Movie Review: "16 Bits" (2023)
16 Bits Movie Review
Written by Stuart D. Monroe
Released by Tubi and Ocular Migraine
Written and Directed by Aaron Mento
2023, 82 minutes, Not Rated
Released on June 24th, 2023
Starring:
Kevin Caliber as Waxx Waster
Jeremiah Benjamin as Phillip
Scott Butler as Flynn
Raymond Vinsik Williams as Doug
D.M. Harrison as Bobby
Charles Chudabala as Kevin
Elissa Dowling as Alice
Emily Dahm as Nina
Review:
One of the joys of being a film reviewer/critic/journalist/whatever the hell you want to call it is discovering a “new” filmmaker who speaks your language. It’s a true joy. When I ran across Aaron Mento on Twitter (I refuse to call it X) I was highly intrigued by the things people were saying about his 2018 film, Ugly Sweater Party. People said it was worse than some of Troma’s sleaziest and cheapest, and I thought to myself, “Challenge accepted”.
I’m glad I took that challenge. Now it’s time for his newest flick, 16 Bits.
Phillip (Jeremiah Benjamin; The Love Witch) is the proverbial lonely loser. One look at him tells you everything you need to know- pot belly, wild and unkempt hair, a bit of a mouth breather. You get the idea. It’s his birthday, though, and everyone deserves to have a good time on their birthday. Phillip has invited four of his friends over for an old-school night of 16-bit video games, pizza, and cake. Well, one game in particular: Hazard Waster, an ultra-violent cross between Double Dragon and Grand Theft Auto. All of his friends bail on him, however, leaving him alone with his video game and a pizza loaded with magic mushrooms delivered by sweet, well-meaning Kevin (Charles Chudabala; The Gallows Act II). Before you can say tripping balls, Phillip’s hero (and the game’s main character) Waxx Waster (Kevin Caliber; Supergirl) appears in the flesh, ready to kill some bad guys and help pathetic Phillip have a great birthday. Seriously, what could go wrong in that scenario?
16 Bits is, first and foremost, is the kind of movie that will put off virtually everyone who considers themselves cool or cultured. It’s true indie filmmaking with a ludicrous premise, surprising heart, and even a bit of a message about spending too much of your life living in the Land of Make Believe. Not that there’s a deep moral message here or anything, but if you read between the lines a bit and take Phillip’s story at face value you’ll find some serious truths. It’s also quite subversive, as what starts off and plays mostly as a sight-gag-laden, visually trippy display of high-spirited (and borderline nonsensical) hilarity ends up going dark as fuck…like, really dark. Be prepared.
However, this one plays for laughs and violence and succeeds with aplomb on both points. In 16 Bits you’ll find the most disturbingly oversized and hairy nipples ever put to screen, a hot dog vendor pedaling innuendo with the food, a video game hero with an endless supply of one-liners, the saddest roleplaying hotel party ever put to film, and shockingly good video game animations. I mean, when you can revel in lines like “Every badass needs a pair of fingerless gloves!” and “Every time I get all contorted, I just queef everywhere!”, you should thank the gods that someone out there truly gets your degenerate (but surprisingly intelligent and thoughtful) sense of humor.
16 Bits looks low budget, for sure, and the SFX are minimal and somewhat limited to animations and blood splatter with crunchy sound effects, but let’s face it- you’re not here for high-brow art house, now are you? I thought not. There is a pretty cool claymation bit involving the controller that I got a big kick out of, though. Besides, the film is carried by a fantastic cast who pull off their parts with just enough seriousness to stay far away from the range of campy/parody, thereby giving the humor more depth and relatability.
Both Kevin Caliber’s performance as Waxx Waster and Jeremiah Benjamin’s chops as the cringe-worthy Phillip turn 16 Bits into something that should easily become a cult classic. Waxx Waster starts off as genuinely likable before his penchant for one-trick-pony levels of violence shows his true colors. And Phillip’s gradual realization of who he truly is? Well, it’ll sober you up a bit. Jeremiah Benjamin crushes it as that guy that we all know. You’ll feel his pain before it’s all said and done.
16 Bits is a wonderful little slice of irreverent, subversive, fucked up fun that’s occasionally crass and silly but never out and out stupid or cheap. It’s a smarter flick than you might expect given the premise. That aforementioned message about living in the real world (at least occasionally) isn’t subtle, and Phillip’s journey to realization is more potent for it. Don’t worry, though- you can still bust this one out on your friend’s with confidence that they won’t be expecting it.
I call that a win.
Grade:
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
