Screening - Jon Moritsugu's NUMBSKULL REVOLUTION

Rhizome DC presents a screening of *Numbskull Revolution*, the first new feature in a decade from Jon Moritsugu, a filmmaker often called the Godfather of Punk Cinema. The evening includes the film and a live Zoom Q&A with Moritsugu, running from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. The picture, his eighth feature, is a collaboration with Amy Davis and is described as a punk-rock *Blade Runner* for artists—a sci-fi-tinged odyssey that satirizes the art world while exploring addiction, creative conflict, and self-actualization. It premiered at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles in February 2026 and has since screened in 21 cities across the United States, Australia, and Canada.

The film stars Amy Davis and James Duval, the latter known for playing Frank the Bunny in *Donnie Darko*, as rival conceptual artists in the near-future dystopia of Shitville, Earth. As one ascends to capitalist success, the other turns to a cyber drug called Skullfuck for inspiration and escape. The synopsis, supplied by Paul Malcolm of the UCLA Film & Television Archive/Hammer Museum, highlights the film's ingenious production design and location shooting, which evoke urban sprawl and rural industrial collapse, framing a scathing satire of art-world pretension.

When: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.

Showtimes: One screening at 7:00 PM, followed immediately by the Q&A.

Tickets: $10–15, available through the event listing's ticket link.

Venue: Rhizome DC, Washington, DC.

Director: Jon Moritsugu, whose prior works include *Mod Fuck Explosion*, *Fame Whore*, *Terminal USA*, and *Scumrock*. He is described as a Grammy-nominated, uncompromising outlier of extreme cinema.

Cast: Amy Davis and James Duval as rival conceptual artists; Davis also co-wrote and collaborated on the film.

Lineup: Feature screening plus a Zoom Q&A with director Jon Moritsugu after the film.

Run time: The event is scheduled for three hours, including the Q&A; the film's exact runtime is not listed.

Ages: No age restriction is specified.

Accessibility: No accessibility details are listed on the event page.

About the film: *Numbskull Revolution* is Moritsugu's eighth feature and took nine years to complete, documenting the end of his 29-year marriage and creative partnership with Amy Davis. The film is described as a grand finale and their most epic, fully realized work, blending ludicrous sci-fi, raw poignancy, and utter brutalism. It tackles the absurdity of art, interpersonal warfare, material control, secular terror, and addictions of every kind, all filtered through internal Jungian conflict.

Synopsis: In the near-future dystopia of Shitville, Earth, two rival conceptual artists battle for fame and funding. One ascends to the heights of neoliberal capitalist success, while the other seeks inspiration and solace in the euphoric waves of a new cyber drug called Skullfuck. The film uses its production design and savvy location shooting to depict urban sprawl and rural industrial collapse, framing a biting satire of the art world. A quote from Paul Malcolm, Senior Public Programmer at UCLA Film & Television Archive/Hammer Museum, praises the film's ingenuity and scathing outlook.

Note: The Q&A with the director takes place via Zoom; the event page tags the screening under 2026 and film & video.