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Tusk

Tusk

A truly transformative tale

2014102 minRMidcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Director
Kevin Smith
Starring
Michael Parks, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, Haley Joel Osment

When his best friend and podcast co-host goes missing in the backwoods of Canada, a young guy joins forces with his friend's girlfriend to search for him.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Tusk?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Tusk streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Tusk?

Tusk earns 5 badges, led by One of a kind and Standout acting.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Tusk worth watching?

Tusk's Midcredits score is the 22nd percentile of all films, from 364K ratings across 6 sources. 31% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

22nd percentile

Better received than 22% of films

23rd percentile among Comedy23rd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)23rd
Approval (how many liked it)24th

53 /100

23rd percentile of all films

24th percentile among Comedy25th percentile among 2010s

Critics 55 · Audience 53

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

31% liked it

24th percentile of all films

25th percentile among Comedy24th percentile among 2010s
31% rated it 7–1069% rated it 1–6

Critics 45% · Audience 36%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 7 noms overall

82nd percentile

364K ratings across platforms

79th percentile among Comedy83rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 19% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$3M
Opening weekend$847K
Domestic gross$1.8M
Worldwide gross$1.9M

Returned 0.6× its budget — 51st percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A bizarre, one-of-a-kind body horror comedy that is utterly weird and unforgettable, but polarizing in its execution.

Fans praised

  • Michael Parks' chilling, theatrical performance as Howard Howe
  • Surreal, original premise with a committed grotesque vision
  • Darkly humorous dialogue and first-half tension

Detractors panned

  • Ridiculous, unbelievable premise fails as horror or comedy
  • Unlikable protagonist and jarring tonal shifts
  • Poor special effects and Johnny Depp's over-the-top cameo

What stands out

Originality85

Unforgettably bizarre concept; compared to Human Centipede but unique in its absurdity

Acting78

Michael Parks is universally praised as a standout; Justin Long commits but character is unlikable; Depp's cameo divisive

DialogueDivisive60

Witty exchanges in first half; later devolves into long-winded or grating monologues

CharactersDivisive40

Protagonist Wallace is intentionally unlikable; villain Howe is compelling; supporting characters shallow

HumorDivisive35

Dialogue-driven and absurd; often falls flat or feels forced, especially Depp's scenes

Plot and storyDivisive30

Absurd man-into-walrus premise; second half loses coherence and momentum

EndingDivisive30

Polarizing; poignant for some, infuriating or ridiculous for others

Effects and spectacleDivisive25

Walrus suit is laughably cheap and unconvincing; practical gore effective but sparse

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 9 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US even

Watch experience

What is Tusk like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want to be scared.

It is intense, has a few laughs and leaves you unsettled. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseAbsurdDreadBittersweet
Heaviest: late
Dark humor
Register
Absurdist · 7% of films: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.Satirical · 5% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneMixes absurdist dark humor with satirical commentary on internet fame and a sincere, tragic horror fantasy.
The rideThe film swings between black comedy and mounting horror, culminating in an emotionally and physically brutal finale.
StructureTold in a conventional linear order with occasional flashbacks that provide backstory without disrupting the main timeline.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

UnsettlingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe absurd, grotesque ending leaves a melancholic unease that lingers.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA podcaster is lured to a remote mansion and surgically transformed into a walrus by a deranged hermit; the protagonist must escape or defeat his captor.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3% (this title)
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsObsession · 3% of films: A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film interrogates how identity can be utterly dismantled and refashioned through obsession and cruelty, leaving the protagonist unrecognizable.
StanceThe film questions what makes us human and how far obsession can go, without offering a clear moral resolution.

The world

ContemporaryRuralDomesticStylized realism
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score · Christopher Drake
SettingA stately but decaying mansion in rural Manitoba, Canada, isolated from the surrounding town.
MusicThe score underscores the uneasy blend of horror and dark whimsy, with dissonant strings and muted ambient tones.

Content guide

Is Tusk okay for kids?

R

Tusk is rated R: “Rated R for some disturbing violence/gore, language and sexual content” (MPAA). As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (87/100), sexual content at moderate (50/100), language at severe (83/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (41/100) and frightening material at severe (86/100). Overall it is heavier than 86% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 13 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • Ireland15
  • JapanPG12
  • South Korea15
  • Hungary18
  • LTN-16
  • MexicoC
  • Netherlands18
  • PortugalM/18
  • Spain16
  • Sweden15
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 91% of all filmsHeavier than 86% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 78%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 55%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 79%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 53%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 89%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence, frightening material, and language. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Tusk have?

MovieCove's classifier found 4 depicted content warnings in Tusk: Gore or body horror (severe), plus 3 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. 3 more are mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory (behind the spoiler gate). Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereGore or body horror

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Tusk?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Michael Parks
as Howard Howe
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Justin Long
as Wallace Bryton
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Genesis Rodriguez
as Ally Leon
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Haley Joel Osment
as Teddy Craft
Johnny Depp
as Guy Lapointe
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Harley Morenstein
as Border Agent
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Ralph Garman
as Detective
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith
as Gimli Slider Waitress
Harley Quinn Smith
as Girl Clerk #1
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Lily-Rose Depp
as Girl Clerk #2
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Tusk?

Movies like Tusk include Yoga Hosers (2016), Pet (2016) and The Skin I Live In (2011). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Kevin Smith, and several are body horror films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

8 of these 12 share its character type: captor and captive. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Tusk?

658 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: body horror. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.