By Robert Scucci
| Published
It’s very rare that a movie falls into the “science fantasy action horror-comedy” subgenre, but I’m always stoked when I stumble across a film as ridiculous as 2020’s PG: Psycho Goreman, a film that checks off every single box. It’s a little bit coming-of-age comedy, and a lot violent, but always keeps pushing toward absurdity, even when you think there’s nowhere else to go. Our monster is terrifying, but then he’s not when he’s humbled by a little girl who now has power over him. As the rest of her family watches on in horror, they realize that their daughter is probably the most evil person in the room.
Everything about PG: Psycho Goreman is absolutely ridiculous. It’s basically a live-action version of Golan the Insatiable, if you could imagine, and that’s all you really need to know about it. And if you don’t know what Golan the Insatiable is, then that’s on you.
PG: Psycho Goreman Is As Insane As It Sounds
In PG: Psycho Goreman, siblings Mimi (Nita-Josee Hanna) and Luke (Owen Myre) accidentally uncover a glowing gemstone while digging a very big hole in their backyard, unknowingly releasing an ancient alien warlord (played by Matthew Ninaber, voiced by Steven Vlahos) who had been imprisoned beneath the Earth. The creature introduces himself as the Arch-Duke of Nightmares and is basically ready to murder the children on sight until he realizes that Mimi possesses the gemstone controlling his powers, meaning he has no choice but to obey her. Naturally, Mimi responds to having one of the most dangerous beings in the universe under her control by naming him Psycho Goreman, or PG, and making him commit to whatever idiotic adventure she conjures up.
PG has an entire backstory involving his enslavement by the Templars, a rebellion involving the Paladins Obsidian, an intergalactic killing spree, and the Planetary Alliance that eventually defeated and imprisoned him. His lore involving all of these people is so batshit convoluted that you’re honestly better off hearing it directly from the monster’s mouth yourself. What’s important is that his escape gets the attention of Pandora (Kristen MacCulloch), a powerful warrior sent to Earth to destroy him, while Mimi continues treating the genocidal alien monster like the coolest new toy she’s ever owned.
Things escalate quickly when PG’s former allies arrive on Earth and turn against him, leaving him badly injured just as Pandora closes in. The conflict pulls Mimi and Luke’s parents, Greg (Adam Brooks) and Susan (Alexis Hancey), into the increasingly ridiculous intergalactic mess, while Luke begins to realize that maybe giving his domineering sister absolute control over an unstoppable cosmic murder machine isn’t such a great idea.
How They Got Through This With A Straight Face Is Astounding
PG: Psycho Goreman does the unthinkable by playing things astoundingly straight. Whenever our titular monster goes on an epic rant about how he wants to destroy all living things, he does so with a palpable amount of hatred in his voice, only to be dismissed by Mimi, who’s bored to tears with his backstory and just wants to wreak havoc on the Neighborhood.
What’s more, Adam Brooks and Alexis Hacey steal every single scene they’re in when they start bickering about their marriage while they’re both simultaneously and constantly undermined by their own children, which has got to be humiliating at the volume it happens.
By the time PG is spotted walking around wearing a cowboy hat in his efforts to blend in, you can’t help but scream laughing because of how insane he looks. As for PG’s creature design, it’s deliberately schlocky, which is where most of the humor comes from. He walks around like Tim Robinson in that I Think You Should Leave sketch, where he’s a prank bro but gets existential because he’s wearing too much stuff and can’t breathe.
PG’s backstory and overall lore is so convoluted that you can’t help but adore it, and this is coming from a guy who hates lore. I felt seen when it was made clear that none of this is meant to be taken seriously, and if there were ever to be a sequel. (none announced as of this writing), it’s safe to say that continuity probably wouldn’t be a priority.
PG: Psycho Goreman is the perfect, late-night horror comedy that you could fall asleep to without getting freaked out because it’s so over-the-top. If that sounds like a great way to slide into spooky season, you can stream it for free on Tubi as of this writing.
