Disturbing, YES... Titillating, NO.
P David | Salt Lake City, Utah | 07/25/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you watched this film and found it even slightly erotic, then I would suggest that you cancel your Sears catalog because, in comparison, the Sears catalog will likely send you into orgasmic convulsions. I truly don't understand some of the negative reviews; the "underwear scenes" were not in the least bit revealing, unless you consider Mormon underwear erotic (and I live in Utah). There were NO scenes that showed Ms. Fanning in her underwear that were not germane to the story, and even in those circumstances, you will not find them to be the least bit erotic unless you are helplessly and hopelessly attracted to baggy cotton undies. Truly, if those reviewers who found this to be be erotic ACTUALLY WATCHED this film, my recommendation to them would be to lock their doors and avoid ANY of the following: Sears catalogs, Macy's advertisements, WalMart flyers, etc. They will quite possibly find National Geographic to be fatally sexual. Now for the film. This was a beautiful depiction of poverty in the deep south (but it could have been anywhere) and it's affect on those who must live with it. Piper Laurie seems almost to have reprised her CARRIE role as a Bible thumping caretaker, placing her religious beliefs over her acceptance of her daughter. Dakota is a young girl who finds music, specifically Elvis, to be her escape from her life. She is betrayed by her best friend and ends up in a situation that she neither asks for nor can control as she tries to get tickets to an Elvis concert that she wants to attend. The "horrific" rape scene that has upset some shows a closeup of Dakota Fanning's head and hand.... nothing more. The scene is truly horrific, however, as it occurs in real life more often than we would like to admit. The ramifications for Dakota and others are depicted in their brutal detail, and the ending is both tragic and hopeful. The symbolism of snakes and the role of African-Americans in the film may be a bit over the top and stereotypical, but not so much as to be distracting. I would have liked to have seen more of the reactions of some of the supporting characters, but there is a limit to what you can do in the time allotted. If you are looking for light entertainment, do not watch this film. If, on the other hand, you like to be challenged and find thought provoking films worth watching, then you should definitely watch Hounddog."