DbcultAccessing Vault...
7.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Betty in Blunderland remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school, hand-drawn surrealism, absolutely. If you want a movie with a coherent story, you’re going to be frustrated. This isn't exactly Little Women where everything follows a nice, clean path.
Betty Boop just keeps walking through doorways that don't make sense. It’s less of a movie and more of a collection of visual gags that start to feel like a nightmare after about five minutes.
The White Rabbit popping out of a jigsaw puzzle is a solid start. It’s tactile, weird, and sets the stage for the chaos to come. The animation has this rubbery, twitchy quality that you just don't see anymore.
There’s a moment where everything just starts melting into shapes. It reminded me of the frantic energy in Rambling 'Round Radio Row #5, but way more unhinged. You can really tell the animators were just experimenting with how much they could distort a human face before it stopped looking like a face.
Some of the gags are honestly a little mean-spirited. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s definitely not the soft, cozy cartoon style we’re used to now. It feels more like a hallucination captured on film. 🥴
I don't think I'll ever understand why the caterpillar is so angry. He just screams for no reason, and the movie doesn't bother to explain it. I appreciate that. It doesn't need to explain.
If you’re watching this expecting a classic fairytale, prepare to be disappointed. It’s just Betty wandering around, getting into trouble, and looking confused. Honestly? Same.