The Mudge Boy

Plot

Shy, isolated, sexually confused farm boy Duncan Mudge's mother has recently died, leaving him under the supervision of his stern, depressed father Edgar. Duncan seems somehow to have transferred his love for the deceased mother to his favorite chicken, which he takes everywhere, even to bed. He has developed the odd habit of putting the chicken's head in his mouth—to calm the animal, he says. Duncan also likes to dress in his late mother's clothing, much to the distress of his bewildered father. The small, insular band of conformist teens that comprise adolescent social life in Duncan's world initially ostracize him, then allow him in to their circle only reluctantly, and largely for their own amusement. Duncan is beset with a profound sense of grief while trying to reconcile himself to a world in which he is a sexual alien. His crush on a local boy, Perry Foley, ends terribly in a violent altercation where Perry forces himself on Duncan.

Cast

Release

On January 17, 2003, The Mudge Boy premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and in 2003 and 2004 it made the rounds at several gay and lesbian and independent film festivals around the United States. The region 1 DVD was released on May 9, 2006.

Critical reception

The film was well-received by critics, with a 77% approval rating from 26 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praised the film as "odd and intense, very well acted, and impossible to dismiss," highlighting its impactful storytelling and performances. Lisa Rose of The Star-Ledger commended the film's challenging yet unforgettable nature, stating, "It's not an easy film to watch, but it is a memorable one."

Awards

The Mudge Boy was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It won a Grand Jury Award LA Outfest.