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What Is It?

  • 2005
  • Unrated
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
925
YOUR RATING
What Is It? (2005)
Drama

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 dem... Read allWhat 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.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
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    925
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Crispin Glover
    • Writer
      • Crispin Glover
    • Stars
      • Michael Blevis
      • Carlos Richardson
      • Lisa Fusco
    • 19User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:21
    Watch Trailer

    Photos

    What Is It? (2005)
    What Is It? (2005)
    What Is It? (2005)
    What Is It? (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    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
    • (as Steven Stewart)
    • …
    Crispin Glover
    Crispin Glover
    • Dueling Demi-God Auteur…
    John Insinna
    • The Young Man's Outer Sanctum Friend…
    Kelly Swiderski
    • Inner Sanctum Concubine…
    Robin Adams
    • Inner Sanctum Concubine…
    Adam Parfrey
    • The minstrel
    Rikky Wittman
    • The minstrel's nemesis
    • (as Rickey Wittman)
    Lynn Conley
    • The Minstrel's Concubine…
    Cheryl Brown
    • Outer Sanctum Mocking Tormentor…
    Tom Carroll
    • Grave Digger…
    Eric Yates
    • Inner Sanctum Puppet Show Audience Member…
    Mary P. Hayes
    • The young man's mother
    Fairuza Balk
    Fairuza Balk
    • Screaming Snail
    • (voice)
    • …
    Zoryna Dreams
    • Monkey Woman
    • (as Zoreena Dreams)
    Ivonna Earnest
    • Monkey Woman
    • Director
      • Crispin Glover
    • Writer
      • Crispin Glover
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    7.0
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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

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

    • Crazy credits
      This film has not advocated the assassination of Steven Spielberg in any way.
    • Connections
      Featured in Durch die Nacht mit...: Juliette Lewis und Crispin Glover (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Some Niggers Never Die (They Just Smell That Way)
      by Johnny Rebel

    User reviews19

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    A breathtaking masterpiece of incalculable magnitude
    Crispin Glover has presented a monumental film that what will surely change cinema forever. Not only does it trace and honor the Afro-American roots that preceded Lumiere by almost a hundred years, but proudly restores that tradition and provides a very subtle critique of the modern movie business.

    Profits are nowhere to be found in this low budget homage to Capra and Selznick. Hats off to to Glover for not pulling any punches whilst showing a decadent sequence involving a naked gentleman being ejaculated whilst laying inside a giant oyster. No expense - including excess pubic hair - has been spared.

    On another note, I know what you must be thinking in the back of your mind: "wait, I think I have seen a graveyard sex scene before." Perhaps, but was it in the first five minutes? Did involve two fully clothed people with one too many chromosomes (each)? Crispin Glover proves that we have moved beyond the tired old traditions of repetitious childhood storytelling and myths and entered into a new realm wherein we are free to recreate and reimagine what it means to be a theater-going experience.

    My long-time partner of two months, Brenda Velasquez, who recently left me, agrees with me. We might be like oil and water and sulfuric acid in the bedroom, but when the curtains go up, we are united before the grandeur of moviedom. Congratulations, Mr. Glover. We love your deliberately ratty film.
    helpful•9
    6
    • lopaville-1
    • Sep 14, 2010

    FAQ1

    • Who was the first executive producer money for this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 27, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • Volcanic Eruptions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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