#TIFF24: “MR. K” REVIEW

By David Baldwin

Mr. K (Crispin Glover) is a traveling magician who needs a bed to sleep in before waking up early for his next show. The only problem is that when he wakes up, he cannot find the exit. He starts becoming acquainted with other guests who have not been outside in some time, and realizes quite quickly that something bizarre is going on within the walls of the hotel.

MR. K is a Kafka-esque nightmare that will either grip you from the start or keep you at a distance for the entire running time. It is both beautiful and horrific in its construction, with exquisite set design and often claustrophobic framing that is deliberately uncomfortable. I admire the boldness of Writer/Director Tallulah H. Schwab’s film, but often felt at odds with its absurdist and enigmatic tone. It is not an easy watch whatsoever, though I did find some of the cringe humour to be downright hilarious in a morbid, strange way.

While the Supporting Cast do well for themselves for the most part (even those who have no speaking lines at all), the entire picture hinges on Glover. The legendary character actor has always gravitated towards weird and offbeat roles, and his performance as the titular MR. K is no different. He is finely tuned into Schwab’s odd tone and expertly navigates the confusion, anger and isolation the character feels – often within the same scene. It is a great showcase of the multifaceted actor’s genuine, raw talent and will instantly make you wonder why we have not seen him around nearly as much as we should be.

MR. K screens at TIFF ’24:

Saturday, September 7 at 2:30PM at TIFF Lightbox

Sunday, September 8 at 8:45PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Sunday, September 14 at 9:40PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto