Dirtbags: Evil Never Felt So Good

Review by Nick Peron

When it comes to the works of Bill Zebub, it would be easy for one to simply write the guy off as yet another long haired metal head. The kind that, when making a film, would create the usual blend of exploitation and fetish films of (depending on where you draw the line) dubious and questionable taste. Bill does have a peculiar tendency to make films that -- to the common outsider -- would be considered nothing more than filth, but upon closer inspection one would find this man's camouflaged brilliance hidden within his cinematic decadence.

Being part of the metal community, Bill is no stranger to a creative environment that would use the vile and dirty realities of our world and display it before the public with no censorship, no sugar coating, and no remorse and let the viewer make their own decisions. When I met up with Bill at Cinema Wasteland in 2009 and had a moment to discuss his films (particularly my thoughts on his previous release Ravage the Scream Queen which I have reviewed right here on Micro-Shock) he had said that he makes his movies and people either like them or hate them. He doesn't seem overly concerned of which, mind you he knows what he does is offensive to some. When it comes to offensive or questionable material, I feel that there are two types of filmmakers, ones that use for the sake of gratuity, with no forethought, rhyme or reason to why they are putting it into their film -- except for perhaps that it will sell copies. Then there are the filmmakers that put these things in for a reason, to provoke thought (as well as possibly disgust or outrage) because the intent of the film is to make you think about what you are witnessing. These self same filmmakers often want to make a point -- if you agree or disagree with them may no matter depending on who we're dealing with. I would say that Bill fits into the latter category.

For the most part Bill Zebub's production company either makes heavy metal documentaries, horror, or flat out exploitation and fetish films, however for Dirtbags, Bill has decided to go with making a comedy.

In Dirtbags, Bill questions the notion that everyone on Earth is inherently good, and presents to us a world where everyone is inherently evil and what would happen to said people. It's a preverbal tale of what goes around comes around, and centers around a bunch of selfish characters who are only looking out for themselves and how it leads to their ultimate end.

There is Bill (played by Bill Zebub himself) who had his heart broken by his ex-girlfriend, who is referred to only as "The Evil One" (played by Valerie Barattucci) and as revenge has decided to trick other girls into sleeping with him for the sole purpose of filming video of these girls topless and "crucified" on trees to insure that none of them screw him over like the "Evil One" did.

From back stabbing best friends, vengeful girlfriends, jealous boyfriends, Peter Steele enthusiasts, drug addicts allergic to bee stings, enterprising drug dealing pharmacy students, god fearing old men and crack addicted black men make up the cast that interact with and are intertwined in the tete-a-tete between Bill and the Evil One.

The characters are written in such a way that although each and every character is a horrible horrible person you can't help but laugh at their antics and get enamored in their petty squabbles with each other.

In this film, Bill tackles the issues of Affirmative Action, the exceedingly liberal interpretations of hate crimes, racist stereo-types, getting fucked over by an ex, and the effect of inserting a classical bass up your ass.

Highlights of this film to look out for are:

1. Bill Zebub in black face playing the role of a black stereotype caricature. This over the top, incredibly offensive -- yet incredibly funny scene.
2. A pool scene wherein the fat, drug addled man who is allergic to bees convinces a girl to go to the bathroom in the pool, and getting more than he bargained for.
3. Way too much cream in the strawberry cappuccino
4. A guest appearance by Peter Steele from Type O Negative, which leads to the aforementioned classic bass insertion.
5. The stunning performance by Sybelle Silverphoenix (who plays the role of Anne) just another innocent girl that is the victim of Bill's childish revenge scheme.
6. Possibly the single most hilarious use of a cross walk signal.
7. A lot of very uncomfortable considerations about religion.
8. And lastly, Bill trying to convince his debate class that Santa Claus does not exist.

As can be expected, Bill implements his usual blend of exploitation in the film, there are multiple scenes where the characters are watching a free-floating DVD copy of Bill's recordings of crucified girls, nudity around every corner, and blatant stereo-typing of visible minorities and homosexuals.

Why would anyone want to watch this film with the above content? Well, first and foremost, it is presented in the context (as per the opening introduction by the Dream Goddess -- the "God" of the story played by Elyse Cheri) that this is an alternate universe where people are selfish and inherently bad and look out only for themselves. For the characters to be prejudice and racist toward people that are different than them is just part of the workings of the characters. These characters aren't nice to anyone, be they black, white, straight, or gay. You aren't supposed to like these characters, they aren't supposed to be likeable, and what better way to put the audience against them than to have them say some of the most offensive things you could think of?

The story is trying to make a point that people who are self serving and looking out purely for their own self interest, and have no respect for others ultimately lead to their own destruction. That the only way to not end up shooting yourself in the foot and having to face the music is to renounce your selfish ways and stop being such a self centered bastard.

The character Bill at one point is killed by a blow to the head with an axe and is resurrected by the Dream Goddess who gives Bill a second chance at life and tells him to renounce his path to damnation and try to live as a better person. However, shortly there after his speech wherein he tries to convince his classmates that there is no Santa Claus, he roofies a classmate with LSD in order to take advantage of her, and later lures Anne into a compromising sexual act for the sole purpose of screwing her over, going so far as ditching her in a basement with nothing but Type O Negatives song "Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity" playing in the background. Ultimately, due to the fact that Bill does not change his ways, he ends up meeting another awful fate that ends his life prematurely, as do most of the other characters in the film.

An interesting thing to note -- and this is a constant with Bill's work -- is that the soundtrack consists entirely of metal music from such acts as My Dying Bride, Grave Worm, and Type O Negative. The genre of music never changes, and metal throughout the film, even in situations where conventional filmmaking would require for something more subtle or subdued. One would say that it is out of place, but then you would be accusing Bill of being a conventional filmmaker, to which I contest that he is not. Leave the metal, grow your hair out and wave the sign and rock the fuck out.

In summation, Dirtbags is a fun movie, provided that you are not easily offended and can take a joke, no matter how tasteless it may seem, then you are going to want to check this one out.

See our interviews with Bill Zebub, as well as with Dirtbags cast members Valerie Barattucci and Sybelle Silverphoenix