed between that of the wannabe serial killer's video diary.
With the sensational critical and cultural impact that, The Silence of the Lambs had back in 1991, and the predictable concerns that arose upon its release, with the potential romanticism of the now iconic, Dr. Hannibal Lecter who Welsh actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins brought chillingly to life. It's, of course, no coincidence that Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase swiftly aired the proceeding year of its release as it capitalizes satirically on its fame, notoriety, and social impact. Having just put the eighties behind them which had seen the controversial backlash against the release of the video nasties. Grungy, low-budget horror movies that fell foul of moral campaigner, Mary Whitehouse and the 1959 Obscene Publications act. Had it not been for the release of director, Jonathan Demme's renowned psychological thriller, it might have been that the Comic Strip team would have missed the boat on the subject of the glorification of violence and horror and the alleged adverse effects on the viewer.
Enter Gregory Dawson; the quintessential embodiment of the geeky fanboy. Played with inane, tedious enthusiasm by Adrian Edmondson in a role not so far removed from that of the socially inept Dennis Carter in the team's full-length 1985 comedy feature, The Supergrass. And as socially inept as Gregory obviously is as serial killers tend to be, they are also disorganized, a fact which is utilized with proficiently droll execution. From his clumsy endeavor to construct a torture chamber in his living room, and his botched attempt at stalking his would-b female prey in the dark while donning night-vision goggles; he's justifiably portrayed as a profoundly moronic misfit. Capturing his fiendish exploits via a video diary which he films via a camcorder, there's the added absurdity that no matter what mishap befalls him he always has it within reach to record the calamity.
The overarching message that is being bluntly hammered home however could not be any more eloquently put forward. Delusional, mentally unbalanced, or just downright asinine fools like Gregory are to be held accountable for their actions and not the films that are purported to do so, which brings me rather nicely to the veritable film within a film with that has earned the pasty-faced "nutcase" his obsessive adoration. An obvious parody that one would hope is an affectionate one at heart; which acts as something of a commentary on the clichés and conventions that typify movies of, The Silence of the Lamb's ilk. With this in mind; Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase can be valued on two separate levels as both a social critique of Hollywood's habitual propensity on relying on worn-out tropes. With the talented and attractive actress, Doon Mackichan inhabiting the role of FBI trainee, Lucille Bromley, a clear pastiche of Jodie Foster's portrayal of Clarice Starling, the film within a film chronicles her hunt for a serial killer labeled with the fanciful moniker of, Postman Pat. As a spoof of the lampooned source material, it for the main follows its story pretty closely as the gutsy and tenacious heroine consults with an infamous serial killer, Dr. Ghenghis played by Keith Allen who aptly chews the scenery to chucklesome heights. It is, after all, a movie that is in no way subtle in regard to its satirical edge.
Writers, Peter Richardson and Pete Richens adhere to their own off-kilter style of comedy as they intrinsically spoon-feed comedic clichés via the veritable range of two-dimensional caricatures. From Nigel Planer's sordid, conceited, and obnoxious Governor Wilkins to Hugh Quarshie's drolly derivative veteran police lieutenant Delaney; they adequately accentuate said caricatures. It also intriguingly and one might say astutely sends up the bizarre romantic relationship that develops between both Bromley and Ghengis, and is eerily prophetic given the controversial denouement of author Thomas Harris's 1999 sequel to, The Silence of the Lambs entitled Hannibal,
In terms of the production values, The Comic Strip team certainly pushed the boat out with its budget with the pseudo-film possessing a cinematic quality that diverges from the gaudiness of Gregory's video diary footage. The locations and sets ranging from the hospital for the criminally insane where Ghengis is institutionalized to the FBI headquarters and crime scene pathology lab are naturalistically realized.
It's safe to say however that with Gregory: Diary of Nutcase; its in-your-face style of comedy won't be to everyone's personal taste. Some may find it unbalanced given they appreciate the scenes revolving around the eponymous title protagonist then they do the mock film and vice versa. For those like myself who can admire both aspects of its humor, it makes for an enjoyably indulgent piece of comedy excess. The Comic Strip, however, was always unavoidably hit and miss with the quality of its output, with this decidedly being one of the better efforts it's one to be admired; and draws sharp comparisons with, The Strike for its comedic jabs at Hollywood.
With the sensational critical and cultural impact that, The Silence of the Lambs had back in 1991, and the predictable concerns that arose upon its release, with the potential romanticism of the now iconic, Dr. Hannibal Lecter who Welsh actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins brought chillingly to life. It's, of course, no coincidence that Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase swiftly aired the proceeding year of its release as it capitalizes satirically on its fame, notoriety, and social impact. Having just put the eighties behind them which had seen the controversial backlash against the release of the video nasties. Grungy, low-budget horror movies that fell foul of moral campaigner, Mary Whitehouse and the 1959 Obscene Publications act. Had it not been for the release of director, Jonathan Demme's renowned psychological thriller, it might have been that the Comic Strip team would have missed the boat on the subject of the glorification of violence and horror and the alleged adverse effects on the viewer.
Enter Gregory Dawson; the quintessential embodiment of the geeky fanboy. Played with inane, tedious enthusiasm by Adrian Edmondson in a role not so far removed from that of the socially inept Dennis Carter in the team's full-length 1985 comedy feature, The Supergrass. And as socially inept as Gregory obviously is as serial killers tend to be, they are also disorganized, a fact which is utilized with proficiently droll execution. From his clumsy endeavor to construct a torture chamber in his living room, and his botched attempt at stalking his would-b female prey in the dark while donning night-vision goggles; he's justifiably portrayed as a profoundly moronic misfit. Capturing his fiendish exploits via a video diary which he films via a camcorder, there's the added absurdity that no matter what mishap befalls him he always has it within reach to record the calamity.
The overarching message that is being bluntly hammered home however could not be any more eloquently put forward. Delusional, mentally unbalanced, or just downright asinine fools like Gregory are to be held accountable for their actions and not the films that are purported to do so, which brings me rather nicely to the veritable film within a film with that has earned the pasty-faced "nutcase" his obsessive adoration. An obvious parody that one would hope is an affectionate one at heart; which acts as something of a commentary on the clichés and conventions that typify movies of, The Silence of the Lamb's ilk. With this in mind; Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase can be valued on two separate levels as both a social critique of Hollywood's habitual propensity on relying on worn-out tropes. With the talented and attractive actress, Doon Mackichan inhabiting the role of FBI trainee, Lucille Bromley, a clear pastiche of Jodie Foster's portrayal of Clarice Starling, the film within a film chronicles her hunt for a serial killer labeled with the fanciful moniker of, Postman Pat. As a spoof of the lampooned source material, it for the main follows its story pretty closely as the gutsy and tenacious heroine consults with an infamous serial killer, Dr. Ghenghis played by Keith Allen who aptly chews the scenery to chucklesome heights. It is, after all, a movie that is in no way subtle in regard to its satirical edge.
Writers, Peter Richardson and Pete Richens adhere to their own off-kilter style of comedy as they intrinsically spoon-feed comedic clichés via the veritable range of two-dimensional caricatures. From Nigel Planer's sordid, conceited, and obnoxious Governor Wilkins to Hugh Quarshie's drolly derivative veteran police lieutenant Delaney; they adequately accentuate said caricatures. It also intriguingly and one might say astutely sends up the bizarre romantic relationship that develops between both Bromley and Ghengis, and is eerily prophetic given the controversial denouement of author Thomas Harris's 1999 sequel to, The Silence of the Lambs entitled Hannibal,
In terms of the production values, The Comic Strip team certainly pushed the boat out with its budget with the pseudo-film possessing a cinematic quality that diverges from the gaudiness of Gregory's video diary footage. The locations and sets ranging from the hospital for the criminally insane where Ghengis is institutionalized to the FBI headquarters and crime scene pathology lab are naturalistically realized.
It's safe to say however that with Gregory: Diary of Nutcase; its in-your-face style of comedy won't be to everyone's personal taste. Some may find it unbalanced given they appreciate the scenes revolving around the eponymous title protagonist then they do the mock film and vice versa. For those like myself who can admire both aspects of its humor, it makes for an enjoyably indulgent piece of comedy excess. The Comic Strip, however, was always unavoidably hit and miss with the quality of its output, with this decidedly being one of the better efforts it's one to be admired; and draws sharp comparisons with, The Strike for its comedic jabs at Hollywood.