Quentin Dupieux’s incredible art piece Rubber, a film that tells the unlikely story of a murderous tire (yes, a tire) with terrifying telepathic powers, is now available on both DVD and Blu-ray from Magnet Releasing. While I was a huge fan, Bloody’s Lauren Taylor also enjoyed it quite a bit. Check out her review inside.

“If you’re “tired” of the expected, Rubber is the story of Robert, an inanimate tire that has been abandoned in the desert, and suddenly and inexplicably comes to life. As Robert roams the bleak landscape, he discovers that he possesses telepathic powers that give him the ability to destroy anything he wishes without having to move. At first content to wreak havoc on small desert creatures and various lost items, his attention soon turns to humans, resulting in the most gory vehicular-related mayhem inflicted on screen by an “inanimate” object since Christine. ”
From here on out, whenever I think times are tough, I’m just going to remember the visual of Robert – the telepathic tire from Rubber – rolling carefree down the road to a great soft rock tune – killing and loving life!

If you didn’t have a chance to catch the limited release of this absurd gem, I definitely suggest you check it out on DVD. Starting with a long stretch of desert road littered with chairs, that a car seesaws through, we should know exactly what is about to happen. Plus, we are blessed with a monologue that asks such meaningful questions – all of which the answer is “no reason” – that are minds should be literally blown within the first few minutes. The real mind blowing, however, comes well after the birth of Robert.

The direction and puppetry of the birth of a tire seems so insane, yet it is brilliant. I honestly found myself cooing as Robert learned to roll – much like I did when my niece learned to walk. Once we got to Robert learning he has telepathic powers, I was scared of what I was about to see. (Please tell me all the birdies and bunnies and buggies are ok!)

Simply said, Rubber is 85 minutes of twisted art film genius. I found myself screaming “I love it!” as the film grew more and more bizarre – all the while being entertained by the ‘spectators’ in the film. From Robert watching tv, to being found taking a shower by the hotel cleaning lady, his drowning in a pool, to his self discovery in a piece of broken glass (where I really felt my heart ache a moment and I could see shades of Frankenstein discovering his face in Monster Squad -“Scary?” Aww…) – the true beauty defies the gore in the film. However, each Scanners style death tops itself – and has left me with a true dread of the sound of my Keurig coffee maker warming up.

The ending leaves me wondering if we’ll ever be blessed with a sequel – however I’m afraid it couldn’t do justice to the weighty bond I’ve already made with the original.

The bonus features on the DVD are superb – including a self interview with director Quentin Dupieux in which all of his responses are backwards, and a trailer I could watch over and over. As Mr. Disgusting concluded, “It’s a triumph of filmmaking that earns the right to be a pretentious prick.” So true.

Check out Rubber on DVD today! There is no reason for you not to.

4/5 Skulls