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6.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Svengarlic remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for the really old, rubber-hose style of animation, sure. It is worth a watch for the sheer weirdness. If you need a coherent story or pacing that makes sense, skip it.
This isn't exactly When Giants Fought in terms of ambition. It is just a goofy, ink-stained scrap of 1930s humor.
Krazy Kat is a painter today. He’s got an easel, a beret, and a model who seems totally bored with the whole thing. Then this wolf rolls in. He’s a hypnotist, obviously.
The wolf doesn't really have a plan other than being a nuisance. He just kind of stares and wiggles his fingers, and things start floating around. It makes as much sense as The Barber's Daughter trying to be an epic.
The animation style is loose. Like, really loose. Sometimes the backgrounds seem to forget they exist. The wolf’s eyes? They just keep spinning in circles for way too long. It starts to feel like he’s staring directly into your soul.
There is a moment where the model just starts dancing for no reason. It happens for maybe six seconds, and then the scene cuts. No explanation. It’s just there. It’s the kind of editing choice that makes you wonder if the film reel got chewed up.
It lacks the narrative punch of something like The Wrecker, but who cares? It’s just a cat being a cat. Or a painter. It’s all a bit hazy.
I found myself re-watching the hypnotism sequence twice. Not because it was good, but because I couldn't figure out if the wolf was supposed to be scary or just tired. He looks like he needs a nap, honestly.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a cartoon. Sometimes that’s enough. 🎨