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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Swim or Sink (S.O.S.) remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have any soft spot for those old-school, black-and-white Fleischer cartoons, then yes, absolutely. It’s got that specific, wobbly energy that makes your brain feel like it’s been dipped in molasses and caffeine at the same time. If you need a logical plot or characters who don't randomly morph into furniture, you should probably stay far away.
The whole thing kicks off with a classic nautical disaster. Our leads—Bimbo, Koko, and Betty—are stuck floating on a raft that is definitely not OSHA-compliant. The way the water moves in the background is hypnotic in that weird, slightly nauseating way. It feels less like a real ocean and more like a fever dream happening in a bathtub. 🌊
Then the pirates arrive. They aren't exactly threatening in the traditional sense, but they possess that cartoon menace that’s mostly just loud noises and exaggerated scowls. You can tell the animators were having way too much fun drawing these guys. Their limbs move like loose rubber bands, which is honestly a bit jarring if you’re used to modern, stiff CGI.
I caught myself staring at a background shot of a parrot for way too long. The bird just sort of vibrates. It doesn’t do anything, but it’s there, just existing in this weird, flat world. It’s moments like that which make me love these old shorts. They aren't trying to be deep or prestigious; they’re just trying to keep the frames moving.
It’s not quite as weirdly experimental as Ko-Ko Back Tracks, but it’s got a similar frantic pulse. Sometimes I wonder if the people making these were just pulling ideas out of a hat. There’s no transition, just chaos. It’s a nice change of pace from something like Broken Lullaby where everyone is just standing around talking about feelings for two hours.
Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a good way to spend a few minutes if you’re feeling nostalgic for stuff you never actually lived through? You bet. Sometimes the best movies are the ones that don't try to explain themselves, and Swim or Sink is definitely one of those. It just ends, and you’re left wondering what on earth you just watched. ⚓️
IMDb 6.5
1923
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