The Catechism Cataclysm fully embraces its absurdity, never attempting to be something it’s not. In the low-budget comedy, Todd Rohal directs Eastbound & Down star Steve Little as a socially awkward priest who has the time of his life with his childhood idol as they go on a misadventure in a canoe. Little does his best to filter Steve Carell‘s Michael Scott character from The Office, as he stumbles about his job at the priesthood and manages to balance empathy and hilarity all at once. His slurs in delivery and incoherence at times of emotion lend itself to the film being hilarious, but with an odd message of religion. There are quick turns in the narrative arc that can feel downright trippy, yet all of it is done with such a wink and a smile that you never feel truly lost.
Billy (Steve Little) has grown up his entire life idolizing a man that used to date his sister in high school. He never got past a few things, despite being a priest now, and his increasingly odd stories to his bible study group leads his boss to suggest seeking out a getaway to refocus on God. He loves rock and roll and metal, and thinks his idol, Robbie (Robert Longstreet), is living it up touring the country. Reality is not nearly as grand as his delusions though, but they reconnect and set out to have a good time on a canoe. Maybe they will catch up–or maybe they will realize they hate each other. Whatever occurs, their lives will never be the same.
One can imagine that a lot of the dialog is ad-libbed. That isn’t to say it is choppy, but Rohal likely let Little and Longstreet work off of the odd chemistry they have and use their comedic sensibilities. Robbie is still a rebel of sorts, and in his own way has never really grown up. When Billy asks if he wants a life jacket, Robbie declines. He smokes, he drinks, and he could seem to care less about many things. He simply exists, whereas Billy actively tries to live out some of his delusions, though they are constantly rejected. The humor often comes from Billy literally fawning over Robbie, even when he reminds him of the reality. At one point, Billy says something that Robbie informs him is untrue, and Billy proceeds to bring it up again.
Utilizing natural lighting and with a sheen of dust, the film (shot in just 12 days) isn’t bright or crisp for a reason; it’s meant to feel like something you discovered, and for certain audiences, it will feel like buried treasure. The comedy is often quirky, and some of the stories Robbie tells are downright silly. Billy, ever the unfiltered rambler, constantly points out flaws or his own odd observances. Thankfully, we do not just focus on them. In a daydream sequence, they stumble upon three other people in a canoe. However, not everything is as it seems. The film takes a huge twist when the other travelers become involved, and while one campfire sequence perhaps lasts a bit too long, all of it adds to the oddity of the film.
The Catechism Cataclysm is often hilarious and sometimes sad. There is a tinge of Christian parody at times, as Billy tries to reconfirm his faith or the fact that he has lost his way. The story never becomes vulgar, and manages to make you think while you laugh. This feels like a one-of-a-kind film, as it certainly is not something a studio would make. There is a recurring metal soundtrack between scene transitions, and the final country song may be the best moment, as it sets everything in perspective.
The Catechism Cataclysm is on VOD and in limited release.