DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Is My Palm Read remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for 1930s animation that feels like it was sketched during a heavy fever, then sure, go for it. People who need a coherent plot or don’t like the squeaky, manic energy of early Betty Boop will probably want to skip this one entirely.
Honestly, watching Is My Palm Read feels a bit like digging through an old attic box you weren't supposed to touch. It starts simple enough with Betty looking for answers, but the transition into the crystal ball stuff is so abrupt it’s almost jarring.
The whole haunted island bit? It’s just wild. The skeletons dancing around don’t make much sense, but I don't think they’re supposed to. It’s just pure, unfiltered nonsense set to music. 🎶
It’s funny how these old shorts have this specific, gritty rhythm. It’s not smooth like the stuff people make today, but it’s got *texture*. You can see the ink and the movement, and sometimes the frames just pop in ways that feel like a mistake but end up being the best part.
If you've spent time watching other period pieces like The Hinges on the Bar Room Door or the more dramatic The Price She Paid, you know that the 1920s and 30s had a way of being incredibly earnest. This short, however, is just here to throw weird imagery at you for a few minutes and leave.
There’s a moment where the shadows on the island seem to take on their own personality, and it just stops the whole flow of the scene. It’s weird. I kind of loved it.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a weird, squeaky little piece of history that doesn't care if you get the joke or not. 👻