Sundance: Is Radcliffe's movie genius or terrible?

Was Daniel Radcliffe's gutsy new Sundance movie a bust?

Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe attend the premiere of 'Swiss Army Man' at Sundance Film Festival. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

It depends who you ask. Some at Sundance Film Festival adored Swiss Army Man, while many noted an increased rate of walkouts.

Let's review the plot: In Swiss Army Man, Paul Dano plays Hank, a stranded Cast Away-type character who's about to hang himself on a deserted island when he spots a body wash up on the beach. That's Radcliffe, playing a corpse. Once Hank realizes his potential new friend is dead, he returns to his suicide mission, only to watch the corpse start — and you're reading this right — farting. A lot. Like, crazy, volcanic farting. So obviously Hank jumps aboard Radcliffe's stiff body and rides it into the ocean like a motor boat, cresting on bombastic dead guy farts until he reaches more promising territory. And that's only 20 minutes in.

The backstory: Swiss Army Man is directed by the Daniels, aka Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan. Before breaking into film, the L.A.-based duo made their mark in music videos for artists like Foster the People, Passion Pit and, most notably, DJ Snake and Lil Jon's viral video for Turn Down For What^[1]. What exactly inspired Swiss Army Man?

"Originally, it was just a fart joke that Dan made," said Scheinert at the Q&A. Added Kwan: "And we were both like, we should DEFINITELY make that."

Cue the haterade

#SwissArmyMan: Castaway Paul Dano and lively corpse Daniel Radcliffe. Inventive--but annoying, puerile, frustrating. Just no. #Sundance2016^[2][3]

— Kate Aurthur (@KateAurthur) January 23, 2016^[4]

Never a good sign when the chairmen of 2 studios are among the glum walkouts of a supposedly hot film half way thru #SwissArmyMan#Sundance^[5][6]

— Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) January 22, 2016^[7]

Can't decide if SWISS ARMY MAN is completely trolling the audience. #sundance^[8]

— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) January 23, 2016^[9]

Counted at least 30 walkouts within first 30 mins of the unwatchable SWISS ARMY MAN before I bailed myself at 40-minute mark. DO NOT SEE IT.

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) January 22, 2016^[10]

But not everyone felt that way

SWISS ARMY MAN was absurd, demented and genius. Directors are master of tone. "Shame keeps us from love." #swissarmyman#sundance2016^[11][12]

— Terrell Garrett (@TerrellTGarrett) January 23, 2016^[13]

I guarantee I just saw my FAVORITE of @sundancefest and it's only day 2. #SwissArmyMan#WTF^[14][15][16]

— caseythea (@caseythea) January 23, 2016^[17]

The people who walked out of Swiss Army Man didn't get it. Takes about 20 minutes until you figure it out. If you don't think, seems stupid.

— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) January 23, 2016^[18]

I've seen thousands of movies and never seen anything like SWISS ARMY MAN. Insane. Crazy. Like entering a bonkers dream. Wow. #sundance^[19]

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) January 23, 2016^[20]

So was Swiss Army Man miserable or madly genius? We'll keep you posted on the film's sales prospects.

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References

1. ^{^} Turn Down For What (www.youtube.com)
2. ^{^} #SwissArmyMan (twitter.com)
3. ^{^} #Sundance2016 (twitter.com)
4. ^{^} January 23, 2016 (twitter.com)
5. ^{^} #SwissArmyMan (twitter.com)
6. ^{^} #Sundance (twitter.com)
7. ^{^} January 22, 2016 (twitter.com)
8. ^{^} #sundance (twitter.com)
9. ^{^} January 23, 2016 (twitter.com)
10. ^{^} January 22, 2016 (twitter.com)
11. ^{^} #swissarmyman (twitter.com)
12. ^{^} #sundance2 016 (twitter.com)
13. ^{^} January 23, 2016 (twitter.com)
14. ^{^} @sundancefest (twitter.com)
15. ^{^} #SwissArmyMan (twitter.com)
16. ^{^} #WTF (twitter.com)
17. ^{^} January 23, 2016 (twitter.com)
18. ^{^} January 23, 2016 (twitter.com)
19. ^{^} #sundance (twitter.com)
20. ^{^} January 23, 2016 (twitter.com)