Performance & Direction: Tusk Review
Last updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Tusk (2014) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.5/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Tusk features a noteworthy lineup led by Michael Parks . Supported by the likes of Justin Long and Genesis Rodriguez , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Tusk (2014) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.5/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Tusk
Quick Plot Summary: Tusk is a Comedy, Horror film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. When his best friend and podcast co-host goes missing in the backwoods of Canada, a young guy joins forces with his friend's girlfriend to search for him. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: Tusk
Ending Breakdown: Tusk attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Tusk reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Tusk?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Comedy films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Tusk
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $3.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.9M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Tusk Budget
The estimated production budget for Tusk is $3.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Tusk
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Where to Watch Tusk Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoTusk Parents Guide & Age Rating
2014 AdvisoryWondering about Tusk age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Tusk is 102 minutes (1h 42m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.5/10, and global collection metrics, Tusk stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2014 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tusk worth watching?
Tusk is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 5.5/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Tusk parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Tusk identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Tusk?
The total duration of Tusk is 102 minutes, which is approximately 1h 42m long.
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Critic Reviews for Tusk
This movie is much deeper than it may appear on the surface. I know not everyone is interested in delving into a film if it doesn’t appeal to them, and I understand that. I also understand that, for an audience expecting an engaging, supernatural, or entertaining horror movie, this might come across as particularly bizarre and eccentric. Moreover, it's a horror comedy, and horror comedies are often not well-received. In this case, it's a horror comedy that takes a distinctly grotesque and disturbing turn. I put myself in the shoes of someone watching this movie for the first time without any prior knowledge. The second half disorients you. You laugh, yes, but it's one of those nervous laughs, and you think, 'What the hell am I watching?' And the ending. That damn ending. It's a good ending, doesn’t it? The protagonist survives, so everyone should be satisfied, right? But who wouldn’t feel terrible for the protagonist?This horror comedy is much, much more than it might seem at first glance. The protagonist comes across as a jerk, selfish, unlikable, ambitious, indifferent—call him what you will. You expect him to suffer. But damn, what he goes through isn’t the usual punishment like a 'Saw'-style slasher gore. It’s something much worse. But there’s something good in it. His 'dehumanization,' in some way, restores his dignity. He’s more human now than he was at the start of the movie. It works better than any of Saw's traps.The only downside: I’ve heard that Kevin Smith intends to make a sequel, where the protagonist (rehumanized) might become the 'villain' in turn. Great, but that would kind of ruin his redemption. Let’s wait and see..."
I watched this move now, over 10 years after it was released, and I was very excited about it after reading the main premise of the movie and seeing a few cuts form the internet. It turned out to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. While the main premise of the movie is awesome - a serial killer living in the middle of nowhere that obsesses over turning people into a walrus - the movie falls short of being a new "human centipede" due to the poor execution. Cheap pitiful "humor" to try to mask the terrible acting, pathetic soundtrack that annoys more than aclimate the viewer, and ok but unimpressive photography that does not compensate the boring and sometimes stupid dialogs in the movie. The cherry on the cake was the ending, that in the last 10min of the movie seemed to be converging into a good ending, but ended up in the most unrealistic and absurd sequence of the whole movie. Do yourself a favor and invest this couple of hours of your life in something better.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.









