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The Dark Backward

1991·Movie
1h 41min·R
44
WeakGoodWatch score
IMDb5.8Metacritic48–Rotten Tomatoes42%59%
IMDb5.8Metacritic48–Rotten Tomatoes42%59%

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The Dark Backward fingerprint

Very funny, emotionally cool.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension6
  • Fast Pace6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Melancholy6
  • Pathos4
  • Romance3

Humor

Plenty of cringe comedy and absurdist humor

  • Cringe Humor9
  • Absurdist Humor9
  • Dark Humor9

World

Everyday modern life, show business, and the mind

  • Novelty8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Direction7
  • Acting7
  • Dialogue Quality6

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Visual Stylization7
  • Editing6
  • Cinematography5

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers you

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

It's the world inside out.

A man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion, continues to tell him how great he is, he actually stinks. When the "comedian" grows a third arm out of his back, the friend uses this twist to get him signed up with a sleazy talent agent, and it begins to look like his career is on the move, even though his girlfriend has left him.
Absurdist Black ComedyCringe HumorShowbiz SatireGross-Out ComedyUnconventionalNightmarishBleakEccentric Characters

Crew

Directed by:
Adam Rifkin
Written by:
Adam Rifkin
Produced by:
Brad Wyman, William Martens, Cassian Elwes
Composed by:
Marc David Decker

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Dark Backward

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Dark Backward legally?

The RokuTubi TV

You can watch it free with ads on Tubi TV. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Dark Backward worth watching?

44
WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 44/100 (IMDb 5.8, Rotten Tomatoes 42%, and Metacritic 48). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Dark Backward rated?

RStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language and disturbing imagery.

How long is The Dark Backward?

1 h 41 min

The Dark Backward runs 1 h 41 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Dark Backward?

Critics45
Audiences59

Not quite. Audiences rate The Dark Backward higher (59) than critics (45). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Dark Backward a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$28,654

No. It cost about $2 million to make and earned $28,654 worldwide, 1% of its budget.

What language is The Dark Backward in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

What tropes does The Dark Backward use?

Anachronism StewAnti-HumorArtistic License – MusicBittersweet EndingCelebrity CameoChubby ChaserCrapsack WorldDr. JerkDrop Dead GorgeousExtreme OmnivoreWorst AidLarge Hamand 8 more

TV Tropes lists 20 storytelling tropes for The Dark Backward, including Anachronism Stew, Anti-Humor, Artistic License – Music.