BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Nonureva Really Surprised!

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Anthony Iessi Todd Solondz has a reputation of character studying depressing, nasty characters. But some characters, are just so nasty, is it even worth studying them to begin with? Dark Horse focuses on Abe. Abe is an utterly gross human being. Every time he was on screen, I wanted to dry heave. He's sweaty looking and painfully obnoxious. Every person he comes in contact with, he just treats like garbage. Worst of all, he thanklessly lives with his parents, whom he really hates, because they would constantly favor his successful brother over him. Solondz wants us to sympathize with this character. Good luck, folks. There isn't a shred of likability in this character. He acts like a petty bitch from the get-go. His negativity effects everyone around him. He's certainly not the victim that Solondz wants us to believe he is. It's not like he was the victim of neglect or abuse of any sort. If a dark, sad past was established, then I would whole-heartedly sympathize with what we could all agree is a broken man. Abe isn't broken. He's intentionally a scumbag. On a narrative level, it really doesn't work. Nothing really moves forward from the basis of our main character lashing out at everyone close to him, just because he's a proud man- child. I was just annoyed by it all. Probably not as annoyed, however, as Toys R' Us, demanding that the film digitally blur out their name… So I guess there's that.

SnoopyStyle Abe (Jordan Gelber) is an angry, self-loathing, petty slob loser. He dropped out of college and fell into a job in his father's company. Miranda (Selma Blair) is a depressed divorced woman forced to retreat back home. They meet at a wedding and Abe can't help but start the stalking. Miranda is broken and she just might go with Abe even if she doesn't love him.Todd Solondz does another movie on another socially awkward underclass. The biggest problem with this movie is the Abe character. He is too angry, too petty. He has no redeeming qualities. If he wasn't so pathetic, I would be rooting for somebody to put a bullet in him. Do I care about him? Not the slightest. Another problem is the surreal turns it takes for the last half. That kind of storyline never really works for me.

ryandannar Sometimes I see a movie that I really enjoy, and then I have to stop and wonder what "normal" people would think about it? Here is one such film. Relentlessly observant, sardonically hilarious, and ultimately kind of tragic, this movie demonstrates that irony sometimes reveals the truth better than sincerity.The plot of "Dark Horse" involves a childish thirty-something toy- collector who lives with his family and works for his father's company. He finds love -- or something which is close enough for him -- in a quiet, depressed, over-medicated, sullen woman he meets at a friend's wedding. Full of unrealistic notions and childish bravado, he can't help but propose to her on their first date. Unexpectedly, she accepts -- not, as is later revealed, because she loves him -- but rather, because she kind of hates herself, and derives some kind of masochistic pleasure out of the idea of living with this man and having his children!Yes, this is extremely dark territory, but it's rich in ironic humor and the sting of truth. In fact, I'm not sure which is the richer moment -- her confession, or his unbelievably clueless reaction to it.In all, "Dark Horse" is a very good film that many people simply will not enjoy. If you've seen any of the other works of Todd Solondz ("Welcome to the Dollhouse," "Storytelling"), you will understand why.Solondz's films are ironically funny, quietly tragic examinations of people who don't quite understand themselves or the world around them. His characters often find themselves adrift in life, lost on the road to happiness, looking for whatever promise or hope they might find -- often to sadly comical effect. His films might make you laugh, make you squirm uncomfortably, give you the chills that come with seeing something truthful revealed, or all three at once. His films are ironic exaggerations of the world around us -- holding up an unflattering funhouse mirror to the faults and vanities that we all live with and try to hide or deny."Dark Horse" certainly isn't territory for those looking for a quick escapist flick, but for those looking for something richer, something darker, something ironic and funny but also truthful -- well, this film hits that spot quite well.

tommy-boyett this is the worst movie ever made - i literally wanted to kill myself at the end - an absolute waste of two hours of my life that I can never get back....do not watch, or better yet buy it and set it on fire. the plot is absent, there is no point to even watch it. it jumps around so much and shows so much irrelevant and retarded content you don't know what is happening and I'm not sure if i even know what happened to this point. do yourself a favor and watch a porn, the story line is probably better.this is the worst movie ever made - i literally wanted to kill myself at the end - an absolute waste of two hours of my life that I can never get back....do not watch, or better yet buy it and set it on fire. the plot is absent, there is no point to even watch it. it jumps around so much and shows so much irrelevant and retarded content you don't know what is happening and I'm not sure if i even know what happened to this point. do yourself a favor and watch a porn, the story line is probably better.