DEVIL ANT (1999)
Directed by David “The Rock” Nelson
David “The Rock” Nelson VHS
Reviewed 06.16.04
Buy It From David "The Rock" Nelson

THE FILM
Eating food. People partying. Detective Rock denying everything. Horror convention happenings. Rubber insect throwing. Stir. Shake. Repeat ad nauseum. Fin.

Too simple or simplistically intricate? I’m not sure. I’ve been trying to wrap my brain around the experience of this film for the last half hour. See, this is my first taste of full length, shot-on-video David “The Rock” Nelson delirium. After the frenetic raz-ma-tazz of his short videos, my expectations were middleground. I figured, “A full length Rocky Nelson movie...it could go either way.” Now it’s over. Let’s talk.

Where the previous shorts were singularly minded, focusing on monster rumbles or straight-up weirdness, Devil Ant spreads itself out, focusing on three major aspects in the span of 105 minutes: eating, the rubber Devil Ant prop “attacking” everyone in sight, and scenes of Detective Rock talking on the phone (“That’s kookamamie garbage!”), to himself, or to dead bodies (off screen of course). With those intellections in place, Devil Ant comes across as an actual home-movie, loosely held together by a miniscule concept: the Devil Ant being thrown at various people, whether they be genre celebrities or regular ol’ joes and janes. This is a marked change from the shorts, as The Rock captures real parties, real conventions, and real instances, just interrupted by the presence of a rubber fly prop. Everyone goes by their actual names and all experiences are kept in for prosperity. For instance, as David enters an adult bookstore in Ohio with the Devil Ant, the store’s owner yells “What the hell you doin’?!” It’s like a living video diary, populated by eating obsessions and monster nostalgia. And complete and utter weirdness.

Although I missed the presence of rampant-running monsters, Devil Ant proved to be hilarious and cracked, just like the previous shorts. Check this stuff out: a hyper editing style that often cuts every second or two when not focused on the action, the Devil Ant’s “AAEEYEAH! AEAYEH!” grunting, which NEVER ends and sounds like a harrowing bathroom experience, the performance of prog-80s hair band “Matter,” an evil scientist (Rock Nelson) chowing down on sardines and vodka, The Rock viewing his own films on television, and the always fascinating reactions of people confronted by the Devil Ant. For instance: Tom Savini = super pissed. Svengoolie = excellent sport. Roger Corman = uncertain as to what’s going on. Hilary Clinton = ???.

By the end, I was a little zoned out. As I mentioned earlier, the basic concept repeats itself endlessly until Svegoolie destroys the title character. That’s over two hours of Devil Ant antics. Maybe that’s why Devil Ant is so hard to pin down; so simple, yet such an unending maze of random weirdness.

AUDIO AND VIDEO
At its very best, the picture looks strikingly similar to my parents’ camcorder movies from my childhood. At its very worst, take that thought, add a couple of generations and some analog snow, and you’re in business. Perfect.

EXTRAS
After the film ends, we’re treated to some celebritiy outtakes and interviews, a very bizarre drive-in concession stand bit (which mixes footage of Rocky Nelson eating and holding food with an authentic concession stand trailer), a fantastic trailer for Miss Werewolf, and one of The Rock’s appearances on Chicago’s WGN-TV morning sequences. On the show, a clip of Dinosaur Woman unfolds as Nelson boxes it up with the host. Then the tape runs out.

FINAL THOUGHTS
So far, each successive Nelson experience has been different, but equally fascinating. Devil Ant may not be as essential to own as the Video Shorts Vol.2 comp, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely entertained.

Detective Rock eats...and eats


The victim


Sir Devil Ant


Elderly violation