A bottom feeder sustains its existence on life that lurks in the deepest water. Like a catfish or a flounder, a Columbus independent film and its slew of characters fed from the bottom up, creating a grandiose production.
Filmed entirely in Central Ohio, “Bottom Feeders” is the brainchild of Ohio State alumnus Tom Baumann, who served as the film’s writer, producer and director. Eight years after its completion, the movie can finally be found on the shelves of local video rental establishments.
“It’s been so long since the film has been in production that it’s more a sense of relief than excitement,” Baumann said. “We’ve been so close, so many times.”
Described as a cross between “Fargo” and “Deliverance,” “Bottom Feeders” is the story of a group of derelicts who will “do anything to anybody to get a big ol’ bag of money,” said Dino Tripodis, the actor who plays Plank McCall, the film’s main character. Tripodis is a co-host of Sunny 95’s top-rated morning show and a resident of Columbus. Consistent with the movie’s geographic location, almost all of the cast resides in the Columbus area.
Aesthetically, “Bottom Feeders” could easily be mistaken for the aforementioned films. In its entirety, it shows no signs of a low-budget production. To the uninformed viewer, its actors, script and visual effects would never be detected as material not suited for the big screen. Although the film was released shortly in 1999 at the AMC Lennox movie theater, it has only been available in 20 foreign countries until Jan. 20, when it was released nationwide.
The opening scene exposes a dead man in the trunk of a car. Any worries of the usual “dead man in the trunk of a car” opening scene are squashed when the viewer catches a glimpse of the dead man’s T-shirt that ironically says, “Living It Up.” Fortunately for the audience, this is not be the only appearance by a creative T-shirt. There are others that await, lurking in future corridors.
The movie continues by rewinding to explain how the dead man died. The catastrophe started when the derelicts formed a five-minute rhyming plan to rob an after-hours poker game in the basement of a convenient store owned by Tony DiPaolo Jr. Played by well-known actor John Saxon (“Nightmare on Elm Street,” “From Dusk Til Dawn”). This thespian could have easily landed the role of Don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.” Typical to the mental capacity of most bottom fish, the robbery goes horribly awry.
Wearing masks depicting different farm animals for their disguise, the group attempts to escape, but with the loss of a good amount of blood. DiPaolo shoots an escaping member of the clan, only to remove the victim’s chicken mask and see that he has shot his own son – time for revenge.
A wallet is left behind by McCall, who becomes the receiver of DiPaolo’s Mafia-like plan. Virgil, played by Columbus resident and licensed minister, Kelvin Webb, is the hit man hired to fetch and execute McCall. Fearing for his life, the unlucky McCall leaves town with the loot from the poker game; his plan is to hitchhike to Mexico.
Slightly monotonous before this point, the movie gains increasing momentum as soon as McCall hits the highway. After being picked up by a duo of senior citizen serial robbers who take his money and moccasins, McCall opts for younger and less heterosexual means of transportation – two gay men. The gay men are the source of T-shirt No. 2, which is worn by McCall and reads, “I’m Not Gay, But My Boyfriend Is.”
After more chasing and bloodshed, T-shirt No. 3 is seen on the body of Ronny Duncan, played by Michael Loftus, a native of Columbus and former writer for “The George Lopez Show.” The T-shirt experts of “Bottom Feeders” saved the best for last, as the lucky line on this piece of clothing says “Virgin Exterminator.”
Not yet highlighted but of central quirky importance are the uses of a “commode cam,” the digestion of many sticks of Slim Jim and the chest size of hotel manager, Wanda, played by Upper Arlington resident, Morganna. Morganna was last seen in “Kingpin” and a few times in jail, as she is known for kissing celebrities and sports stars.
Baumann does not leave his masterpiece without a twist of fate for McCall, which has everything to do with T-shirt No. 1.
