Rubber

Synopsis: 

Release Date: April 1, 2011     MPAA Rating: PG-13

Genre(s): Horror,

Film Review

A tire lays abandoned in the desolate desert. Surrounded by an array of other discarded items it is out of place in the natural world. Without warning, the rubber tire begins to move, the sand around it unsettling. The tire stands upright, without any known assistance, and falls again. Like a baby animal taking its first steps it motions upwards again, rolls a few feet, and drops back down into the desert sand. This is “Robert”, an inanimate object that has without reason found life. The camera follows Robert closely, watching as he learns about its new environment. What happens if I roll over a plastic water bottle? Can I defeat the glass beer bottle in front of me? That rabbit there, is it a threat? Is the crow a friend or foe? Robert is learning as he rolls along, and before long, and possibly out of boredom as the desert holds no great mysteries, he turns his sights on human beings. Again, for no apparent reason, he takes on the human – his weapon is the rhythmic shaking of himself, producing a high pitched treble that results in the explosion of a human’s head. Yes, this tire is killing people, for no apparent reason.

On the other side of the desert, within binocular range of Robert, a group of people are watching him. The “show” he is putting on excites them. The reason for them to be watching the spectacle that is Robert is unknown to the viewer. The fate that awaits them again has no reasoning behind it. The story that unfolds around Robert with the local police officials – no clear reason. How Robert suddenly finds the voyeuristic nature of man when he comes in contact with an attractive female – no reason. Why Robert kills his victims: no reason. How this tire got the name Robert in the first place – no reason (except that is what the filmmaker calls him).

The pattern and main theme surrounding the film Rubber is an homage to the no reason. As the introduction states, “Life itself is filled with no reason”. There is no reasoning behind why a rubber tire would suddenly gain consciousness; nor does there have to be. Such is the draw to the film Rubber: to try and make sense of it only plays into the idea of life being full of things beyond reasoning. Sometimes you just have to commit to the fact that there is no explanation. There is no actual reason for an event or an action. It just happens. Just as a group of people watching a rubber tire go on a desert killing spree just happens. Or why a screening of a film about a tire killing people in the desert would have a near sold-out crowd on a Friday evening at a film festival – no reason (almost).

See above.

Cast and Crew

• Director(s): Quentin Dupieux
• Producer(s): Quentin Dupieux
• Screenwriter(s): Stephen SpinellaRoxanne Mesquida
• Story: Jack Plotnick
• Cast: Ethan Cohn Quentin DupieuxQuentin Dupieux
• Editor(s):
• Cinematographer: Mr. Oizo
• Production Designer(s):
• Costume Designer: 
• Casting Director(s): 
• Music Score: 
• Music Performed By: 
• Country Of Origin: France