The Catechism Cataclysm

The 2011 indie film, The Catechism Cataclysm, delivers a bizarre fusion of absurd humor, character study, and surreal storytelling. Directed by Todd Rohal and featuring unique performances by Judy Findlay, Steve Little, and Robert Longstreet, the film opens up an unexpected journey into an eccentric landscape constrained only by Rohal's peculiar sense of narrative.

The storyline primarily revolves around Father William Smoortser, a naïve, eccentric priest, portrayed earnestly by Steve Little. William is a former death metal enthusiast who inexplicably finds himself serving as a Catholic priest. Unlike your regular religious man of the cloth, this priest is buoyant, obsessed with storytelling, and a touch bumbling. The contradictions inherent in his character give rise to most of the humor in the movie. His naive persona coupled with his peculiar lifestyle collide, resulting in series of quasi-metaphorical musings about faith, religion, and individual purpose.

In a hope to find meaning, William embarks on a self-imposed spiritual sabbatical and reaches out to his old high school idol and metal-band frontliner Robbie, enacted deftly by Robert Longstreet. Robbie is a down-on-his-luck boatman who has seen better days. Unlike the naïve and nonchalant Priest William, Robbie comes across as embittered and withdrawn from life. The unlikely duo set off on a canoeing adventure that is anticipated to serve as a metaphorical journey to William's spiritual enlightenment.

Judy Findlay also adds considerable heft to the cast with her charismatic screen presence. Although the character is secondary in terms of the storyline, her input manages to balance the peculiar dynamic between Father William and Robbie forming a composite structure of the dramatic whole. She delivers a notable performance that parallels Little and Longstreet in her capacity to anchor her role in authenticity, despite the surrounding absurdity.

The Catechism Cataclysm excels in complex and offbeat humor. This is not a simple slapstick or a gross-out comedy. Instead, it uses its central premise to craft a deeply uncertain world where the uncertainty itself becomes a source of absurd humor. The humor seeps out of the disconcerting and awkward conversations between the priest and Robbie, odd situations they find themselves into and the absolute naïveté of Smoortser, in his quest to find a spiritual awakening.

It is this progression into the unknown that drives the movie, and director Todd Rohal does a convincing job fabricating this nuanced, surreal world steeped in ambiguity. Rohal's use of the isolated landscape provides an excellent backdrop for the journey, evoking feelings of both natural beauty and repressed dread. This tension only serves to heighten the absurdity of the film. His vision is well supported by a technical crew who create this bizarre world in bright, vivid colors portraying deep thematic resonance.

The style of comedy used here isn't for everyone, as it dances between the boundary of uncomfortable humor and pure absurdity. Therefore, it might not resonate with those who prefer straightforward narratives or more traditional comedic films. However, for viewers willing to take a risk, the film offers a unique experience.

To sum up, The Catechism Cataclysm is a peculiar dark comedy, that brings to life a peculiar exploration of faith, identity, and the human condition in its own erratic, eccentric, and bizarrely humorous way. Steve Little’s outstanding performance as Father William sets the tone for the film, complimenting a weirdly engaging narrative that takes audiences on a stupendously surreal canoeing journey towards enlightenment, or perhaps, even deeper foolishness. It is a divergent cinematic ride willing to take risks in the realms of uncomfortable humor, narrative absurdity and character study, making it a film definitely worth seeing.