Sep
29
Hounddog
I just finished watching the movie Hounddog; I received it over a week ago but because I’ve been working a lot lately, it took me a little while to get the time (and emotional energy) to sit down and watch it. On that note, waiting over a week to watch it was a big mistake because this movie is phenomenal.
Hounddog is about healing–From having to grow up way too early, from sexual assault and from betrayal; it shows life in its sometimes unpleasant and ugly, but also inspiring glory. Dakota Fanning plays a young girl in the American south who lives in a world where so much is expected from her and so much tries to destroy her; from a family who feels as if she is to grow up and even as a young child, expects her to be a woman of the house, to a rape. Hounddog shows you the aftermath of sexual assault, how one can become so sick because of it, but it also shows you hope and a girl who is determined to save herself with the help of a friend.
Hounddog has had a very bumpy road thus far, from Sundance where it was criticized and deemed the ‘Dakota Fanning Rape Movie’ to online reviews that I read after watching it that tear it apart. As a survivor, I loved Hounddog and the only criticism I do have is that I wish it were longer and had a more solidified ending. I loved the hope that it gives to people watching it and most of all, a particular monologue in the movie was so powerful that one moment I was laying on my couch, taking the movie in and the next was sobbing because the words that were spoken were so dead on and were so profound that it really made the entire movie. Those words were exactly what I and what so many other survivors needed to hear and it is because of everything that is said in that one, short monologue that really sums up why no survivor can let their abuser destroy or take their spirit from them.
Every survivor of sexual assault should see this movie. It will stay with you and it will give you that gentle push that so many of us often need to speak up and break the silence surrounding sexual assault. Hounddog is a movie that exudes hope and infuses survivors with a resonating voice that says ‘I understand, it isn’t your fault, now take back what is yours.’
I want to watch this movie now. Thanks for sharing.
I remember the hullabaloo surrounding this before its release. Somehow that release escaped my detection and I wasn’t even aware it’s on DVD now. Thanks for the review; I’ll add it to my queue.
Sounds like a great movie..thanks for sharing…take care..Mary
how were you able to watch this? i have been trying to find it everywhere, it’s not showing in Las Vegas and not available on DVD yet.
I found your blog from the blog carnival. I too heard the outcry about this movie. But given your review, I might have to give it a shot.
I’m so glad I was able to include this in the holiday edition of THE BLOG CARNIVAL AGAINST CHILD ABUSE. I’m sure the reason this movie got bad reviews is because people don’t want to talk about the truth about child abuse and sexual assault. But, we all know that it perpetuates in our silence. So, I’m glad this movie was made. The message of hope makes it sound even better for me. I’m going to put it on my Netflix queue. Thanks!