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 Over time, he has withdrawn from the world and into himself, silently observing others rather than interacting with them.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 | downward spiral | 

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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

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

Numb
Written by Chris Hakius(as C. Hakius)/Al Cisneros(as L. Cisneros)/Matt Pike(as M. Pike)/J. Marler
Performed by Sleep
Courtesy of Tupelo Records by arrangement with Revolver Music

User Reviews

brilliantly written

Buddy Boy is an amazingly twisted and brilliantly written piece. Hanlon is obviously a man possessing exceptional skill and an enviable creative mind. The film requires that its audience possess the intelligence and acumen in order to appreciate its complicated, dark beauty. One can only hope that he continues to provide the movie-going community with such wonderfully challenging material.

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

Gross USA:

$12,597

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,597

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