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Bad Boy Bubby Details

1994 Certificate 18 Certificate 18
  • 70
  • from 1211 members

Australian director Rolf de Heer's bizarre parable of innocence and corruption, belief and redemption, paints a decidedly grim picture while allowing hints of optimistic humanism to filter through. Bubby (Nicholas Hope) is a 35-year-old manchild, confined his whole life by his domineering mother--who uses him for sex--to a two-.. Read more

Starring Nicholas Hope, Ralph Cotterill, Claire Benito, Carmel Johnson
Director Rolf De Heer, Rolf de Heer
Genres Drama

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Bad Boy Bubby

Australian director Rolf de Heer's bizarre parable of innocence and corruption, belief and redemption, paints a decidedly grim picture while allowing hints of optimistic humanism to filter through. Bubby (Nicholas Hope) is a 35-year-old manchild, confined his whole life by his domineering mother--who uses him for sex--to a two-room tenement apartment. She has convinced Bubby that the air outside is poisonous, donning a gas mask every time she leaves; all this changes when Bubby's father, a priest who has lost his religion, shows up. His presence both demonstrates the possibility of breathing the air outside, and inspires Bubby to an act of violence that upsets his enclosed world. Finding himself out on the street, the antisocial, nearly mute Bubby must now encounter society, and his adventures run the gamut from poignant and funny to grim and brutal. He is seduced by a Salvation Army worker, adopted by a rock band with whom he performs, imprisoned, raped, and saved again.

An incredibly unique and eccentric film, BAD BOY BUBBY inspired some controversy upon its release, with some judging its themes so dark as to be unethical. But this verdict belies the compassion and empathy latent in the treatment, which expands the piece to encompass both disillusionment with society, as well as hope for humanity. The film noir style presents a gritty, raw view of a corrupt world, presented through honest, innocent eyes.

Starring Nicholas Hope, Ralph Cotterill, Claire Benito, Carmel Johnson
Director Rolf De Heer, Rolf de Heer
Run time DVD: 1 hr 52 mins
Blu-ray: 1 hr 54 mins
Watch now: 1 hr 54 mins
Certificate DVD: Certificate 18, Watch Online: Certificate 18
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Watch Online: English
Released DVD: 23 Apr 2007
Blu-ray: 03 Aug 2009
Watch now: 13 Dec 2009
Production year: 1994
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  • Critics' reviews of Bad Boy Bubby

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  • Rolf de Heer's film is pretty much a weirdo. It begins in the sordid flat which 35-year-old Bubby (Hope) shares with... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of Bad Boy Bubby

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  • 23 out of 23 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    One for the collection

    This is a great film and like the other reviewers say, get past the first ten minutes (which are quite disturbing but necessary to understand the rest of the ... more

      • Craig from Buntingford,England
  • Most recent members' review of Bad Boy Bubby

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  • 23 out of 23 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    One for the collection

    This is a great film and like the other reviewers say, get past the first ten minutes (which are quite disturbing but necessary to understand the rest of the ... more

      • Craig from Buntingford,England
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Rating breakdown

1,211 Member ratings
  • 100
181
  • 90
103
  • 80
271
  • 70
186
  • 60
179
  • 50
103
  • 40
75
  • 30
23
  • 20
55
  • 10
35

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    • Bad Boy Bubby - BLU-RAY Version
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    • Australian director Rolf de Heer's bizarre parable of innocence and corruption, belief and redemption, paints a decidedly grim picture while allowing hints of optimistic humanism to filter through. ...

    • Bad Boy Bubby
      Australian director Rolf de Heer's bizarre parable of innocence and corruption, belief and redemption, paints a decidedly grim picture while allowing hints of optimistic humanism to filter through. Bubby (Nicholas Hope) is a 35-year-old manchild, confined his whole life by his domineering mother--...