This was a very unimpressive rental. Some of it shed light on things which were interesting, but much of it is embarrassing.
Not because I already know about the things they talked about and don't feel they measure up to some 'test' (in terms of obscurity, oddness, etc.) - but in the way the way that the writers and narrator choose to talk about the topics as if they were very fascinating and "important" - like life-changing, revolutionary stuff. They take themselves too seriously - yes there is some seriously odd stuff (and a few genuinely interesting things) - but not necessarily that interesting or enigmatic.
In one segment, they talk about "outsider music". I expected something on alternative music - maybe something I didn't like myself necessarily, but serious musicians. Instead they showcased people they thought was goofy and made cheesy, embarrassing music videos, and finished off the segment with one such music video, a black presumably immigrant woman singing a song praising Canada's openness and friendliness, (non-verbatim) "in canada they won't be mean" as part of its refrain, and the picture of a smiling mountie superimposed on the top corner of the screen.
Another video, they tout to be the hottest "underground" video - shows some yokels lighting they uncle's crotch on fire, then putting it out, and then putting it on, etc., or spraypainting his face silver while he was sleeping, duct-taping him etc etc. The joke is that he always says "goddamn" when something happens. Or that he is unaware or unconcerned about fire on his crotch (he was dressed, not naked). This makes it okay? Honestly some of the disinfo serious doesn't even deserve a review.
Another segment is about misfits who praise satanism, and how they're breaking up and out with the cult founder because he was not evil enough etc. (he felt satanism is evil but not necessarily anti-Christian, while they sincerely are proud of things - one member recalls choking a dog with a wire fondly as if it was a coming-of-age story - actually the typical weird nerdy guy who praise evil, god knows how or why but there really are some messed up people.) Disinfo - informs me of the lowlifes there are in America, yes, although we all more or less know that there are odd people in any country. Anything cool or at least somewhat worth watching in the DVD? Some are - say Kembra Pfahler, Ted Gundersen, Paul Lafolley.
Though I'd recommend you to Google instead of rent.
Wish I'd understood this fully before I rented it: "The SCI FI Channel in the US bought the show and then declined to air it when they realized how messed it up is." Messed up - not because of anything cutting edge, but because much of it is seriously trash, trumped up as meaningful counterculture. Not because its already been covered (that too for some segments) but because it's meaningless and unimpressive, even "stupid." (hence people compared it to Jackass...)
