The Vagrant (1992)

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Better Late Then Never

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Anal and ambitious neurotic yuppie accountant Graham Krakowski (well played to nerdy and uptight perfection by Bill Paxton) buys himself a new house. However, Graham's life gets turned upside down by the unwelcome and unsettling intrusion of a crafty and dangerous bum (a creepy and menacing portrayal by Marshall Bell, who looks positively hideous sporting grotesque make-up) who used to squat in said abode. Director Chris Walas maintains a snappy pace throughout, ably mines a wickedly funny line in inspired oddball black humor, and does a sound job of sustaining a quirky tone as well as adeptly crafts a deliciously wigged-out paranoid atmosphere. The clever script by Richard Jefferies not only astutely explores the basic yuppie fear of failure and poverty (Graham transforms from smug affluent executive to scruffy down-on-his luck redneck during the course of the wacky story), but also delivers one real doozy of a surprise twist concerning the homeless man's true identity and actual motives for ruining Graham's life. The solid cast keeps this picture on track: Michael Ironside as hard-nosed detective Lt. Ralf Barfuss, Mitzi Kapture as Graham's unreliable girlfriend Edie Roberts, Collen Camp as kooky and horny real estate agent Judy Dansig, Patrika Darbo as cheery trailer park resident Doattie, Marc McClure as Graham's loyal and amiable friend Chuck, Stuart Pankin as stern boss Mr. Feemster, and Teddy Wilson as easygoing blind guy X-Rays. Moreover, this movie has a delightfully over-the-top cartoonish quality that in turn makes it quite a loopy hoot to watch. The slick cinematography by Jack Wallmer and John J. Connor provides a cool stylish look. Christopher Young's energetic heavy-breathing score further enhances the overall outré mood. Recommending viewing for fans of out of the ordinary fright fare.

Only this year has this combination black comedy / psychological thriller / urban paranoia flick / satire finally gotten a DVD release, thanks to the fine folk at Scream Factory. That would be good news to those who are fans, but for this viewer, who hadn't seen it since it hit VHS, it has to rate as a failure. An interesting failure, for sure, but a failure, none the less. Of course, this is just personal taste speaking, but I didn't find it funny often enough and was a little put off by the over the top, cartoonish performances in the three main roles. Still, it's wacky and offbeat enough to sustain itself for a while, until the final third when it goes downhill.A production of Mel Brooks' company Brooksfilms, this was the final directorial effort for effects veteran Chris Walas, who returned to what he did best afterwards. Bill Paxton stars as Graham Krakowski, a wimpy yuppie who buys a fixer-upper house across the street from a vacant lot. Soon Graham comes to be terrorized by a towering, hideous, disease-ridden bum, played by character actor Marshall Bell of such movies as "Total Recall" and "Starship Troopers". The bum frequently squats in the aforementioned lot, but also lets himself into Grahams' home whenever he likes. Graham eventually wonders if he's letting his own darkest inner thoughts and imagination get the better of him.This probably could have been a bit better had it not resolved itself the way that it does. Walas' direction is adequate, although it may have been nice had he reined in the actors a bit. Michael Ironside scowls his way through the role of a cranky detective; other familiar faces include sexy ladies Mitzi Kapture ('Silk Stockings') and Colleen Camp ("Clue"), Patrika Darbo ("Hatchet"), Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen from the Christopher Reeve "Superman" series), Teddy Wilson ("Life Stinks"), and Stuart Pankin ("Arachnophobia"). Christopher Youngs' score is a little unusual and amusing. Production design by Michael Bolton is also noteworthy.Even with its faults, this may have the makings of a cult favourite for some tastes.Four out of 10.

This is the worst movie ever and no one should EVER watch it. I can't believe I wasted two hours of my life on this bucket of rat vomit. It's not thrilling, it's not funny; it's not so-bad-it's-funny; it's just BAD. Do NOT watch this stupid, stupid movie. The cardboard people and idiotic plot do not make for suspense, depth of character, or ironic tension. The pathetic attempts at humor involve facile sex jokes and Paxton's moronic paranoia. Also, at the end he attacks the vagrant with a coat rack. And there's something about a polaroid photograph. I can't remember very well, since I've tried my best to blot out any recollection of this garbage film from my memory banks.

Up and coming Graham Krakowski is a white, middleclass, wannabe yuppie. He buys a fixer upper house near the city center and moves in. However an old tramp also uses the house and Krakowski has to install a fortune of security devices. The tramp continues to get into the house and terrorise Krakowski, even though no one seems to see anything. As people begin to turn up dead, he wonders if it's all in his head and the police suspect him. Is the tramp real and, if so, what is his interest in Krakowski?I didn't have high hopes for this despite the headline stars – they weren't big names then (this was one of Paxton's first lead roles). I also was put off by it's description as a horror/comedy – executive produced by Mel Brooks of all people! It started blandly enough but managed to have a few moments that fulfilled it's definition. It doesn't have out and out jokes, but some moments are funny – the police reaction to news of urination is the funniest. It also has some exciting moments of tension, but both are rare and scattered.The story doesn't quite know what it's doing and because of that it's a little weak. However it does well enough to be entertaining, but it feels lost and slightly cheap. Paxton is actually quite good in a changing role, but Ironside doesn't have much to do. Marshall Bell as the vagrant is good despite just jumping out and going boo every 5 minutes – he is scary and unsettlingly unpleasant.Overall this is OK to watch but isn't great. The comedy adds a strange mood to it and the drama/horror works quite well. Shame it feels a little cheap.