Rowsdower

About

Rowsdower is a main character in the cult, low-budget thriller film The Final Sacrafice. The character grew into a meme after the televisions series Mystery Science Theater 3000 reviewed and provided commentary for the film. Rowsdower is the film's hero, a type of rogue, who exhibits stereotypes about Canadians. Many fans have joked about his appearance, namely his mullet and mustache, and lack of movie star gravitas that would normally be ascribed to the hero of a thriller. Another character's repeated saying of his name also became a popular catchphrase among fans of the film.

Origin

In 1990, the film The Final Sacrafice was released in Canada. In the film, the character Zap Rowsdower (portrayed by Bruce J. Mitchell).^[1] Produced for a $1,500, The Final Sacrafice was a low-budget film based on a student screenplay.

Spread

On July 18th, 1998, The Final Sacrafice episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 aired. In the episode, the characters joke about and mock the film, particularly Zap Rowdower.^[3]

About six years later, on January 9th, 2004, Urban Dictionary ^[2] defined "Rowsdower" as "The most Canadian-beer-drinkinist, acid-washed-jeans-wearinist, hockey-hair-havinist tub of action this side of Quebec!" The post received more than 450 upvotes in less than 20 years (shown below, left).

Amateur filmmakers later used the character in various YouTube videos and parodies. On November 19th, 2006, YouTuber matthewyarb shared the video "Rowsdower to the Rescue" in which a man named "Zap Rowsdower" uses Preparation H hemorrhoid cream to heal numerous ailments and afflictions (shown below, right).

"Rowsdower" also became a popular subject on the website YTMND. ^[5]

The character also inspired fan art and interpretations. For example, on December 30th, 2011, DeviantArt ^[4] user tlmolly86 posted a mock theatrical poster for Rowdower (shown below).

On May 30th, 2018, Bruce J. Mitchell died at the age of 73.^[6]

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References