Monsturd of the Ballot Box

Why a movie theater-restoration measure should get flushed in November

A A A Comments By Matt Smith Wednesday, Sep 8 2004

...continued from page 2

"We knew going in that we needed at least three days," Popko says, to separate themselves from lesser, one-night movies. "We said, 'We don't have the $3,000 to pay the usual rate of $1,000 a night for three nights.' We said, 'We'll give you $1,000, plus split the door for day two and three.'"

And so, in June 2002, in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, a legend was born. The movie got a write-up on the popular Web site Ain't It Cool News. It became, if not a video-store sensation, a video-store schlock-section staple. Distributors have committed to a Monsturd II, which is now in production, Popko says.

The star of Monsturd.

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

If Monsturd II isn't released by November, I recommend readers obtain a copy of the original for viewing prior to Election Day (www.4321films.com/monsturd/). This way, voters can sift away the chaff of conflicting, he-said/she-said arguments surrounding ballot measure L. They can forget about how it might be nice to preserve some of the city's beautiful old cinemas. And they can ignore the fact that it would nonetheless be disturbing to hand Greg Stephens $10 million a year of city money to do this.

Anyone who watches Monsturdfinds her mind focused on a more significant theme. Once voters view the scene in which the stars, Popko and West, cover themselves head to toe with diapers and go after the feces demon armed with toilet bowl plungers and rolls of Charmin, they'll thank themselves that this is about as bad as it gets when it comes to publicly released, San Francisco-made movie fare.

There's really no point in using tax dollars to lower the bar further, is there?

Check out this week's featured ad for News