Dan Simeone on C.O.G.

Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s new film C.O.G. is an adaptation of David Sedaris’ short story Naked, about a recent Yale graduate who decides to get out of his comfort zone by working on an apple farm in Oregon. C.O.G. debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

When I saw the trailer for this movie some time ago, I was mildly curious to see it. Recently I had the unique opportunity to do so, and I was not a fan of the ambiguous nature of the film.

I can understand a story about a character that is trying to “find himself.” In this case, Sam (played by Johnathan Groff, from Glee) is trying to better understand his sexuality. I was frustrated by the way the film is constantly inconclusive. It confused me, in a way that I don't believe was intended.

There is lot of religious tension in this movie too. Sam turns from an atheist to a C.O.G. “Child of God”…I think. I just don’t know. He decides to openly say he believes in god, when in an alarmingly dangerous situation. It’s all confusing to me. At one point in the movie, a religious man rejects Sam for who he is, or thinks he is. Sam cries, but when he leaves the situation, he stops crying…So I don’t know? Did he decide he doesn’t need religion? Or how does he feel about the relationship between his sexuality and god? I don’t know; it’s not clear.

Maybe ambiguity is the objective, and if that is the case, I think it was a bad choice. That’s not to say ambiguity in all movies is bad, however it is poorly executed in this film. If you’re going to make a movie about religion and/or sexuality, say something about it! Or at least be clear what you are trying to say is ambiguous. I have not read the short story, but it has to be better. It has to be!

Outside of the cloud of uncertainty about uncertainty, it was a well-shot movie. I’m not crazy about the score, which consists of a series of handclaps and long held notes. I like that style of music, but it reminded me of a score in an action film called The Raid so it personally threw me off.

Don’t see this movie. Don’t show your friends, family. Maybe suggest it to your worst enemies but even I think that it’s still too cruel a fate for a rival.    

Grade: F