Bill Paxton’s Weirdest Movie Ever, Stream Now Without Netflix
If you’re not familiar with the saying “three arms are better than two,” it’s because we just made it up so we can talk about The Dark Backward, starring Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Wayne Newton, and Lara Flynn Boyle. Critically panned upon its release, The Dark Backward has since enjoyed its status as a cult film. Writer/director Adam Rifkin (Mouse Hunt) himself has gone on record saying that it’s his favorite film of his because he wrote the screenplay when he was only 19 and free from any outside influences from the filmmaking industry.
A Comic Without The Comedy
Originally titled The Man with Three Arms, The Dark Backward is about a man who, in fact, has three arms. But Judd Nelson’s Marty Malt didn’t always suffer from this mysterious affliction of appendages. Working as a garbage man in a post-apocalyptic wasteland alongside Gus (Bill Paxton), Marty is an aspiring stand-up comedian who nobody finds funny because of his awkward delivery and exceedingly corny jokes.
Marty’s Buddy Gus
Gus is the perfect foil to Marty in The Dark Backward because of his obnoxious personality and willingness to vouch for Marty’s act when nobody else does. Bill Paxton’s over-the-top energy is compounded by the fact that he’s always carrying an accordion, whether he’s pretending to laugh at Marty’s act or riding on the back of a garbage truck. Everything changes for Marty, and his comedy act, when a lump suddenly appears on his back.
A Hello To Arms
When Marty’s growth takes its final form as a fully grown arm jutting out of his back, his luck begins to change in The Dark Backward. He gets dumped by his girlfriend, Rosarita (Lara Flynn Boyle), and fired from the comedy club where he regularly performs. But Gus, whose manic energy is so expertly portrayed by Bill Paxton in one of his most unhinged roles, immediately reaches out to talent agent Jackie Chrome (Wayne Newton), who has coincidentally always been looking for a three-armed comic to represent.
The Perils Of Fame
The Dark Backward is a fresh take on how quickly one’s fortune can change in the context of show business. It also functions as a cautionary tale about relying too much on an on-stage persona or gimmick that may not always work out in your favor. The odd-couple dynamic between Judd Nelson and Bill Paxton elevates the premise because their conflicting countenances encourage a healthy amount of tension that always breaks with laughter.
Bombing For Real
Though it’s clear that Bill Paxton committed to the bit in The Dark Backward, Judd Nelson also did some light method acting of his own to prepare for his role to make sure Marty Malt was as awkward as possible. Ahead of filming, Nelson would actually wear a disguise and perform Marty’s act in real comedy clubs so he could bomb on stage in real life.
A Critical And Commercial Bomb
Celebrated as one of Bill Paxton’s weirdest movies, The Dark Backward was a critical and commercial failure upon its release. In fact, it performed so abysmally at the box office, that it only earned $28,654 at the US box office against its modest budget of $700,000. As you would expect, critics weren’t too fond of the film either, resulting in its 45 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Judge For Yourself
Despite The Dark Backward‘s less-than-desirable fate, it’s now celebrated as a cult classic because nobody makes movies like this anymore. If you can find another movie out there that’s about a three-armed stand-up comedian living in a city that doubles as a garbage dump, feel free to let us know about it. Or you can just sit back and enjoy the show, and watch Bill Paxton and Judd Nelson work out their act on Tubi.
