Terri is the film that so many of us have been waiting to see for a long, long time now. This isn’t one of your typical ‘nice’ teenage films. This is a film certainly goes into the Larry Clark style of teenage film. It’s true to life and will certainly be confronting for some audience members.
Terri (Jacob Wysocki – TV’S Huge) isn’t your typical high school student. He is an obese loner who wears pajamas to school and juggles his studies with looking after his Uncle James (Creed Bratton – TV’S The Forgotten & The Office) and now his newfound interest in dead animals. When his tardiness draws the attention of school principal, Mr. Fitzgerald (John C. Reilly – Carnage, We Need To Talk About Kevin) Terri finds himself meeting with Fitzgerald every week. Soon Terri is becoming friends with the very strange, Chad (Brodger Zadina – Blunderkind, TV’S The Glades) and the perceived promiscuous, Heather (Olivia Crocicchia – Almost Kings, TV’S Rescue Me)
Director, Azazel Jacobs (Momma’s Man, The GoodTimesKid) takes this film into some dark places, especially when you consider the finale. Sure, Mr. Fitzgerald wanted these three teens to become friends but did he really want something like this to happen? Jacobs has made a fine independent film and even though you marvel at it you can’t help but feel that the ending should have been a little bit stronger and better written. It’ll frustrate some, while others will just say that it’s good to see that makes it’s audiences think a little.
One of the things that really sticks with you is the performances of the leading cast. On the back of We Need To Talk About Kevin John C. Reilly puts in another fine dramatic performance (has he turned his back on comedy for good?) while Olivia Crocicchia and Bridger Zadina announce themselves with some eerily realistic portrayals. But the standout is Jacob Wysocki – this is his breakout moment. He also comes from a comedic background but here he puts in a truly brilliant performance that is worthy enough to win awards and certainly shows that he has a big future ahead of him.
Terri is the kind of film that is going to be lapped up by those who love independent cinema. Unique in the extreme this is one of the hidden gems of the last 12 months.
Year: 2011
Director: Azazel Jacobs
Stars: Jacob Wysocki, John C. Reilly, Bridger Zadina, Olivia Crocicchia, Creed Bratton
Classification: M
Runtime: 101 mins
Rating: 
Out now on DVD