Title: “Death Takes a Darkly Comic Turn in Bob Byington’s ‘Lousy Carter'”
In the world of Austin cult filmmaker Bob Byington, death is not always a tragic affair. In his latest film, “Lousy Carter,” Byington explores the story of a self-involved literature professor, Carter, played by David Krumholtz, who receives a terminal diagnosis with little fanfare from those around him.
Carter’s lack of connection to his students, family, and lovers is mirrored in their indifference to his impending death. As he navigates his final days, Carter finds himself in cold conversations with his ex-wife, mistress, and supposed best friend, all of whom seem unaffected by his impending demise.
The film’s dark humor and unapologetic misanthropy keep viewers off-balance, with herky-jerky editing and a crummy sound mix adding to the overall sense of unease. As Carter attempts to find meaning in his final days, he is met with indifference and boredom from those around him, including a caustic grad student who sees through his pretentious pontifications.
“Lousy Carter” challenges traditional notions of death and dying, offering a bleak yet strangely compelling look at one man’s journey towards the inevitable. With a running time of 1 hour and 20 minutes, the film is now available in theaters and on major platforms for rental or purchase.
In Byington’s world, death may not be tragic, but it is certainly not without its darkly comic twists and turns.
