Whoop Dreams (2014) Movie Review

The cast of Whoop Dreams, sans Laremy

When you think about what a Juggalo is, what exactly do you think? Is it the Insane Clown Posse? Is it a bunch of social outcasts doing crazy shit? Or is it a group of slightly unstable people looking for a place to feel normal? Honestly, you wouldn't be wrong if you thought any of these, but the short documentary Whoop Dreams, directed by Mike Eisenberg of Tall Tale Productions, showcases a side of Juggalo culture that isn't seen by the average person if they aren't looking. They show a side of the culture that can only be found at The Gathering of Juggalos.

Starting out as a weird obession/admiration for Juggalos on the Filmdrunk Frotcast, one of my personal favourite comedy podcasts, the idea to visit the Gathering came about as a Kickstarter project. If listeners backed this, then Filmdrunk's own critic Vince Mancini, fellow Filmdrunk member Ben Kaplan, as well as frequent Frotcast guests Matt Lieb, a San Francisco comedian, and Laremy Legal, a Seattle film critic, would take a film crew and go. Seems like a crazy idea that no one would put up money for, right? Well, because the internet can be great sometimes, they put up the funds, and then some, and sent them on their way.

At a brisk 43 minutes, Whoop Dreams moves along at a surprisingly quick pace, never trying to cram the entire experience into the short runtime, instead opting to highlight individuals and events. You get a real sense of what it must be like for these people to look forward to the Gathering every year, and what a sense of coming home it is. Being a Juggalo is all about family, and the film does a great job showing those bonds. Want someone you don't really know to rip out your nipple rings with their teeth? Don't worry, my ninja, family. How about spray a group of people with Faygo, then throw flour bombs at them? Family.

While there are a great cast of Juggalos characters creating an anarchistic Brady Bunch, the stars of Whoop Dreams are the fellas. The Frotsmen seem to constantly be experiencing fear, bewilderment, amusement and uncertainty, though they also seem to know what they signed up for. Matt Lieb in particular seems to be having a blast, and gets far too comfortable in his surroundings, in a coversation I'm sure he's had with himself since then. Ultimately, Whoop Dreams offers up a surprisingly heartfelt look into the Juggalo culture, through the eyes of four men who have no business being there.

Grade: A