The Dark Backward (1991)
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A failing stand-up comedian grows a third arm out of his back. His best friend, a garbageman who plays the accordion, decides this is exactly what the act has been missing.
THE DARK BACKWARD (1991) takes place in a world that looks like a landfill nobody bothered to stop filling. Judd Nelson plays the comedian, who is hopelessly unfunny. Bill Paxton plays the friend, a sweaty, scheming grotesque. Wayne Newton, of all people, turns up as a sleazy Vegas talent agent, and Rob Lowe spends the film in a set of buckteeth. The whole thing is grimy, surreal, and indebted to John Waters at his most depraved.
Nelson reportedly won the role by showing up to real comedy clubs performing in character as the pathetic Marty Malt, refusing to break, until the production gave in.
It cost $700,000 and made $28,654. Almost nobody saw it in 1991. The ones who did never quite recovered, and it has been quietly gathering a cult ever since.
What's the strangest flop you have ever pushed on people who didn't ask for it?
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The Dark Backward was independently financed and brought to life by producers Brad Wyman and Cassian Elwes. It was picked up for domestic distribution by Greycat Films, a small distributor specializing in avant-garde and independent cinema.
Physical Media
Blu-raySony PicturesUnited StatesRegion A2026UPC 043396647558
a member added 9/25/2026
About the Film
It's the world inside out.
- Directed By
- Adam Rifkin
- Runtime
- 101 minutes
- Released
- July 26, 1991
- Certification
- R
- Country
- United States of America
- Starring
- Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Wayne Newton, Lara Flynn Boyle, James Caan
More Credits
- Genres
- Comedy
- Language
- English
- Origin
- US
- Written By
- Adam Rifkin
- Produced By
- Randolf Turrow, William Talmadge, Brad Wyman, Cassian Elwes
- Cinematography
- Joey Forsyte
- Music
- Marc David Decker
- Also Starring
- Rob Lowe, Claudia Christian, Billy Bob Thornton, King Moody, Danny Dayton
- Budget
- $2,000,000
- Box Office
- $28,654
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Love this filthy film.
Love this flick. It also has Lara Flynn Boyle and James Caan
The Jimmy Show, also about a guy who wants to be a comedian but is terrible.
Saw it in the theater 🙂
I wanted to see this for many years, finally did last night. I kinda liked it and will check out the commentary track and other special features soon.
I have a Blumps coffee mug
One of the most disgusting movies I’ve ever seen. It didn’t quite win me over but I’m somehow glad I watched it.
Always enjoyed this movie
Luke Johnson
Zach Dresch
Seth B. Benson I gotta see this!!
It’s a brilliant film. RIP Bill.
i saw it in, most likely, ’92. it was odd enough to be disturbing. i mean, bill paxton molesting a dead body like that was way more weird than any number of psychopathic rage killers.
I saw this somehow as a 9 year old kid. Haha. I tried to explain this movie memory years later as a dude with three arms and he looks like PeeWee. I thought I imagined this. Thank you for jogging my memory!
Jimmy Caan had the most hilarious moment in my opinion.
That looks amazing!
I knew this would show up after we talked about it
Love it! For more high-grade weirdness see also Barton Fink and Living in Oblivion.
Dayne TurnerLiving in Oblivion is tomorrow’s movie 😉
This off the wall movie is definitely weird. One of a kind,but weird.
Classic cult movie.💪🏻 The slow spin is my favorite
A favorite hahaha
THIS.
This is the strangest flop that I push on everyone I know.
I saw this film opening night at the Nuart Theatre when I was 19 and I haven’t stopped talking about it since.
In 2007 I drove from Berkeley to Los Angeles to attend the 15th Anniversary screening for the DVD release, where I got my laserdisc copy (yes you read that right) autographed by Bill, Judd, and Adam Rifkin.
I’ve seen it on the big screen four times (every time I get the chance), own it on laserdisc, VHS, and the original DVD release (fyi the new Blu-ray doesn’t have any of the extras), and am planning on curating a Dark Backward art show next year.
Also this is Bill Paxton being his most Bill Paxton-y and I love him for it.
Love this film!
‘Plan 9 From Outer Space’
You should see “Forbidden Zone” if you like weird.
Man I play accordion, started in the mid 90s which was rough on my social life lol but this is Gold
I saw this back in the day. Kinda reminded me of a John Waters movie.
Completely hated this movie. It feels like there is an inch of grime on every person in it! Unlikeable characters, depressing story. Tries too hard. Thought it would be a lot better than it was.
Red Letter Media introduced me to this film, and wouldn’t you know it, I found it on Tubi immediately after