Closet Monster is a startling, surreal coming-of-age story
Finding yourself in the fog of teenage insecurity can feel surreal — perhaps even talking-hamster, dizzing-strobe-light surreal.
Today Dunn and lead actor Connor Jessup join guest host Rachel Giese to discuss the startling coming of age story. Although Oscar happens to be gay, the director stresses that the story is a universal one.
"We weren't making a queer film. We weren't making an issue film when we made Closet Monster," says Dunn, who has drawn comparisons to Xavier Dolan and David Cronenberg. "What's really exciting is it's connecting with people outside the LGBT community as well."
- Related: Follow buzzworthy filmmaker Stephen Dunn as he screens his first feature (CBC Arts)
Jessup — known for his breakout role in the TV series American Crime — plays Oscar. Under the watchful eye of his macho father and his female best friend, Oscar oscillates between horror and fantasy, acceptance and deviation, small town life and big time dreams.
Plus, we surprise the pair live on air with a call-in from inventive Italian actress Isabella Rossellini, who plays Oscar's talking hamster, Buffy, in the film.
WEB EXCLUSIVE | The film opens in Toronto this Friday and across Canada later this month; meantime, the Closet Monster team has released this short featurette, The Origins of Closet Monster, exclusively for our site.