Watch Relaxer

Relaxer is a 2018 independent comedy film directed by Joel Potrykus. The movie is set in an apartment in a dystopian future, in which an apocalyptic event is about to occur, and the countdown has begun. The story follows the life of a young man named Abbie (played by Joshua Burge), whose mission seems to be to reach level 256 of Pac-Man before the world ends.

Abbie, however, is not just a typical video game enthusiast; he has a severe case of laziness, and he spends most of his time living in his armchair, without ever standing up. His older brother Cam (played by David Dastmalchian) tries to get him to move, to find a job or to get a girlfriend, but Abbie refuses. His lifestyle is about to get even more stationary when he accepts a challenge from his brother to beat Pac-Man's level 256 without ever leaving his seat.

As Abbie begins his marathon game session, the movie takes a strange, surreal turn, with darkly comic and strange events that start to happen around him. The cramped apartment, with no electricity or running water, becomes a hellish prison to Abbie. He is forced to create all kinds of mental and physical challenges to stay alive, from drinking his own Urine to making bird sounds to summon food deliveries from his older neighbor (played by Andre Hyland).

In a borderline absurd jump from reality, Cam comes back to check on his progress several times, bringing different items with him, each time more eccentric than the last. From feeding Abbie laxative-laced popcorn to making him watch ghosts and demons dance in his living room. Cam's schemes gradually get worse and more dangerous.

Joshua Burge gives an excellent performance as Abbie, displaying both physical humor and surprising emotional depth. His character is lazy, weak, and insane, but he also reveals a curious, almost pitiable innocence that makes him endearing. David Dastmalchian shows an uncanny ability to play the villain-like older brother, whose bizarre and cruel methods only add to the absurdity and dark humor of the story.

The movie's cinematography is praiseworthy since it creates a surrealistic atmosphere with nothing but the bare minimum. The movie is shot entirely in a single location, but the camera work manages to make the apartment both claustrophobic and expansive. The score by Neon Indian complements the movie's surreal nature, with a mix of electronic and retro sounds, amplifying the sense of unease and danger that lurks beneath every scene.

Relaxer is an odd and absorbing film that will leave you either fascinated or disturbed or both. The story is intentionally vague, as it is not clear what led to the apocalypse, nor is it clear what Abbie's motivations are. The viewer is left to speculate on why he chooses to endure the dreadfully long gaming marathon and what he hopes to achieve.

Overall, Relaxer is a visually and emotionally arresting film that takes you on a strange, uneasy journey, punctuated with moments of dark humor and a game of Pac-Man from hell. It is not for everyone, as it can be viewed as rather odd and enigmatic, but those who appreciate its unique qualities will find it a rewarding experience.

Relaxer is a 2019 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 82.