Monkey Warfare

Low-key yet strangely compelling, Monkey Warfare revolves around the exploits of Dan (Don McKellar) and Linda (Tracy Wright) – a pair of quasi-hippies who live off the grid in a small Toronto house and earn money by scavenging through the garbage and selling their discoveries. Their precarious lifestyle is thrown into disarray after Don befriends a young pot dealer named Susan (Nadia Litz), whose rebellious ambitions threaten to expose the couple’s past transgressions. Writer/director Reg Harkema has clearly been inspired by the French New Wave movement, as the filmmaker infuses Monkey Warfare with a free-wheeling, distinctly avant-garde sensibility (ie he’ll flash the lyrics of whatever song happens to be playing on the soundtrack). It’s a vibe that’s reflected in the uniformly-effective performances, with McKellar particularly strong as a slightly dim-witted anarchist. And although the movie can’t quite sustain its slightly absurd tone for its entire running time, there are certainly enough positive elements within the production to warrant a mild recommendation.

**1/2 out of ****