Hounddog (2007)

Truly Dreadful Film

It is a performances centric movie

Admirable film.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I was intrigued by the synopsis when I stumbled upon this movie. I typically enjoy these 50's/60's coming of age period movies ala "Man in the Moon". That was my expectation, a different spin on "Man in the Moon". The movie started out pretty good and I was intrigued. Around 20mins in, story elements just seemed scattered all over the place. In the introductory scene, Lewellen discusses bruises on her body and how she's going to kill her daddy. I'm all set to witness a young girl who's obsessed with meeting Elvis, kill her dad. One of those two things ought to be her goal? Nope. That's the last thing we hear or see about her resentment towards her dad. In fact, she's quite fond of her dad through the rest of the story. So, maybe it's about her journey to see Elvis? I recognize his music is what comforts her, but the story is setup for an Elvis meeting... and when she misses out on the Elvis concert at the midpoint, I figure the ending will also involve Elvis. As a screenwriter myself, her missing out on Elvis at the midpoint has me suspect that she will not be successful in this goal, and she isn't. In fact, Elvis is really never mentioned in the last half of the movie. The snakes throughout were kinda cool, but what did they mean? Symbolism for sure... but extremely vague in my mind. Throughout the last half of the movie, I'm waiting for something to happen. I want clarity on what her goal really is, what the story's about, and I'm waiting... still waiting... and end credits. What? It's a shame that such beautiful scenery, music, and acting talent was wasted on such a lousy story. I didn't get it at all. So, I do some brief investigating and this is what I found...I've already mentioned I didn't like the story or the screenwriter's (Deborah Kampmeier) attempt at putting together a story. OK, so who's the director? Hmm, the director is also Deborah Kampmeier. Hmm, OK so who's the producer that actually liked the project enough to through some money at it? also, Deborah Kampmeier. I'm sorry to say it, but this leads me to believe that no one in the industry wanted to get on board this project. This explains the strange use of 'symbolism'(?) throughout the movie, because it was weird enough that only one person understood it... Deborah Kampmeier. I couldn't figure out if the snakes represented evil, poison, personal demons, etc... who knows? With 20mins remaining in the film, I suspected the snakes were actually symbolic for good? Perhaps a cleansing of the soul? But then at the very end, when dad goes to pick up a dead snake and the snake has a 'dead reflex' to strike... the dad is bit. Yet, Lewellen skips happily along and into the house... roll credits. What? Backup. OK, so maybe... just maybe... if she actually disliked her abusive father this would make sense. But, he wasn't abusive and she loved her father. What? It almost seems like there was an original script with a major rewrite, and no one bothered to fix the ending?I also noticed that pretty much any film Deborah Kampmeier has been associated with, has also been written, directed, and produced by herself. She's also teaches a master scene study class in New York City. Who am I, a newbie screenwriter (who can spot 20+ things wrong with this story), to critique Deborah? Hmm, maybe it's just me?

I actually thought the film was pretty good. I read several reviews and it seemed like it was going to be terrible. A lot of people also said that the acting was bad, specifically Dakota Fanning's performance. I thought Dakota did a great job at the role, alright some parts were a bit rough around the edges. I don't know what people were talking about.The film had a good storyline. The only thing I would've changed was that the children in the movie seemed a bit young for the things they were doing. I know it was supposed to be set in a different time, but they should've been at least 12 or 13, instead of 8 or 9 like they actually were. Overall I did like the film. I'm 14 and I was a bit nervous watching it, but it really isn't anything bad unless you can't handle emotional movies. A job well done!

Sometimes I think that people(especially people who write reviews of movies)either forget that it's just a movie, or are reviewing based on their feelings toward the characters and subject matter. Hounddog is not a masterpiece, sure. But it's not unwatchable. At least the music is good, unlike similar movies that have a strong musical theme. Elvis is the worst music in the movie! But once again, Americans show by their reaction to this movie that violence is still a more acceptable theme than sexuality, and that rape is still not considered a violent assault, but an unwanted sexual encounter(I had forgotten about the controversy, even while watching the movie, I guess because I didn't see as sexual at all). Dakota Fanning is very sensual in this movie though, which I'm sure makes a lot of people very uncomfortable. My biggest complaint about this movie is that it's somewhat vague, until the part where they force resolve on us like a 1/2 hour sitcom. I think it's still worth watching though.

But with this, I had to. Once I start watching a movie I never, ever take it out no matter how bad it is. But this movie was so morally depraved, so disturbing, and such a sick-twisted film that I really honestly felt like I was going to throw up. The fact that anyone can see this without feeling the same way makes me even more weak to my stomach. What the h*ll is wrong with people?!!! Since when is something like that rape scene okay?!?!?!??! My stomach is still wrenching and knotted up, my hands are shaking slightly,, and my heart is racing and I didn't even finish the rape scene. As soon as she screamed I shut it off, yet I'm still trembling. What a terribly disturbing movie. It literally disgusts me that anyone would make such a terrible, terrible film with such a horrible scene as that. How old was Lewellen? Nine maybe? What the f*ck is wrong with the writers, directors, and anyone who watched this movie and actually felt differently? How can you have such a cold stone heart to not even fathom the immensity of sickness you just experienced. I don't care if this sounds dramatic, because I honestly feel so sick to my stomach right now and there are some pretty messed up people in this world if you found that at all amusing or entertaining. You belong in a jail cell, or better to be executed. What bothered me the most about this film was that there wasn't even an underlying message to it. All you're doing is sitting there watching really sick and disturbing events. I am not entertained, I am sickened. Not just by the movie itself, but by anyone and everyone who somehow found that worth making or watching. So unnecessary, so wrong, and just plain twisted garbage. Terrible script, too. And melodramatic acting.