The Dark Backward

Year: 1991

Runtime: 101 min

Language: English

Director: Adam Rifkin

Comedy

A struggling comedian's pursuit of fame is supported by his enthusiastic friend, whose unwavering praise keeps his spirits high. However, his stand-up performances consistently fail to impress. His fortunes change unexpectedly when he develops a third arm, which surprisingly becomes the catalyst for his comedic breakthrough. Amidst newfound success and personal doubts, he also faces the loss of his girlfriend.

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The Dark Backward (1991) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

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Marty Malt, played by James Caan, is an unhappy garbage man who moonlights as an atrociously unfunny stand-up comic. He drifts through a dark, grimy, garbage-strewn urban netherworld where a company named Blump’s apparently owns everything. His best friend and fellow trash collector, Gus (played by Bill Paxton), is the only one who laughs at his jokes, and his sincerity is questionable. The obnoxiously exuberant Gus always carries an accordion, turning every outing into a loud, musical moment. Marty is dating Rosarita, a waitress, but she doesn’t seem too interested in him; Rosarita is portrayed by Lara Flynn Boyle.

One day Gus convinces a talent agent, Jackie Chrome, to check out Marty’s act. Jackie isn’t impressed.

Marty’s luck takes a bizarre turn when a lump starts growing on his back. He visits a quack doctor, who calls him a wimp and patches the lump with a Band-Aid. The lump continues to grow, eventually turning into a full-sized arm. While Gus uses Marty’s newfound freakishness to impress his morbidly obese girlfriends, a horrified Rosarita breaks up with Marty, and he gets fired from the club where he performs his act.

Despondent, Marty is brought back to see Jackie, who reveals that she has always dreamed of finding a real three-armed comic. Re-christened Desi the Three-Armed Wonder Comic, and with Gus now providing musical accompaniment, Marty gets a fresh start on his career. Marty, Gus, and Jackie enjoy a few semi-successful shows and eventually meet Dirk Delta, who offers them a job.

They celebrate this big break, and everything seems to be looking up until Marty wakes the next morning and discovers his third arm has inexplicably vanished. He and Gus rush to Jackie, who is furious at first but calms down and agrees to tell Dirk the truth upon Marty’s suggestion. After calling Dirk and sharing the bad news, Dirk surprisingly asks them to send Gus to fill the spot with his accordion playing. Gus is ecstatic and leaves almost immediately. Marty is sad but gets his job back at the club and uses the story of his third arm in his act, finally getting a few laughs from the crowd.

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:47

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The narrative arc involves a protagonist, often a failed artist or outsider, whose life is changed by a sudden, unsettling physical mutation. This 'gift' propels them into the spotlight, forcing them to grapple with the authenticity of their success and the alienation that comes with being a spectacle.

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