Skeleton on Horseback: A haunting look at the end of things

Should you watch this?

If you have a high tolerance for black-and-white existential gloom, absolutely. It’s perfect for people who like their political parables served with a side of cold, hard irony. If you need a happy ending or a hero who actually wins, stay far, far away. This one will leave you staring at the wall for a bit after the credits roll.

The whole thing is built around this "White Sickness." It’s leprosy, basically, but it feels more like a collective fever dream. People start falling apart, and the government just keeps on marching. It reminded me a bit of the frantic, uncertain energy in Heroes All, though with way more coughing and political backstabbing.

The mood is just... heavy.

There’s this one scene where a character is just staring out a window, and the camera lingers for maybe ten seconds too long. You can feel the dust motes dancing in the light. It’s awkward, but in a way that feels intentional, like the director wanted you to feel the stillness of a world waiting to die.

Hugo Haas is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. He’s got this way of looking at the camera that makes you feel like he knows exactly how screwed everyone is. It’s not subtle. It doesn't need to be.

• The lighting in the hospital scenes is genuinely unsettling.
• The dialogue is sharp enough to cut glass.
• There is a distinct lack of music in the places where you expect a dramatic swell.

I caught myself wondering why they chose to frame certain shots so tight. It makes the rooms feel smaller, more like cages. It’s a bit suffocating, honestly. Sometimes you just want a wide shot to breathe, but the movie refuses to give you that relief.

It’s not as polished as some other films from that era, like Guilty Hands, but that’s kind of the point. It feels raw. It feels like someone shouting in a crowded room while everyone else pretends not to hear them. The pacing is a bit weird—it drags in the middle, then suddenly everyone is running toward a conclusion that you already saw coming.

I don't think this is a movie you ‘enjoy’ in the traditional sense. You just kind of endure it. And maybe that’s the highest compliment I can give it. 💀