31 Days of Drafts and Darkness:

"Buddy Boy" (1999)

For anyone who found yesterday's entry a bit too slimy, tonight's feature shifts entirely towards psychological horror. No jump scares. Very little blood. "Buddy Boy" is a dark look into a damaged mind, but one put into a situation where it might be the lesser evil. Even despite its voyeuristic intent.

The Plot:

The quiet Francis goes through life unnoticed by much of society. Years of working a menial job and sharing an apartment with his verbally-abusive mother have caused Francis to emotionally withdraw. He shuns  human interaction, simply not knowing how to communicate with most people. The dingy state of the apartment and his mother's near-zealous religious devotion only further Francis's reclusive nature. Though shy, he appears harmless enough. Until we learn of his hobby.

Francis has discovered a small hole that just so happens to give him a perfect view into the apartment of the beautiful young lady living across the street. Though he scolds himself for doing so, years of living under his mother's puritanical rule has sexually repressed Francis to the point where he becomes a regular peeping tom. The young lady's love life and private moments are made totally visible to Francis, who establishes an almost fantasy-like connection to the woman.

Eventually mustering up the courage to actually ask her out, Francis is amazed to find she actually accepts his offer, and they begin a relationship. And yet, even then, Francis still can't keep away from the peephole. The more he watches, the more fascinated he gets in her life.

Sound creepy? Is it. But we're not done yet.

You see, after a while, Francis starts noticing odd things about his new girlfriend. People she has over are never seen leaving. She claims to be a vegetarian, yet Francis swears to have spotted her eating raw hamburger one night. Is it all in his warped head? Or perhaps, twisted as Francis is, he's stumbled upon something much worse?  

The Flavor:

Wow, is this one creepy film from the get-go. That our 'protagonist' is an voyeur who spies on a young woman initially makes things uncomfortable. That his sanity and grip on reality are slipping only furthers this, as we're never sure if what Francis witnesses is real or simply fantasy. Though he feels bad for peeping, praying constantly and questioning why he's compelled to do this, Francis cannot help but over-obsess about the life of this woman. What starts as sexual interest turns into almost an obsessive fascination in her life.

And yet, just when we think we've Francis pegged, "Buddy Boy" throws us a massive curve ball about who the real creep is. Or may be. We're only ever given small hints, and even then, it's completely possible that everything is happening only in Francis's head. However, once he begins to suspect his girlfriend of more sinister intent, "Buddy Boy" goes from 100% psychological thriller to thriller/murder mystery. You'll find yourself watching each scene with sharp eyes, scanning for any little clue to what's really going on.

As the audience, we're made to witness everything Francis sees, and while it's never completely clear, that doesn't stop some of the imagery from being bone-chilling. "Buddy Boy" is never very violent, but there are moments where you'll catch an image out of the corner of your eye that'll freeze you in place.

This combination of sleazy darkness with Hitchcock-like mystery grip you to the point where once you start watching "Buddy Boy", you need to finish it just to get answers!

Best Paired with:

Brooding and atmospheric, if you're in the mood for something psychological, "Buddy Boy" will have you yelling at the screen. Though constantly creepy, it doesn't take long before you realize that 'creepy' may not be so bad if what Francis thinks is happening is actually going on. You'll be left in this puzzling position of whether to side with Francis or find him repulsive.

With clues only given here and there, "Buddy Boy" is a quiet but suspenseful film. It takes a bit to get going, but that's only to establish how much Francis has retreated into his own mind. His world is a nasty one, so you almost can't blame him for spiraling. But as he descends into possible madness, you wonder if he's able to retain enough sense to figure out the mystery unfolding about him.

If your significant other enjoys psychological horror more wrought with darkness and dread than gore, "Buddy Boy" makes a great piece of Halloween viewing. Bear in mind, the film's very creepy and gets under your skin early. But once its twisted world has you invested, you'll be hard pressed not to make it to the ending.

Accompanying Brew:

 "Buddy Boy" is a dark and complex sort of story. With so much going on, any or none of which could be real, tonight's brew should be something to sip slowly and ponder.

Unibroue is a Quebec-based brewery specializing in higher-end ales packed with multiple flavors of fruit and spice. Coming in wine-bottle sized portions, much of Unibroue's collection is meant to be enjoyed from a snifter, sipped slowly to allow the flavor and aroma to reveal their complexity. Seeing as "Buddy Boy" is far from light, I'll go for a bold choice from Unibroue.

With a deep amber color and bold scent, Maudite is one of the darker ales offered by Unibroue . The taste is hard to describe in one sentence, as it changes on the tongue throughout a sip. Fruit notes are there, but notably lighter when compared to the stronger caramel-like tang. Towards the back end, the taste turns into an almost spicy sort of hop twinge that balances well with the sharply-sweet bite of the higher alcohol content.

At 8.0% abv, be cautious not to underestimate Maudite. With incredibly fine carbonation, Maudite's body is surprisingly silky for such a strong brew. I'd recommend enjoying a glass slowly over the course of a meal or tonight's film. Maudite's not the type of beer you down via pint. Rather, it's best when enjoyed as if it were a wine. Admire the aroma, flavor, and after-taste with each sip.

Just as "Buddy Boy" has a dark complexity that forces you to pay close attention, so too does Maudite ask you to slow down and note each little flavor. You'll find each experience is at its most fulfilling when you stop and focus on the little things. They often conceal surprises.