Author Archives: Houyhnhnm

Monster; Everything Everywhere All at Once

Posted on March 16, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

Monster Boys told they have a pig’s brain transplanted into their heads, which explains a) their poor behaviour and b) their effeminacy/homosexuality. Those are the monsters. It’s got a wonderful ending, when you are supposed to think, I believe, that … Continue reading →

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Driving Madeleine; The Holdovers

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

Driving Madeleine A modern-day Charon takes his victim/customer to the underworld; or, rather, a cabby drives an old woman across Paris from her apartment to an old people’s home. They strike up a deep friendship, ending with the woman – … Continue reading →

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The Iron Claw; Wonka

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

The Iron Claw The true story of the Von Erichs – a 1980s US wrestling family. The father, a star wrestler who never got the world title, pushes his five sons to get the title for the family – with … Continue reading →

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The Zone Of Interest; American Fiction

Posted on February 2, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

The Zone of Interest Read about it yourself – anything I say will not do it justice. For a sense of the depth of thought and preparation behind this film have a look at this from Wikipedia: Glazer did not … Continue reading →

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Trenque Lauquen; The End We Start From

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

Trenque Lauquen (Literally ‘Round Lake’ – a town near Buenos Aires.) An Argentinian film in two parts, totalling over four hours. Quiet, mysterious, and disconcerting: I often felt, particularly in Part I, as I did when watching Tarkovsky’s Stalker, or … Continue reading →

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All Of Us Strangers; Samsara

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

All Of Us Strangers What’s weird about my reception of this film is that it’s a heartbreakingly sad portrayal of and meditation on loneliness, but I – who weeps in cinemas if someone smiles in a sad way – was … Continue reading →

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Paris, Texas; Poor Things

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

(What lovely alliteration.) Paris, Texas A man walking, walking, walking. When he collapses, a doctor finds his home address in a pocket and contacts his brother, who comes to take him back home. So it’s the Odyssey, with his brother … Continue reading →

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The Animals In That Country; The Normal Heart

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

The Animals In That Country A 2020 novel by Laura Jean McKay. It’s in the voice of Jean, a middle-aged woman who works at a wildlife park in Australia. A zoonotic pandemic enables people to communicate with other species. What’s … Continue reading →

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Welcome to Houyhnhnm

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

Named originally as an antidote to Yahoo (both are rival creatures in Gulliver’s Travels), Houyhnhnm has for a while been a prompt to myself to make comparisons between the last two things I’ve seen/watched/read. I hope you enjoy my at … Continue reading →

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Sweet Sue; Priscilla

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Houyhnhnm

Sweet Sue (Btw no Wikipedia page yet; cripes. Only this about an old play – a version of the Phaedra myth – which might actually have been at least some inspiration for this film.) One of those lovely poignant comedies … Continue reading →

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