What do a turkey farmer, a worm collector, and a man with no arm have in common?
This is a mesmerizing journey into a small town so bizarre it feels like a Coen Brothers fever dream.
It’s the best documentary on a small town that I’ve seen.
Trailer for “Vernon, Florida”
Watch “Vernon, Florida”
You can watch “Vernon, Florida” for free on YouTube here:
You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/vernon-florida (AMC+ and Criterion Channel carried it for subscribers last I checked; and Apple TV and Amazon rented it ($3.99 to $6.99).
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 79/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Release Date: October 8, 1981 (New York Film Festival)
January 15, 1982 (New York City)
My Review of “Vernon, Florida”
This quirky gem takes you deep into a small town so peculiar it might feel like a Coen Brothers’ fever dream.
Errol Morris’s “Vernon, Florida” is a documentary that shines a light on the eccentric characters of a sleepy Southern town.
What starts as an exploration of insurance fraud quickly transforms into a portrait of humanity at its most eccentric and endearing.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
Origin Story (“Nub City”) — Before it became a doc about quirky Floridians, “Vernon, Florida” about a disturbing insurance scam in the town. Residents had been maiming themselves—severing limbs—to cash in on insurance policies. Dubbed “Nub City” by investigators, Vernon’s reputation for self-inflicted injuries was both bizarre and horrifying.
However, Morris received so many threats while researching that he dropped the idea.
Instead, he turned his lens toward the town’s oddball residents, pivoting the film into something just as strange, though far less grim.
The result is a slice of Americana so peculiar you’ll swear it’s fiction.
Errol Morris’s Vision
At just 56 minutes long, “Vernon, Florida” is a short but impactful piece of cinema.
Errol Morris, the visionary director behind films like “The Thin Blue Line,” “A Brief History of Time,” “The Fog of War,” and “Leaving the Earth,” uses his minimalist style to brilliant effect here.
His approach is simple: set up the camera, let people talk, and get out of the way.
This style works perfectly for a film like “Vernon, Florida,” where the charm lies in the unscripted musings of its subjects.
Morris doesn’t editorialize or mock his characters; he simply lets them be.
The result is a doc that feels less like a traditional film and more like an extended conversation with the quirkiest people you’ve ever met.
Highlights from the Documentary
- The Turkey Hunter: His monologue about the psychic abilities of turkeys is one of the film’s most memorable moments. He claims that turkeys can sense when they’re being hunted, making them nearly impossible to catch without the proper mindset.
- The Turtles: A man’s love for his turtles borders on reverence. He speaks about them with the same passion others might reserve for their children. It turns an ordinary subject into something extraordinary.
- The Preacher: The pastor’s sermon is so abstract and meandering that it feels more like performance art than a religious service. Yet, it’s strangely captivating, a window into his unique way of thinking.
- The Philosopher: A retired police officer discusses the untapped potential of the human brain. His conviction is so strong that you almost forget the absurdity of his claims.
- The Barbershop Quartet: One of the film’s lighter moments features a group of men singing old-timey songs. It’s a charming scene that adds a dose of humor and warmth to the doc.
Lesser-Known Details
- The Nub City Connection: Though Morris abandoned his original focus on the insurance scam, its shadow looms over the film. Knowing the town’s darker history adds an extra layer of intrigue to its otherwise whimsical portrayal.
- The Turkey Hunt: Off-camera, the turkey hunter reportedly led Morris on a hunt to prove his theories. The outing was unsuccessful, but it solidified the hunter’s belief that turkeys are telepathic.
- Morris’s Persistence: The director spent months in Vernon building trust with the residents. His ability to get them to open up speaks to his skill as a filmmaker.
- Community Backlash: Vernon’s residents were so unhappy with the film’s depiction of their town that they reportedly tried to block its release. To this day, some locals remain bitter about their portrayal.
Why It Works
“Vernon, Florida” succeeds because it doesn’t try to be something it’s not. It doesn’t have a plot or a grand narrative arc. Instead, it offers a slice of life, unvarnished and authentic.
Morris’s decision to focus on the town’s oddballs rather than its dark past was a stroke of genius.
By highlighting the humor and humanity of Vernon’s residents, he created a film that feels timeless.
This doc is a celebration of individuality and the strange beauty of the human spirit.
Wrap Up
I believe “Vernon, Florida” is the best documentary about eccentric communities that I’ve seen.
Its characters are unforgettable, its moments are laugh-out-loud funny, and its insights are surprisingly profound.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes people tick—or just want to spend an hour in the company of delightfully odd humans—this is a fun watch.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc