While riding his bike with one of the chickens on a rural path, he stops to pet a cow belonging to Perry Foley, whom he engages in a conversation with.

The next day, at church, Duncan interrupts Perry having sex in the bathroom with a girl named Tonya.

Back at the farm, Perry asks about Duncan's parents and speaks about his lack of a role model growing up.

Duncan then shows Perry how his mother taught him to soothe a chicken by putting its head into his mouth.

His father later sees him arrive with the dead chicken, and responds by hugging him as Duncan breaks down in tears.

[2] Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times called it "odd and intense, very well acted, and impossible to dismiss.

"[4] The Mudge Boy was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.