Coming from indie development, the movie Hippo is showing at select theaters around the country. Cowriter and director Mark H. Rapaport takes a bold step in this little ditty, one that includes dark comedy, strong modern day pervasive content and a coming of age slap in the face entertainment. It’s ruthlessly Insane.
It’s not a new approach to teen angst vs. transparency, but it’s worth watching for the many twists and turns. Not a film for the mentally sane, but yet a curious one for those who like hard rock candy that melts in your mouth leaving a violent sweetness that lasts till the last drop.
Hippo (Kimball Farley) and Buttercup (Lilla Kizlinger) are siblings who are guided by a mentally incompetent mother who thinks she’s doing a respectful job of raising her two children. However, the two, in her mind are just a couple of blameless kids that mean well. Ruling the family however is Hippo, a nicknamed brat, who constantly looks for the next stupid thing to do to impress his mother. On the other hand Buttercup is just infatuated with her sibling as long as she is left to her own fantasies. When the two collide with reality, their inept way of facing it leaves them at the will of reality.
I have to admit that Rapaport does a terrific job of directing his black and white film. Putting his thumbprint on it of unique horror like his last two films, Hippo takes on an aura of dread and circumstance that not many directors have been able to achieve. His dark humor gets so sick at times, that realism almost takes hold of the viewer when the repulsion begins. Like many Indie directors that I was fortunate to review, this film excels all around.
The acting here is next to incredible with Lilla Kizlinger and Kimball Farley the best opposites in this year’s coming of age films. Buttercup knows she has to stay in her own space knowing that her brother controls the family with his devious ruthless behavior. She mostly defends herself from his wild antics and uses her charm to calm him down at times. Hippo on the other hand loves to control of his hapless mother and invents ways to make her cower for fun. Both deserve honors for their acting.
Rapaport’s film was originally released in competition at Fantasia in 2003 before finally being let out in select theaters this year. Taking the film to the Mentevideo Fantastico it picked up a best picture award along with best actor award for Kimball Farley.
Hippo has not been rated, but contains brutal scenes of violence, language, sex, weapons, nudity, and some drug use. It’s a critic’s film for high grades, but those that like the insane should run to see the film.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Kimball Farley, Lilla Kizlinger, Eliza Roberts, Jesse Pimentel, Vann Barnett, Eric Roberts (as the narrator).
Directed and co-written by: Mark H. Rapaport
Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama,
MPAA Rating: Not Rated (Think R)
Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.
Opening Date: Now Playing
Released in: Select Theaters
