Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Totally F***ed Up Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 14, 2024

Gregg Araki's "Totally F***ed Up" (1993) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include new program with James Duval and Gregg Araki; new program with Gregg Araki and Richard Linklater; archival audio commentary by Gregg Araki, James Duval, and Gilbert Luna, and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Even the very best independent video stores that picked up all kinds of different films for their customers frequently struggled to choose the right spot for Gregg Araki’s early films. I have seen two of these films, Totally F***ed Up and Nowhere, placed next to Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Un Chien Andalou, which were usually in the Other section, where customers went to seek the strangest and most provocative films, as well as many cult foreign films. Only after Donnie Darko became a huge hit did Araki’s early films gradually begin moving away from the Other section and toward the Drama section. But this was not because Araki’s films suddenly started making more sense to more people, it was because more similar films were moving in the same direction, like Where the Day Takes You and Johns.

My first experience with an Araki film happened during the VHS era, on a Monday night, when I usually took advantage of the five-for-five deal my independent video store ran for years. (Monday was the slowest day for business, so this is how the store tried to lure people to go back. All rentals had to be returned by Friday, which was one of the two busiest days when many people rented films to last them the entire weekend). I rented five VHS cassettes for five dollars, and one of the five films I chose was Nowhere. There was not anything specific that attracted me to Nowhere. The VHS simply had a nice cover and I needed one more title, so I grabbed it. Later that night, after I had viewed another film, I decided to sample Nowhere before I went to bed, and ended up viewing the entire film. It was a wild experience that instantly transformed me into an Araki fan. After that, I tried to see all other Araki films that had been made available on VHS.

I saw Totally F***ed Up quite some time after I had discovered Nowhere and did not like it at all. It felt like the product of a test that had provided Araki with plenty of material to study later, some trims of which were used to create it. Obviously, Totally F***ed Up was never meant to have the overwhelming kinetic energy of Nowhere, but this does not change anything. It is almost unbearably disjointed and unfocused, stuck in a repetitive mode that keeps rehashing the same material.

This material features six teenagers from L.A. who have convinced themselves that they are doomed to be miserable. What helps them tune on the same wavelength is the fact that they are not straight, which they agree makes them social outcasts with a very narrow path in life. Together, they soak up the L.A. sun, masturbate, occasionally date, and vent. Then one of them, after declaring that he is “totally fucked up”, permanently leaves the group.

Araki’s films resonate with different people for different reasons. I have seen all but one of his feature films, and the ones I like remind me of Tsai Ming-Liang’s best work. They are like time capsules gone rogue that somehow always find a way to temporarily plug my brain into the ‘90s, the last decade when American independent filmmakers shot films without filters. I find them hilarious too, but in a way that Tsai’s films are, which are often shot like surreal dreams determined to leave permanent mental scars. (See Nowhere and The Wayward Cloud on the same night and you will understand what I mean). For this reason, which I realize will not be a valid one for everyone, I recommend seeing Totally F***ed Up after Nowhere and The Doom Generation, and even Kaboom and Mysterious Skin.

The soundtrack of Totally F***ed Up is one big collection of '90s killer tunes from the likes of Ministry ("Just One Fix"), Coil ("Windowpane"), Numb ("Headcrash"), The Mortal Coil ("Meniscus"), The Jesus & Mary Chain ("Head On"), and Babyland ("Mindfuck"), and Pale Saints ("A Thousand Stars Burst Open"), among others.

Totally F***ed Up Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original apect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Totally F***ed Up arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this release:

"These new restorations of the Teen Apocalypse Trilogy were supervised and approved by director Gregg Araki. The 2K restoration of "Totally F***ed Up" was created from the 16mm original camera negative. The original 5.1 surround soundtracks were remastered from the original magnetic tracks.

Colorist: FotoKem, Burbank, CA.
Image restoration: FotoKem.
Restoration postproduction supervisor: Beau J. Genot.
Audio restoration: Trip Brock/Monkeyland Audio, Los Angeles."

I had not seen Totally F***ed Up in more than twenty years, so I was eager to revisit it on Blu-ray. I think that it looks really good after it was redone in 2K. Obviously, all of its taped material retains the drops in delineation, clarity, and depth, but the rest looks pretty nice. Grain exposure could have been superior, but given the grundgy style of the film, it feels appropriate as it is. Color balance is excellent. I think that all primaries and supporting nuances are set exceptionally well, ensuring a very convincing '90s low-budget look. Image stability is very good. However, I was surprised to see several small nicks and blemishes. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Totally F***ed Up Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The original soundtrack is one big collection of '90s killer tunes from such bands as Ministry and Coil, so having a remastered 5.1 track is a big deal. While you should not expect to hear an avalanche of crispy and potent tunes, the overall quality of the music is very good, so you should turn up the volume of your system a bit more than usual. All dialog is clear and easy to follow. However, because of the way the film is shot, some minor fluctuations are present.

Totally F***ed Up Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• James Duval's Teen Apocalypse Archive - in this new program, James Duval and Gregg Araki recall how they met and discuss their work on the Teen Apocalypse Trilogy. At the same time, the two also go through various clippings, photographs, notes, and printed materials from the time when the three films were made. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• Gregg Araki and Richard Linklater - in this new program, Gregg Araki and Richard Linklater recall how they first met and discuss the creative environment for independent filmmakers during the 1990s, the important role music had in the films they were shooting, and production of the Teen Apocalypse Trilogy. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Designing the End of the World - in this filmed conversation, Gregg Araki, James Duval, cinematographer Jim Fealy, producer Andrea Sperling, costume designer Cathy Cooper, discuss their collaborations on the Teen Apocalypse Trilogy. There are comments from other members of Araki's crew as well. In English, not subtitled. (31 min).

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Gregg Araki, James Duval, and Gilbert Luna in 2005.

• Booklet - 34-page illustrated booklet featuring writings on the Teen Apocalypse Trilogy and technical credits. In English, not subtitled. (31 min).

Totally F***ed Up Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Totally F***ed Up had to materialize so that The Doom Generation and Nowhere can be made. I have always thought of it as a test that gave Gregg Araki the confidence to move forward with better and bolder material. It is a product of an era that left us many very interesting independent films of the kind that are no longer possible to make, and for this reason I think that it is worth seeing. It is included in this three-disc 4K Blu-ray box set. An identical three-disc Blu-ray box set is available here as well.