Written by: Ryan Dailey
Mad God is a one hour and twenty-three minute Tool video with no music and sparse sound. The stop-motion animation mixes well with what little live-action there is and this film looks as stunning as it does for good reason. Two time Academy award winner Phil Tippet (Star Wars, Jurassic Park) took thirty years to complete it.
Mad God is a Ray Harryhausen fever dream. Creatures made of mulch and slime and human features roam the dystopian wasteland. Buildings crumble as the few threads of humanity are frayed and devoured by whatever beast happens to be in the area.
While there is really no “traditional” narrative to this film, it does follow The Assassin, The Surgeon and The Last Human who are either looking for an escape, or dealing with cross-purposes.
The Assassin, decked out in a gas mask and steampunk inspired armor, and guided by a map that crumbles in his hands, makes his way to a cache of ticking suitcases to plant an explosive that turns out to be a dud.
This is followed by the section involving The Surgeon and The Nurse, who are taking care of an infant that looks like it crawled out of Silent Hill or a David Lynch film.
The Last Human sends another assassin out into the world, armed with the afore-mentioned map, now sewn together by a trio of witches. It serves as a decent bookend to the film, bringing us back to the beginning while adding something new.
This film is hard to describe, as it does not fit into a box or a category. It is a brave project that defies even the laws of “proper” experimentation. It is a movie that is serious, sprinkling some humor in the background, adding levity to a very serious and thought provoking piece of work.
Mad God is a reflection on how self-absorbed our society is and how close our civilization teeters on the brink of chaos and collapsing in on itself.
Mad God opened in select theaters June 10, 2022 and started streaming on Shudder on June 16 of the same year.