‘Hounddog’ tough movie to sell…
No movie arrived at the Sundance ‘07 fest with more controversy than Hounddog, the so-called ”Dakota Fanning Rape Movie” in which the 12-year-old actresses stars as an Elvis-obsessed little girl growing up in the 1950s South. Leading up to the film’s Jan. 22 premiere, writer-director Deborah Kampmeier expected protests outside the theater, as well as inside, thinking that maybe even a few moviegoers would stand up and boo. But as the lights went down at Park City’s Racquet Club Monday night, there was not a single peep of dissent, not even during the rape scene, which turned out to be brief and devoid of graphic shots, or during the Q&A with Kampmeier, Fanning, and other cast members following the screening.
For Kampmeier, the subdued atmosphere was a good sign. ”We were prepared for the worst, and I think we got the best,” she told EW the day after the premiere. ”I think people were expecting something more controversial, and it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s it?’ ” Added Fanning: ”I hope people weren’t let down!”
By Tuesday afternoon, however, it looked as though some people were disappointed — but not because of the movie’s lack of exploitive violence. ”Hounddog is an indigestible gumbo of Southern Gothic ingredients seasoned with snake oil, biblical hash, and thoroughly unpalatable spice,” wrote Variety film critic Todd McCarthy. ”Aside from Fanning and the controversy, the film has nothing going for it commercially.”
Ouch.
It’s not the kind of review a filmmaker hopes for when debuting any movie at a festival, especially one up for acquisition. At press time, no distribution deal for Hounddog had been announced, but when Kampmeier met with EW before the Variety review appeared online, she seemed confident that there was interest from buyers. ”We’ve got my lawyers on it, talking to people,” she said. ”Look, some people are going to love this film, some people are going to hate it. Some people it will resonate with, some people it won’t.”
As for Fanning, she seems to be weathering the after-storm just fine, thank you. But she isn’t ready to call Hounddog a definitive turning point in her career. ”I guess people will see me a little bit older now, but I’m not all grown up yet,” the precocious pre-teen explained. ”I just want to keep taking steps forward and doing what I believe in.”
So people don’t want to see Dakota get raped? Shocking!
January 25th, 2007 at 10:40 am
It sounds like such a depressing movie why waste the $9 just turn on the news and you can see a bunch of abused kids. I defintely will not see this movie.
January 25th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I know it’s not the same movie (or concept), but I remember watching Taxi Driver for the first time (when I was very young) and the fact that Jodi Foster was playing a child prostitute was quite disturbing… but no one can say that wasn’t a great film.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:03 am
the movie hounddog is sick, how can hollywood get a young girl to do that, and fanning its not just acting my girl, hollywood is sick and its not right, “RAPE” come on, why are u making such a sick movie, i hate hollywood, SIN, SIN, SIN, JUDGEMENT DAY will RULE.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:06 am
WHY IS HOLLYWOOD SO SICK. Why make a rape movie of a young girl, Its not just acting my dear girl, Hollywoord got you brain wash for monie, as long as they get that dollar, and u wounder y the world is crazy and sick, SIN, SIN, SIN, JUDGEMENT DAY MY DEAR FRIEND. GOD loves you, he soon returning, BEWEAR and WATCH for his RETURN
January 28th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I have a little girl and the taught of her acting that out is sick, what kind of sick mind do u people have. I want parents to stand up against this and where is her parents too, letting her do this, shame on them, shame
January 28th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Please people dont watch this movie, show hollywood that they are sick and they will not rule. It makes me mad, where is her parents too, do they care about her and what her mind will believe, and nuity in the movie as well, sick, sick, sick, u guys make the world a bad place
March 25th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I think every one of should sit down and take a look at what you’re saying. Yall are doing all this bitching about a 12 year old posing in a scene that is completely ” NOT ” real. But yet when you turn on the news and hear about a young child being sexually harrassed. You think to yourselfs, ” Glad that’s not my child. ” Well, it might just be and I think you should look first hand on how shit like this takes place everyday across America. Watch it as it unfolds. The very worst that could happen is that maybe you’ll keep a better eye on your children. Maybe you won’t let them run around with just whoever the hell they want too. And those who do that such a thing and then put up such a bitch and panic about this stuff, might concider some sycological evaluation for yourselfs. You watch other people’s children in reality running around naked in the back yard and you think, ” Oh that’s so cute, look at them play together. ” It is still child nudity and you WATCH IT!!!! So think about that the next time you’re letting YOUR children run around nude. Blink your eye for one second and they can vanish. Watch it or not. Worry about your own damn children and leave Holleywood to suffer the blame.
July 27th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Why is this movie “so bad” according to every one!
I think it is a great movie and you’ll learn a lot about it