If I had two nickels for every film I saw at TIFF that starred two popular gay internet comedians making a film about fatherhood that they wrote themselves this year, I'd have two nickels — which isn't a lot of nickels, but it's cool that it happened twice.
Directed by Kris Rey and written by Ruby Caster and internet funnyman Caleb Hearon, Trash Mountain follows Gavin (played by Hearon), a host of a drag bar who enjoys his life in Chicago, which offers a far better crowd than his Missouri roots. A week before Thanksgiving, however, his life is upturned when his older sister Abbi (Zooey Deschanel) calls him out of the blue, breaking the news of their reclusive father's death. Dreading the return to the rural Midwest and desperate to get back to his normal life, Gavin packs his bags and reunites with his sister in their hometown. While sorting through their hoarder father's house, the two siblings bring closure to not only his life, but also their own.
Making a smooth transition from social media personality to film actor, Hearon plays his role as Gavin well, emphatically portraying a gay man returning to his conservative small town, as well as a hurt son, resentful at his father's past failings but unable to reconcile with him.
Despite arguably having an upper-hand as the cowriter of the film, this is also Hearon's first leading role, and he carries it with the utmost seriousness and respect. The script occasionally becomes too expository and on-the-nose, but there are enough visual gags that successfully keep the audience engaged, and Gavin and Abbi's sibling dynamic — sweetly and realistically played by Hearon and Deschanel — is the emotional core of the film.
Given Hearon's occupation as a comedian, it's no surprise that Trash Mountain is pretty funny. His signature, dry humour shines the most when characters riff off of each other, and Hearon's volleys with Deschanel and Jaboukie Young-White (who plays Gavin's love interest) receive the most laughs. Kyle Marvin also holds his own pretty well in his role as Abbi's surprisingly endearing husband, too.
Trash Mountain is a simple, touching story about a not-so-simple subject, and successfully proves that it's ultimately worth digging through all of the excess to get to the sweet centre.
The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 to 20 in Toronto. Find details and ticket information at the festival's website.