The Dirties
2013 · Directed by Matt Johnson
Original language: English
- comedy
- drama
- crime
The story
The line between reality and fiction starts to blur when two best friends start making a movie about getting revenge on bullies.
What it’s like
Handheld digital video shot close to the faces, with the jittery, slightly overexposed look of a consumer camera and the flat fluorescent light of suburban high-school corridors, bedrooms and parking lots. Characters address the lens directly, so the film plays like a student project that keeps tipping into something rawer. The score is sparse and the sound often feels recorded on the spot, with mumbled dialogue, ambient hum and sudden silences. The vibe is awkward, restless and darkly funny, with a faint undertow of unease that grows as the friendship strains. It suits a late night alone, a restless afternoon, or anyone who likes mockumentary humour with a sharper edge. Intensity runs moderate: bullying is shown and discussed, there is some harsh language, and a late turn includes real violence and a tense, disturbing atmosphere, though it is more dread than gore. Not gentle. Best for viewers who enjoy grounded, uncomfortable comedy about teenage alienation and male friendship, and who can handle an ending that lands hard.
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