Herpes Boy (2009)

A social outcast with a facial birthmark finds his world flipped upside down after he posts videos of his quirky life onto the Internet and becomes an unwilling cyber-celebrity.

Director:

Nathaniel Atcheson

Writer:

Byron Lane

Stars:

Byron Lane, Ahna O'Reilly, Beth Grant

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Byron Lane	...	Rudolph
Ahna O'Reilly	...	Christeee
Beth Grant	...	Mom
Zack Silva	...	Mike
Julianna McCarthy	...	Grananna
Michael Chieffo	...	Dad
Octavia Spencer	...	Rochelle
Larry Weissman	...	Uncle Ted
Mary Chieffo	...	Patch
Seth Stallings	...	Child Rudolph
Malcolm Ridley	...	Wayne
Adrian Kali Turner	...	Blayne
Jeaneen Tang	...	Angel
Melissa Lee	...	Child Christeee
Ethan Sharrett	...	Funeral Director

Storyline

Rudolph Murray hates his life. He has a large purple birthmark on his upper lip and everyday he finds someone staring, pointing, or calling him names-like Herpes Boy. He makes videos for the Internet in which he rants about his quirky life and zany family, including his New Age mother, emotionally distant father, and grumpy grandmother. When his "actress-slash-model-slash-dancer" cousin re-edits his videos to make herself more popular, it attracts a huge new audience and makes Rudolph an unlikely-and unwilling-cyber-celebrity at the worst possible time in his life.

---

Plot Keywords:

internet | birthmark | internet series | internet broadcast | internet celebrity | 

---

Taglines:

His birthmark isn't contagious... but his videos are viral!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

First Christian Church of North Hollywood - 4390 Colfax Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rude Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color (HD) Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally set up at an independent film studio, writer/actor Byron Lane decided to self-fund the film when the project went into turnaround. Beth Grant and Ahna O'Reilly had both been approached for their roles during this early development stage, and agreed to stay on and appear in the film at reduced fees because they loved the script so much.

User Reviews

Poor Man's Napoleon Dynamite

This movie tries to be quirky by ripping off the more successful Napoleon Dynamite. Lovable geek: check. Retro feel: check. Hammond synth soundtrack: check. The main difference however, is that the acting is really bad (the main character acts like a cross between Zoolander and Napoleon's Pedro), there is no discernible plot, the lines are too repetitive (how many times must he say he hates people) and characters are just too superficial.

I'm at a loss as to how the critics seem to love this movie, including the one who "didn't get" Napoleon Dynamite. I guess for once the bad movie ratings really do it justice.

I connected with this movie in one way: it made me hate people - everyone in it!!