They laughed. They winced. Some left in silence.
That's the kind of chaos Joel Potrykus seems to savor. And if the full trailer for Vulcanizadora—his latest fever dream—tells us anything, it's this: We're not prepared.
This Trailer Isn't Just Weird. It's Weaponized.
“You feel better now. But tomorrow you're gonna feel bad again.”
That single line, dropped like a curse in the opening seconds, sets the tone. The Vulcanizadora trailer, released by Oscilloscope Labs, doesn't tease. It ambushes. Shot deep in the moss-soaked forests of Michigan, it blends bleak comedy, metalhead angst, and an existential death march into a mind-bending montage that feels equal parts David Lynch and Beavis and Butt-Head go to therapy.
This isn't a movie trailer. It's a Rorschach test—wrapped in a black hoodie and drenched in dread.
A Cult Filmmaker Returns to His Roots—and Then Digs Deeper
Potrykus is no stranger to the uncanny. Buzzard, The Alchemist Cookbook, and Relaxer built him a reputation as indie cinema's patron saint of misfits. But Vulcanizadora, premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, is something else entirely. As Potrykus himself puts it, it's his “bleakest” and “most personal” work yet.
This time, he isn't just directing. He's starring alongside longtime collaborator Joshua Burge—because, apparently, we weren't already uncomfortable enough.
Two friends. One plan. Zero clarity. The trailer gives us glimpses: wandering through shadowy woods, strange rituals, twitchy dialogue, and lots of glaring. Then it goes dark—emotionally and literally.
Existential Terror in a Hoodie
Here's what separates Vulcanizadora from other indie weird-fests: it's intimate. It's not just about two guys lost in the woods. It's about two minds unraveling in real time. The trailer hints at themes that go beyond horror:
- Fatherhood and fear: Potrykus says the film explores his “darkest thoughts,” many rooted in the shift parenthood brought to his worldview.
- Duality of man: Half the audience may laugh, while the other grimaces in dread—mirroring the protagonists' conflicting intentions.
- Genre subversion: Is it a metalhead buddy comedy? A woodland horror? A grief-stricken psychodrama? Yes.
As IndieWire notes, the film flips from “heavy metal comedy” to “poignant existential drama” without warning. Like a misfiring synapse, Vulcanizadora won't let you settle.
Watch the Trailer—But Don't Expect Answers
Would you walk into the woods knowing you might not walk back out?
That's essentially the dare Vulcanizadora poses with its trailer. For fans of Potrykus, this is the next logical step. For everyone else, it's a plunge into raw, surreal discomfort.
But hey, if you're not into weird, sad, funny, scary forest spirals—maybe check out Kung Fu Panda 5 instead.
