Fantastic Fest: Kung Fu Elliot Review

Kung Fu Elliot (2014)

Cast: Elliot Scott
Director: Matthew Bauckman, Jaret Belliveau
Country: Canada
Genre: Documentary | Comedy | Drama | Romance

Editor’s Notes: The following review is part of our coverage of the 2014 Fantastic Fest. For more information on the festival visit fantasticfest.com and follow Fantastic Fest on Twitter at @fantasticfest.

Kung Fu Elliot is about a man with illusions of grandeur. He tells the camera that he’s going to be Canada’s first action star. Perhaps he isn’t familiar with Keanu Reeves or Ryan Reynolds, both Canadian actors that have starred in high profile action films. The subject is Elliot Scott, a man who boasts throughout the film that he’s a Canadian martial arts champion. He tells everyone he’s a movie star. Scott does his own stunts, writes, directs, stars and edits his own films. Kung Fu Elliot introduces Scott along with his camerawoman and partner, Linda. The two are in the middle of shooting their next film, “Blood Fight.”

At first the film is light-hearted. Scott is so eccentric and so delusional that it’s difficult to dislike the guy. The trouble is that he’s a grown man with no income and he uses everyone around him, including Linda. As the story develops Scott become less likeable and the audience will question whether he requires medical help. The film starts as an eye-rolling study of a dreamer into something far darker. One can only imagine what it must have been like because there is no way the filmmakers knew what they were getting into for the long haul.

Kung Fu Elliot is thought-provoking and resonates well. The film didn’t sit well during and after the film, but that’s the intent. The film has feel good moments but it also has its share of disheartening, harrowing moments. It’s up to the audience how to come out with this.

From autograph sessions outside the local video stores in Nova Scotia to photo opportunities in China this man has no shortage of self-promotion. Scott’s classmates confess that they wonder whether Scott is the real deal. The audience knows the answer. That’s half of the fun, seeing the reality then witnessing Scott deliver lies to unsuspecting tourists in China. Scott knows he is being filmed for a documentary, why would he lie when his lies are so easily exposed?

There is room to question whether this story is authentic. But how can anyone think this up? A quick search on YouTube reveals trailers, footage and autograph sessions of Scott from 2010. Surely this could not be an elaborate prank much like Exit from the Gift Shop. Perhaps that is a bit of a stretch but these kinds of questions can be raised. Kung Fu Elliot is thought-provoking and resonates well. The film didn’t sit well during and after the film, but that’s the intent. The film has feel good moments but it also has its share of disheartening, harrowing moments. It’s up to the audience how to come out with this.

To the credit of directors Matthew Bauckman and Jaret Belliveau, they are careful observers telling a story without adding their own influence. The audience is provided with the meat and potatoes of the story and can draw their own conclusions.

To the credit of directors Matthew Bauckman and Jaret Belliveau, they are careful observers telling a story without adding their own influence. The audience is provided with the meat and potatoes of the story and can draw their own conclusions. Lunarcy! is a similar documentary but filmmaker Simon Ennis couldn’t help himself and made a mockery of his subjects. Kung Fu Elliot has several laugh out loud moments, but those moments did not require a comical score to deliver said laughs.

Kung Fu Elliot is an entertaining film with strange characters. Scott’s friends are deliberately left out of this review so the audience can discover them on their own. This film delivers on the “What the Fuck?” factor. It may not resonate with all audiences but some will connect with it. Whether you applaud or root against Scott he may stay in your head long after the credits roll.