Buddy Boy (1999)

An introvert relieves the tedium of caring for his invalid mother by spying on his neighbor.

Director:

Mark Hanlon

Writer:

Mark Hanlon

Stars:

Aidan Gillen, Emmanuelle Seigner, Susan Tyrrell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aidan Gillen	...	Francis
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Gloria
Susan Tyrrell	...	Sal
Mark Boone Junior	...	Vic
Harry Groener	...	Father Gillespie
Hector Elias	...	Mr. Salcedo
Jon Huertas	...	Omar
Richard Assad	...	Haroonian
Kellie Waymire	...	Ireland
Tim DeKay	...	Ken
Darryl Henriques	...	Doctor
Michael Halsey	...	Brian
Pamela Gordon	...	Marilyn
Tom McCleister	...	Mr. Jones
Irene Roseen	...	Navajo Clad Woman

Storyline

The story of a pious introvert whose religious conviction begins to crumble under the weight of a cruel and strange existence, Buddy Boy is a study of faith, obsession, alienation and madness. The film's title character, Francis, lives with his invalid, abusive mother in a dingy tenement apartment, and has suffered a life of unrelenting misfortune and brutality. Over time, he has withdrawn from the world and into himself, silently observing others rather than interacting with them. His only solace has been his Catholicism, but he has begun to question his faith in a loving God who could countenance so much evil and pain. When he discovers he can see into the apartment of a beautiful, mysterious woman from his own back stairs, Francis cannot stop watching her, even after he meets her and they become romantically involved. Unable or unwilling to believe that she could actually love him, he becomes ever more obsessive in his voyeurism. And it is what Francis sees - or thinks he sees - ...

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Plot Keywords:

voyeur | voyeurism | girl in panties | panties | catholic | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, violence, language and some drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Недоносок

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,651, 26 March 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,281, 2 April 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Pictures (II), Woods Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's editor Hughes Winborne can be seen as Francis's father in the photograph of Francis's family. He's the one with the black horn-rimmed glasses.

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Connections

References Blue Velvet (1986)

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Soundtracks

The Block
Written by Marcus Shelby
Performed by Marcus Shelby and Jazzantiqua Music Ensemble
Courtesy of Noir Records

User Reviews

A Brilliant Film You Wont Stop Thinking About...

A dark and disturbing film about Francis (Aiden Giillen), who lives a lonely introverted holy life with his bed-ridden stepmother Sal. But all is not what it seems, and the twisting plot of this story manages to make you feel very uneasy. Most of the time you find yourself on the edge of your seat trying to map out the film, but the unexpected twists and turns and the addition of odd and frightening sub plots make this film addictive from the first minute. This is a film that will stay with you for a long time after you have watched it. It is quite frankly terrifying and spooky at times, when Francis' neighbour, a strict self-proclaimed vegan, who he grows to love, is not all she seems when she is seen hacking away and eating raw meat, which is concerningly similar to a piece of human flesh. The film leads to an underlying and alarming suspicion of cannibalism, violence and murder. At the same time, freaky sub plots emerge and a startling shock appears when Francis' stepmother Sal becomes involved with a plumber, and after an incident emerges, Sal is not all she appears to be. The further involvement of another curious subplot about an abducted girl who Francis keeps seeing, adds even more suspense. The Plot thickens when you're left with the feeling that Francis may be imagining things, but is he? I loved this film and the ending is a brilliant and extremely scary, and leaves you wondering. I found myself asking everyone I knew if they had seen it just to hear their theory's about what was going on. Without a doubt a must see film.