This film was previously reviewed in August 2020 as part of our Fantasia Festival coverage.

Barry (Gary Green), an abusive drug-addict, is on yet another bender after an argument with his wife. After shooting up, he walks home down fog covered streets that have been overtaken by a haunting red hue, when suddenly, bright light comes down upon him and he is forcefully lifted into the air. Ryan Kruger’s Fried Barry shows the events following Barry’s abduction by aliens, where his body is overtaken and used as a vehicle to explore the darker sides of what humankind has to offer.

The insane visuals begin immediately after Barry is taken, starkly contrasting the drab environment that Barry was previously in before being abducted, and they carry on for the rest of the film, making Fried Barry truly an experience to witness, and one that is not always the most comfortable. Night fall brings with it even more vibrant colours and sounds, all senses being overloaded between the visuals and the pounding bass. The viewer is bound to feel just as disoriented as Barry as he takes in the world, and this is only exaggerated by the first-person point of view that is utilised during a good portion of the film, where the dialogue presented to us only comes from people speaking at Barry while doing things to him. The best part about Green’s performance as Barry is the physical presence that he embodies on screen, as since he doesn’t speak much there is a big reliance on his facial expressions and how he moves his body, which is almost zombie-like. 

Fried Barry is a unique addition to the sci-fi comedy genre, where moments of shock are often followed by a chuckle, albeit a nervous one at times. It is a wholly entertaining watch that succeeds visually and features some good performances from its lead actors.

RATING: 3/5


INFORMATION

CAST: Gary Green, Brett Williams, Joey Cramer

DIRECTOR: Ryan Kruger

WRITER: Ryan Kruger

SYNOPSIS: Barry, an abusive drug addict, is abducted by aliens after another bender.