Yes. So much is without joy in his life that he would live, if he could, in a constant state of orgasm. He probably perks up when TV ads warn about four-hour tumescence. He’s the kind of guy who attends Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings and sneaks out halfway to have dirty sex. His comrade in arms is Denny, who is a compulsive masturbator. I believe he puts on his pants only so he can reach inside. 

Victor is played by Sam Rockwell, who seems to have become the latter-day version of Christopher Walken — not all the time, but when you need him, he’s your go-to guy for weirdness. Denny is played by Brad William Henke. The fact that he has his sight disproves many warnings. 

In addition to sex, Victor’s life centers around sadness and fake near-death experiences. He spends a commendable amount of time at a nursing home where his mother, Ida (Anjelica Huston), has absolutely no idea who he is, which makes two of them. She provided him with a corrosive childhood, when as a mother she resembled the criminal character she played in The Grifters. 

When Victor is not at his mother’s side, he works a con game as a sideline. Carefully choosing a new restaurant each time, he pretends to have swallowed a big bite and be choking to death. Inevitably someone will rush over and clutch him in the Heimlich Maneuver, and it has been his experience that such Samaritans often insist on giving him money. There is an ancient belief that when you save someone’s life, you are responsible for it. I forget whose ancient belief it is, but take my word for it. 

His mother is assigned to a hospital bed and tended by Nurse Paige (Kelly Macdonald), whose utility to the mother saves her from Victor’s instant ravaging, and who oddly enough has theories on the forefront of medical knowledge that may find a sex addict useful. This is fascinating to Victor, whose days are spent in costume as an 18th-century colonialist at a theme park, where I believe Paul Revere rides every hour on the hour. Maybe not. 

The movie was written and directed by Clark Gregg, who adapted a novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club). Some stretches are very funny, although the laughter is undermined by the desperation and sadness of the situations. Victor is presented as not so much a zany screwball, more of a case study. The film makes a flywheel kind of progress toward its conclusion, feeling like it has arrived not at a resolution but at a rest stop. Still, one of the problems with sex addicts may be that they cannot get enough rest. 

Choke

Two and a half stars

 

Stars: Sam Rockwell, Angelica Huston and Kelly Macdonald

Director: Clark Gregg

Rated: R for strong sexual content, nudity and language

Theaters: The Grand Cinema