Watch Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure

Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure is a 2011 documentary film that tells the story of two friends, Eddie Lee Sausage and Mitch Deprey, who record their neighbors' explosive arguments and turn them into underground comedy tapes. The film centers around the phenomenon of the Shut Up Little Man tapes – recordings of two middle-aged, alcoholic roommates, Raymond Huffman and Peter Haskett, whose constant bickering and swearing caught the attention of Sausage and Deprey in the late 1980s.

The film begins by introducing us to Sausage and Deprey, who moved into a run-down San Francisco apartment in 1987. They soon discovered that their neighbors, Huffman and Haskett, were prone to loud and violent arguments, often lasting for hours into the night. Fascinated by the intensity of the arguments, Sausage and Deprey began recording the conversations through the thin walls of their apartment.

As the tapes began to circulate among their friends, they quickly gained a cult following. People were drawn to the raw and unfiltered nature of the conversations, which featured crude jokes, graphic insults, and occasional violence. Sausage and Deprey continued to record Huffman and Haskett for several years, eventually amassing hours of tape.

The Shut Up Little Man tapes gained international fame when they were featured on NPR's This American Life in 1992. The story of two belligerent roommates captured the attention of the public and became a cultural phenomenon. The tapes spawned a play, a comic book, and even a feature film. The unlikely success of the Shut Up Little Man tapes is a testament to the power of word-of-mouth and underground media.

The filmmakers of Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure use a mix of old footage, reenactments, and interviews to tell their story. The film is structured like a detective story, with Sausage and Deprey as the amateur detectives who stumbled upon a hidden treasure. The filmmakers also interview other people who were involved in the creation and distribution of the Shut Up Little Man tapes, as well as experts who provide context and analysis.

The heart of the film, of course, is Huffman and Haskett themselves. Despite the fact that they never intended to be recorded or become famous, the two men are unforgettable characters. Huffman is a gruff, homophobic, and abusive man who takes pleasure in tormenting Haskett, his effeminate and deeply troubled roommate. Haskett, for his part, is a tragic figure who is both pitiable and infuriating. His constant whining and neediness are in contrast to Huffman's aggressive and macho demeanor.

The Shut Up Little Man tapes are a fascinating cultural artifact. They capture an era in which edgy, underground culture was thriving, and media was becoming increasingly decentralized. The tapes are also a window into the lives of marginalized and troubled people, who are often overlooked by mainstream media. The film touches on issues such as addiction, mental illness, and homophobia, but it never feels preachy or exploitative.

The most interesting aspect of Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure is how it explores the ethical questions surrounding the tapes. Sausage and Deprey never asked Huffman and Haskett for permission to record them, and they profited from their misery. The film raises questions about consent, privacy, and exploitation, and it doesn't shy away from the gray areas. The filmmakers never try to justify their actions or offer easy answers, and they allow the audience to make up their own minds.

In conclusion, Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure is a fascinating and entertaining documentary that tells the story of an unlikely cultural phenomenon. It's a film that explores the ethics of underground media and the power of word-of-mouth. It's a film about the human need for connection and the lengths we'll go to find it. It's a film that will stay with you long after it's over.

Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure is a 2011 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 57.