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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
If you have a soft spot for grainy, pre-war German cinema and don't mind a plot that feels like it was written on a cocktail napkin during a very loud party, you might find something here. It’s definitely not for anyone who needs tight pacing or modern storytelling. If you’re into the kind of chaotic energy found in The Fall Guy, you'll probably get the vibe. But honestly, most people will find it a bit exhausting.
The whole thing feels like it’s running on pure caffeine. Everyone is constantly shouting or rushing into rooms, and the camera barely has time to settle before someone else is doing something ridiculous.
There’s a horse race at the center of it, obviously. But the movie doesn't really care about the race. It cares about who is arguing with who in the stables. It’s all noise.
I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main actors. At one point, there’s a guy in a bowler hat who clearly has no idea what he’s supposed to be doing, just sort of hovering near a fence. He lingers in the frame for way too long. It became the most interesting part of that scene.
The humor is very… of its time. Lots of slapstick. Lots of people falling over things that aren't even there. Sometimes it works, sometimes it just makes you wish they’d stop for a second.
It lacks the grit of something like Westfront 1918, obviously. It’s not trying to be important. It’s just trying to be a distraction. It succeeds at being a distraction, mostly because you have to work so hard to keep up with who is double-crossing who.
I don't think I'll ever watch it again. I'm glad I did, though. It’s a strange, dusty piece of work. You can feel the screen vibrating with the effort of everyone trying to be funny at the exact same time. It’s charming in a way that feels almost accidental. 🐎