Vulcanizadora Review: As Funny As It Is Depressing

Vulcanizadora, Joel Potrykus’ bizarre, brilliant black comedy, flits between and merges sharp surrealism and crushing realism with stunning results.

Co-lead Potrykus, who also wrote, directed, and edited Vulcanizadora, elegantly weaves and navigates this web of depression, anxiety, soul-searching, and arrested development in what begins as an amusing, intentionally cringey depiction of middle-aged manhood before freefalling into a pit of despair and sadness. His impressive film is simultaneously dark and funny, and moreover, wholly unique.

The film’s Spanish title translates into English as tyre repair shop; to vulcanize rubber or something similar means to treat the material to improve its properties. This feeds directly into Derek and Martin’s journey through the woods of Michigan. Their end goal remains unclear for a good 20-30 minutes of the film, but Potrykus drops little hints along the way before the duo’s mission becomes obvious. These initial stages of Vulcanizadora bear similarities to the tone of Kelly Reichardt’s films, most notably Old Joy (2006). It’s quicker in its pacing than Reichardt’s slow cinema style, but aside from the obvious parallel of two men hiking through the US wilderness, both films also hone in on thwarted and warped masculinity, showing two 30 or 40-something men stuck in a deep rut.

This trek through the woods, which lasts for about 45 minutes, is also deeply funny, with the two friends’ different personalities contrasting perfectly. Potrykus is dynamite as the guy with a dodgy beard who can’t ever shut up, aimlessly spouting nonsense with no let up, whilst the quieter Burge, even with less lines, brings just as much depth and emotion to proceedings. Derek blunders through life, thinking he can solve anything; in contrast, Martin is simply defeated.

We also learn more about each character, with Potrykus impressively sketching their backstories into the everyday conversations. Both characters get excited over porn or take great pleasure in smacking sticks against a tree. Ultimately, these two men are still little kids; they might have responsibilities (Derek even has a young child), but they are both so weary and lost. This character work is second only to the filmmaker’s effortless balancing of drastically different tones, and the wacky style of Vulcanizadora is enhanced by a crunching, rock soundtrack and grungy 16mm cinematography by Adam J. Minnick (Buzzard).

Mental health can be difficult to depict on film, but Vulcanizadora is one of the best to do it in recent years. It can be a little didactic on rare occasions, but for the most part, there is a subtle realism that elevates the intense themes to the highest level. It is a really nuanced depiction of adult life, showing the pitfalls and toxicity of manhood whilst also managing to be refreshing and warming at times. After the duo’s plan goes wrong, Vulcanizadora loses some of its impetus and dynamism, but only for a short while. Potrykus manages to bring things back together for a shiveringly strong finale that, again, feels spiritually connected to Old Joy. 

Vulcanizadora will be released in select US theatres on May 2, 2025.