Dumb-Bell Letters No. 21: A Bizarre Trip Through Other People's Mail

Is it worth your time?

Honestly? Only if you have a weird fascination with how people communicated before the internet ruined everything. It’s for the curious types who enjoy historical oddities. If you’re looking for a plot, look elsewhere. People who want coherent stories or, you know, visual stimulation will probably hate it.

It’s basically a parade of letters. Miss Lowell is our guide, if you can call it that. She sits there, reading through a stack of mail that sounds like it was written by people who had absolutely nothing better to do. Some of it is dry. Some of it is just confusing.

The highlight of the madness

There is this one woman writing to the 'Voice of Experience' that really stuck with me. She’s worried about having a third kid. Why? Because she was told, with absolute certainty, that every third child born is Chinese. 🌏

I had to pause the film just to make sure I heard that right. The sheer confidence in that statement is staggering. It’s the kind of logic you only find in old-timey instructional shorts or basement-level conspiracy theories.

Compared to the drama in something like The Darkest Hour, this feels almost alien. It doesn't have the weight of actual cinema. It feels more like someone’s diary was stolen and projected onto a screen for a laugh.

The pacing is… well, it’s just reading. There’s no editing rhythm here. It’s just a person, a chair, and a letter. It makes me realize that we really didn't need to document *everything* in the early 20th century. Sometimes, things should just stay in the envelope.

It’s not as punchy as The Heart Punch, that’s for sure. It’s a very quiet, very weird experience. You’ll sit there wondering if the letter writers were joking or if they were just genuinely confused about biology.

I’m still not sure if I was entertained or just baffled. Maybe both? It’s a short watch, so you won’t lose much of your life. But you definitely won't get those minutes back, either. 🤷‍♂️

• The letter about the babies is peak comedy, honestly.
• Miss Lowell manages to keep a straight face, which is impressive.
• The whole thing feels like an early version of a 'reaction' video, but without the annoying YouTuber energy.