Dark Horse Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A chubby man-child buys a depressed woman from Toys ‘R’ Us with a smudged receipt, hoping for a refund on his life.

🍿 Dark Horse: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Abe’s Arrested Development

Abe Wertheimer, a 35-year-old man-child, lives with his parents and works unenthusiastically at his father’s company. He spends most of his time collecting toys and avoiding responsibility. Abe’s life is characterized by a lack of ambition and a tendency to blame others for his problems.

An Unlikely Proposal

Abe meets Miranda, a depressed and medicated woman, at a wedding. Despite her apparent disinterest, Abe impulsively proposes marriage. Miranda, equally lost and self-loathing, surprisingly accepts, setting the stage for a deeply dysfunctional relationship. Their engagement is based more on mutual desperation than genuine affection.

Escalating Dysfunction

As their relationship progresses, Abe and Miranda’s issues become increasingly apparent. Abe struggles with his feelings of inadequacy and resentment towards his successful brother. Miranda battles her depression and considers her past relationship. The relationship is plagued with fantasy sequences and bizarre events, revealing the characters’ inner turmoil.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Abe (Jordan Gelber): A 35-year-old man-child living with his parents, who collects toys and avoids responsibility.
• Miranda (Selma Blair): A depressed and medicated woman who enters into an unstable relationship with Abe.
• Jackie (Christopher Walken): Abe’s father, a stern businessman who is often disappointed in his son.
• Phyllis (Mia Farrow): Abe’s loving but enabling mother who contributes to his arrested development.
• Richard (Justin Bartha): Abe’s successful and accomplished brother, toward whom Abe harbors jealousy.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Abe: “We’re all horrible people. Humanity’s a fucking cesspool.” – Abe expresses his cynical view of the world and human nature during a rant.
• Abe: “People look in the mirror every fucking day and lie to themselves, saying they’re good or caring or loving, but deep down – not so deep down – they only care about themselves.” – Abe describes his belief that people are inherently selfish.
• Abe: “… if there’s any kindness or generosity, it only comes after being well-fed, or having good sex, or knowing that you weren’t wiped out like all the other suckers on Wall Street.” – Abe continues his rant by pointing out the ulterior motives behind good deeds.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $2,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $166,228
• Worldwide Gross: $337,150

💥 Dark Horse Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘Dark Horse’ is not your typical feel-good movie, but I kinda loved it. It’s awkward and cringey, but in a way that feels real. Jordan Gelber nails the part of Abe, and the scenes with Christopher Walken are gold. I found myself laughing even though the whole thing is kinda depressing. Definetly not for everybody, but worth a watch if you’re into quirky indies.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Todd Solondz’s previous films (e.g., ‘Happiness,’ ‘Welcome to the Dollhouse’)”
  • “Viewers who appreciate dark comedies with uncomfortable and thought-provoking themes”
  • “Those interested in films exploring arrested development and dysfunctional relationships”
  • “Audiences who don’t mind ambiguous and tragic endings”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Sexual content and references”
  • “Depiction of depression and mental health issues”
  • “Themes of self-harm and suicide”
  • “Disturbing imagery and situations”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Solondz’s ‘Dark Horse’ is an uncomfortable yet compelling look at arrested development and the complexities of human relationships. While not his best work, it offers moments of genuine insight and humor.
• The New York Times: “Christopher Walken and Mia Farrow help to elevate the film, showcasing complex family dynamics. Jordan Gelber and Selma Blair bring nuances to the characters as the ‘dark horse’ pair, but their relationship is not relatable to most viewers.
• RogerEbert.com: “Solondz is the master of film uncomfortableness. If you have seen his ‘Happiness’, you won’t debate whether that’s a real word or not. Standard Solondz, but that’s better than most.

Audience Reactions

Christopher Walken and Mia Farrow’s performances are top notch as Abe’s parents.: The acting is generally great. Jordan Gelber is amazing as the lead character.

Solondz unflinching approach to awkward social scenarios shines once again.: There are unexpected dream sequences. But not everyone likes it.

Overall Consensus: Dark Horse is a darkly comedic exploration of stunted adulthood that is thought-provoking and well-acted. However, some may find it too depressing and unlikeable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Todd Solondz felt the dynamic of the Costanza family on ‘Seinfeld’ mirrored the family dynamic he was portraying, but couldn’t secure the rights to use audio clips from the show.”
• “To create a sitcom-like feel, Estelle Harris, Jason Alexander, and Jerry Stiller (known for their roles as the Costanza family in ‘Seinfeld’) were hired to do voiceovers for the TV sitcom scenes.”
• “During the scene in the cinema, the Movie Star Scramble spells out ‘ORGEOE LONEYCO’ as the scrambled name for ‘George Clooney’. The misspelling was not caught by the production team.”

🖥️ How to Watch Dark Horse?

As of October 2024, “Dark Horse” is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for current availability and pricing. It is not typically included with standard subscriptions, so expect a separate transaction.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Dark Horse, you might like these similar films:

• Ghost World (2001): Both movies explore the lives of socially awkward individuals struggling with identity and purpose in a cynical, detached manner.
• Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995): Another Todd Solondz film, it explores similar themes of social awkwardness, family dysfunction, and the challenges of finding your place in the world.
• Submarine (2010): A coming-of-age story with a darkly comedic and cynical tone, focusing on an awkward teenager navigating love and life’s challenges.
• American Splendor (2003): A biographical comedy-drama about Harvey Pekar, a disgruntled file clerk who finds unexpected success writing autobiographical comic books, mirroring Abe’s arrested development and dissatisfaction.

🛒 Dark Horse Related Products

• Funko Pop! The Simpsons – Comic Book Guy: A must-have for any collector, it perfectly captures the essence of the cynical character. Meticulously crafted, it adds a touch of nerdy charm to any display.
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• Therapy Board Game: This board game lets you explore emotions with friends, designed to open up and create a supportive environment. Perfect for deep conversations and meaningful connections.

🎧 Soundtrack

Dark Horse features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Right Hand Hi” – performed by Kid Sister

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Katy Perry – The Making of “Dark Horse” ft. Juicy J

Ever wondered how Katy Perry created that epic ‘Dark Horse’ music video? This behind-the-scenes video is a must-watch! It’s super interesting to see all the work that goes into such a visually stunning piece, and honestly, I’m even more impressed now.

Katy Perry ft. Juicy J – “Dark Horse” PARODY

Need a good laugh? Check out this hilarious parody of Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’! It’s a fun take on the original, and some of the jokes are actually pretty clever. I dare you not to crack a smile!

✨ Rate