“I’m not a nerd! I’m a geek!” - me (on multiple occasions)
Even though my iPad’s definitions of “geek” and “nerd” are interchangeable, (a person who is extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about a particular subject), I’ve always believed there was a difference. Maybe I feel “geeks” are somehow less uncool or maybe I just like the sound of the word. “Nerd” drops like an uninspired bomb, while “Geek” floats with lyrical prose. Plus, I like to say I “geek out” over my fave TV series and films. I mean, nobody “nerds out” about anything other than maybe the tartly sweet 1980’s candy. However, after all of my anti-nerd rhetoric, I experienced a massive shock to my personal identity when I sat down to watch a nerd-ish double feature.
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| It’s Troma, so you know it’s classy |
KILLER NERD (1991)
written & directed by Mark Steven Bosko & Wayne Alan Harold
Harold Kunkle is a nerd. He’s mistreated at home, at work and on the streets. What’s a nerd to do? He orders audio cassettes from Slick Dick’s SCHOOL OF COOL, gets a makeover and paints the town red…with BLOOD! You see, after his cool lessons fail to extinguish his nerdiness and he suffers more humiliation, Harold Kunkle snaps and goes on a killing spree.
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| Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the nerdiest of them all? |
Toby Radloff (American Splendor) is full on nerd as Harold Kunkle. He manages to make the nerd simultaneously pathetic and sympathetic and is THE reason to watch KILLER NERD. This film is so beyond a DIY, low budget affair, it makes Jon Moritsugu’s films look like million dollar marvels. Despite, or maybe because of the slow pacing and questionable acting, I enjoyed KILLER NERD way more than I feel I should have, especially when Harold is learning to be cool.
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| Children are evil |
Harold Kunkle is trying to put his killing spree past behind him, but the ghosts of a few of his victims keep haunting him and neighborhood kids torment him with nerd taunts. Just when you think Harold is going to commit suicide, he meets Thelma Crump, a lonely, bookish young woman who is a tormented senior in high school. What are two nerds to do? Fall in love, attend a senior house party, get humiliated and go on a killing spree together, of course.
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| Sweet and nerdy |
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| Flowers are a nerd’s best friend |
In conclusion…
This Troma Team nerd-filled double feature DVD made me uncomfortable because it felt like I was seen. Watching Harold Kunkle was a reminder of my long buried shame. I was a nerd as a kid. No, I didn’t have tape on my glasses or own a pocket protector, but I saw who I used to be in Harold. Socially awkward. Low self-esteem. A less than snappy dresser. Ok, fine, I’m still these things, but I will no longer be ashamed!
I am a nerd! 🤓
Now is the time for nerds and geeks to put down our Star Trek nitpicking, push up our four eyes (or six in my case) and unite against the so-called “cool” or “hip” people of the world! We can be “with it” together and never be social outcasts again!
Just don’t make me play Dungeons & Dragons. I mean, I’m not that big of nerd!
Oops… 🫢
Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words.
Freak Out,
JLH
P.S. A special thanks to Barry of Cinematic Catharsis for putting KILLER NERD on my radar with his review of AMERICAN SPLENDOR!
P.P.S. Click the pic ⤵️ for a different post about a very different Troma double feature…
Greetings, from one nerd to another! Fun double review, John. Admittedly, I stopped at the first film, but perhaps I should give the sequel a try. Maybe some enterprising filmmaker will do a bigger-budgeted remake and start a new series (The Nerdverse?). 🤓
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barry, but isn't the marvel movie franchise already The Nerdverse? 😂
DeleteAs for Bride of Killer Nerd, there is entertainment to be found, so it's worth checking out!