SF INDIEFEST 2026 REVIEW! Some of the best and weirdest stuff associated with American culture comes right out of San Francisco. That’s explored in Marie Losier’s documentary, Barking in the Dark, which follows her to the Bay Area to reintroduce the world to the cult music group The Residents, a band that has stayed famously anonymous for decades.
The film opens with Homer Flynn, president of The Cryptic Corporation and gatekeeper of The Residents’ archive. Inside, it contains the band’s entire history, including their iconic costumes, props, puppets, and artwork tied to their avant-garde public persona. The Residents’ identities have long been hidden behind masks. As Losier walks through the collection, Flynn shares stories attached to specific objects and explains how The Residents built their identity through visuals as much as sound—tuxedos, top hats, and the iconic eyeball-head look.
“Held there is the entire history of the band, including their iconic costumes, props, puppets, and artwork…”
If you’re a sucker for underground anything, Barking in the Dark is right up your alley. The Residents were in the scene in the late ’60s/early ’70s and made their mark on experimental music just as disco and techno were about to burst on the scene. We see that The Residents were into the growing technology, not just in music but in music videos as well.
What’s great about Barking in the Dark is that, though the documentary was produced in the last few years, Losier preserves the band’s mystery and satirical nature while telling their story. Along with Homer Flynn, Losier presents more than a lion’s share of The Residents’ history. All biographical docs should be this fun.
By the time Barking in the Dark wraps, Marie Losier has delivered a compact mixtape of imagery, lore, and curated chaos that feels perfectly in sync with The Residents. Grab your favorite psychedelic and join the ride.
Barking in the Dark screened at the 2026 SF IndieFest.
"…Grab your favorite psychedelic and join the ride."
