I have clogged many a toilet in my life and I will likely continue clogging. Look, we all have. The immediate horror, anxiety, and shame keep us humble. Writer/director/editor Eric Larson’s The Clogging is a near-perfect examination of the hilarity and humiliation of clogging a toilet.
Our nameless main character, played perfectly by Brian Park, combines the silent film era with Bruce Campbell in Evil Dead 2. Stepping away from a party for number two, our protagonist successfully completes his elimination when the dreaded watery stutter gurgles from the toilet. His caca ain’t flushing. With no plunger in sight and partygoers growing impatient at the bathroom door, he must think of something, anything to assist in getting this turd to flush. He, like Ash Williams, will need quite the boomstick to get out of this one.
“His caca ain’t flushing.”
The Clogging is an expertly crafted short film that does so much with such a small runtime. There’s little to no dialogue, and the story essentially takes place in one room. What is brilliant about the film is how creative Larson and cinematographer Frank Sun are with their shot choices and editing. Filming in a small bathroom may seem limiting, but every possible angle and perspective is covered. The filmmakers effectively make the location feel claustrophobic when it needs to be and boundless when it comes time to explore the room for aid in combatting the rising toilet water.
The director surely draws inspiration from Evil Dead 2 but makes it his own by leaving much of what would be considered shock value to the viewers’ imagination. The Clogging is a universal story where not much is said, nor does it need to be. The action is immediately relatable and funny. If you are looking to try your hand at making a short film or need a refresher on structuring a scene, watch this, it’s overflowing with inspiration; sorry, I had to squeeze in one last poop joke… poop.
"…immediately relatable and funny."
