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Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Chris Zylka, Roxane Mesquida, Juno Temple ... see more see more... , Andy Fischer-Price , Nicole LaLiberte , Jason Olive , James Duval , Brennan Mejia , Kelly Lynch

Writer and director Gregg Araki revisits the day-glo universe of sex, drugs, and random perversity that informed his early films in this over-the-top dark comedy. Smith (Thomas Dekker) is an 18-year-o... read more read more...ld film student who is bisexual and has a ravenous erotic appetite; his best friend is Stella (Haley Bennett), who prefers the company of women but is just as enthusiastic about pursuing new lovers. Smith has been haunted by a series of recurring dreams featuring two beautiful women, one dark and enigmatic, the other similarly spectral with flaming red hair. This wouldn't bother him, except that the women from his dreams have begun appearing in real life -- Lorelei (Roxane Mesquida), Stella's new partner, is a magic aficionado who's a dead ringer for the dark-haired woman, and the red-haired girl (Nicole LaLiberte) is being pursued by a gang of masked assassins. Has Smith stumbled into a plot with possible world-changing consequences? Or is this all just the product of some hallucinogenic cookies he was served at a party? Kaboom received its world premiere at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

42% liked it

8,437 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

88 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: Gregg Araki

Release Date: January 28, 2011

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DVD Release Date: May 31, 2011

Stats: 417 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (417)

  • romy861
    May 19, 2012
    romy861
    Won't be for everyone, but I quite liked it. Visually pretty to look at with an attractive cast. The story is way out there, but anyone who's seen this director's work before knows what to expect - weirdness.
    If you like a conventional storyline or are homophobic, you're probab... read morely better to avoid this, but those who like something a little different may find this interesting.
  • fb1341085175
    October 23, 2011
    fb1341085175
    A really trippy gay movie on acid that, while doesn't completely set all its cilinders on fire, delivers 90 minutes of near mindless stilish fun.
  • fb100001050230219
    August 4, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    This film is flat out insane. I have a lot of problems with it, the main one being that it doesn't know whether it wants to be a sex comedy or a science fiction thriller. In the second half of ''Kaboom'', director Gregg Araki abandons the whole aspect of it being a sex comedy and... read more turns it into something completely different. Also, it doesn't flow in any kind of coherent or smooth fashion and doesn't find any rhythm. That being said, it is very ambitious and has a lot going for it. The performances are decent, the direction is solid and the story, despite turning 360 degrees in the second half, proves pretty interesting throughout. It's also got a cool soundtrack going for it as well. ''Kaboom'' almost gets away with some of its massive problems, just by how different and somewhat crazy it is.
  • stevenecarrier
    June 6, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    The one thing you need to know before viewing "Kaboom" is that writer/director Gregg Araki is a pop artist. He is not always concerned with narrative cinema and neither should you when watching his work. "Kaboom" is a kinetic, funny and involving pop spectacle. The plot (a return... read more to his 'teenage apocalypse' formate from the 90s) is jumpy, interesting and meaningless all at once. "Kaboom" has some fun, beautiful looking actors in a fun, beautiful looking movie. Expect to be disorientated, turned on and turned around because that's what Araki is best at- images, sex and angst.
  • fb655609510
    May 2, 2011
    fb655609510
    This is a very entertaining, but also extremely bizarre gay-surreal-fantasy/coming-of-age tale of sexual exploration and the end of the world... among other things. The stars are appealing, the visuals colorful and the dialogue sharp and sometimes, hilarious. Worth a look for fil... read morem buffs.
  • fb796967648
    February 10, 2011
    fb796967648
    Gregg Araki gets a pass for ever and always for the truly wonderful MYSTERIOUS SKIN. That pass means I'll see whatever he makes. It does not, however, mean I have to like it. His latest, KABOOM, is a pretty mess - full of teen sex of every shape and size, cosmic foofiness and ... read morean the-end-is-coming looniness that wants to be fun but is mostly just ridiculous. It also features the enormously appealing Thomas Dekker in the central role, and he buys the increasingly goofy script tons of goodwill, but in the end, not quite enough. At 86 minutes it feels too long, and there are tedious patches that not even near-naked (or completely naked) sex-starved teens can cure. And I thought that could cure anything.
  • gator681
    February 3, 2011
    gator681
    In "Kaboom," Smith(Thomas Dekker, of "The Sarah Connor Chronicles), a college freshman, has been having the same dream every night where he sees people from his life, including two women he does not recognize. If that did not keep him up at night, his roommate Thor(Chris Zylka) ... read morebringing women back to the room most certainly would. That does not stop Chris from having a crush on him and his mighty hammer, though. At least, Smith's best friend, Stella(Haley Bennett), is not as sad, hooking up with Lorelei(Roxane Mesquida) at a party. Lorelei is also one of the unknown women from his dream. The other dreamgirl(Nicole LaLiberte) pukes on his shoes, forcing him to go to the bathroom to get cleaned up where he is propositioned by London(Juno Temple).

    Written and directed by Gregg Araki, "Kaboom" is first and foremost wicked fun. As has been mentioned elsewhere, Araki is depicting college as a first taste of freedom away from parents to explore all sorts of things, especially sexuality and drugs.(Keeping with the educational themes, there is a tutorial on cunnilingus. Pay attention. There will be a quiz later, guys.) For a while, I was concerned the movie was getting close to "Donnie Darko" territory but "Kaboom" is a whole different kind of crazy altogether. There is a question of what's real and not, but after a while, I stopped caring and just relaxed. However, the movie could have found a better place to end which happens suddenly after wrapping up all 42 plot strands at once while moving at 80 miles per hour.
  • fb20312798
    September 3, 2011
    fb20312798
    Its like some bizarre cross between 'Donnie Darko' and the dialogue of 'Juno' with cast compromised of nothing but people who have bodies chiseled from marble. It has moments but overall it pretentiousness is undeserved and the ending is stupid . . . so, so stupid.
  • michaelcorleone
    April 16, 2011
    michaelcorleone
    Visual flair, a talented cast and a great soundtrack cannot save Araki's directionless script and misguided execution. Very disappointing.
  • Dannyrovira
    January 28, 2011
    Dannyrovira
    Director Gregg Araki's latest film "Kaboom" is a unhinged, candy-colored gonzo teen sex fantasy and apocalyptic cult thriller. It can also be described as a engaging acid-trip, a crazy combination of Twin Peaks, Donnie Darko and The X-Files, with some truly funny scenes, and som... read moree eerie ones that has to be seen to be believed. It concerns the sexual exploits of a handsome perpetually horny, and awkward 18-year-old bi-sexual college freshman named Smith, played by Thomas Dekker in a solid performance who spends his days fantasizing and lusting after the object of his affection, his hot and frequently naked, dumb as a log, heterosexual surfer roommate, Thor, well played by Chris Zylka and hanging out with his best friend a sassy lesbian named Stella, nicely played by Haley Bennett. Strange things begin to happened when people in Smith's recurring dream begin to show up in real life, Men wearing animal masks start stalking him, and there is a subplot about a murderous cult trying to bring an end to the world, in between the lesbian witches, crazy animal-mask wearing cultists, and a college campus populated by promiscuous teens who spend all their time having lots of sex, both gay and straight and everything in between. Director Araki has brilliantly captured a real 1980s kitsch feel to this very strange but amusing film, which is without a doubt not for the ultra-conservative or homophobic crowd. So if you appreciate the bizarre, i think you will have a hell of a good time with quirky film. Highly recommended.

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Critic Reviews

William Goss
June 6, 2011
William Goss, Film.com

Designed to have its own fun, filled to the brim with bangs of all kinds but mostly landing with a whimper. Full Review

Stephen Cole
April 8, 2011
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

What pop spectacle! Full Review

Bruce Demara
April 8, 2011
Bruce Demara, Toronto Star

The film is Araki's most ambitious to date, with a quick pace, music that's hip and cool and a mood that alternates between playful and eccentric. Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt
April 8, 2011
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

All that's truly strange here though is that Araki gets so few jolts or laughs from this hodge-podge of genres. Full Review

Sam Adams
March 22, 2011
Sam Adams, Los Angeles Times

The fact that the characters spout snappy, profane dialogue while all this is, or isn't, going on around them is more "fun" than fun; Araki's like the too-drunk guy who won't go home when the party's ... Full Review

Tom Long
March 18, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

What's going on? Who cares? Full Review

Steven Rea
March 17, 2011
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Araki has been making movies for more than 20 years now, and his ideas haven't evolved all that much. Full Review

Wesley Morris
March 3, 2011
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

"Kaboom'' is currently having all the sex other American comedies are too shy and too commercial for. Full Review

Mark Jenkins
February 25, 2011
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post

Sort of likable, despite Araki's utter lack of interest in charming anyone who isn't already a member of his small following. Full Review

Roger Moore
February 23, 2011
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

This isn't satire, it isn't that funny and the only bits that work are the titillating ones. Full Review

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    • London: Think of it as a little girl dick, and treat it accordingly. Imagine what your dick likes. Kiss it. Tease it with your tongue. Suck it. Even nibble it a little. Just make sure to regard it with the ut-most care and respect. Which brings us to the number one golden rule of oral. Pay attention to how she's reacting. If she seems into something, keep doing that same thing over and over and over. It's about finding a rythm that she likes and sticking to it, until the job is done.
    • Stella: Nice hat. Are we in Paris?
    • Stella: You meet some guy on a nude beach and after five minutes you're downloading his hard drive in the back of a van. You're a slut.
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