Kevin Smith’s latest film “Tusk” hasn’t even dropped yet (but you can see my thoughts on the first half hour here) and he’s already back in action. Production begins this week on “Yoga Hosers,” the second installment of what Smith is calling his True North Trilogy, a series of horror films set in the mythical land of Canada.
When Smith began podcasting a little over seven years ago, some (including myself) worried it might be the end of his filmmaking career. Smith wasn’t secretive about the fact that he had grown tired of the industry and just wanted to have interesting conversations with his friends. Instead, the podcasts seem to have sparked his interest in telling stories and some of those are translating into movies. “Tusk” which hits theaters later this year was inspired by an episode of Smodcast titled “The Walrus and the Carpenter” and “Yoga Hosers” had a similar genesis in an episode titled “Yoga Hoser.” The final installment of the True North Trilogy is tentatively titled “Moose Jaws” and will be Smith’s homage to one of his favorite films “Jaws” except with a moose.
While Smith is primarily known for making silly comedies with lots of pop culture dialogue in this robot’s humble opinion, he shines brightest when his writing is darkest. While gems like “Dogma” and “Clerks 2” may have higher re-playability, “Red State” may be his best film to date and from what I’ve seen of “Tusk,” the title of the Askewniverse crown jewel is up for grabs. All of this is a long winded way of saying that the Kevin Smith train is full of fuel and chugging along and I’m happy to go along for the ride.
Which brings us ultimately back to the True North Trilogy, more funny is in the chute, so for those of you more accustomed to his classic wares, never fear, Clerks 3 is coming. But until then we’re getting a series of strange and somewhat silly horror flicks. Some may ask why anyone should pay attention to movies about a man who turns another man into a walrus, or a couple of teenage girls who really like yoga, or a moose that thinks it’s a shark (or something) but the team that Smith has behind him suggests that he knows what he’s doing.
Most of the cast of “Tusk” will be returning for “Yoga Hosers” but what’s more interesting is the news that Smith dropped today, that Johnny Depp has signed on. While I didn’t see him in the first 30 minutes, the word on the street is that Depp joined the cast of “Tusk” as well, in a last minute addition as the character Guy Lapointe, a man-hunter. At current, Depp’s involvement in “Tusk” is still a rumor but what we do know for certain is that Depp will portray the character in “Yoga Hosers.” What’s more is that the two lead characters, a pair of 15 year old girls, will be played by Smith and Depp’s respective daughters. Whether or not Depp’s character will return in the third and final installment remains to be seen but the transition from man-hunter to moose-hunter seems plausible enough. Or perhaps, Michael Parks turns Depp into a moose and he subsequently goes on a homicidal rampage through the great white north… but probably not.
All of this seems like a recipe for one of the most fun horror trilogies, and if “Tusk” is any indication, one of the most unnerving we’ve ever seen. To Kevin Smith I say this- please sir, take me to Canada, the land of manners, syrup… and nightmares. #WalrusYes! #YogaYes! #MooseYes!