Horseplayer

Director Kurt Voss has typically avoided the familiar and never more so than with this early effort made with a very low budget, an uneven psychological thriller that delivers satisfying results. The plot involves a loner named Bud, played by Brad Dourif in his usual highly idiosyncratic fashion, who works at an undemanding job evenings in the freezer box of a liquor store, restocking shelves as needed, while gambling on horses during the day. Bud lives in a tawdry apartment building in a rundown area and when a man and his purported sister move into the complex, the relationship between this trio becomes the focus of the film. The newcomers may not actually be siblings, and the man, Matthew (Michael Harris), an artist, soon gives instructions to his roommate Randi (Sammi Davis) to approach Bud and develop erotic contact with him. It is soon made plain that Matthew utilizes the histories of those seduced by Randi as thematic series for his gallery showings but in this instance Bud, who has secrets of his own, proves to be a harrowing subject. The connection between the horseplayer and his boss George, the liquor store proprietor (Vic Tayback), is interesting largely because, as the story wends its way along, we and George are often surprised by whatever Bud will do next. Voss, who contributes to the script, likes closeups and uses them effectively while keeping us in the dark as to his characters' motivations, all the way until the picture's insightful ending. Michael Harris, as the rather debased painter, steals the film with his insouciant performance, as he plays off the rest of the small cast with aplomb. Sammi Davis is believable as the possible paramour of Bud, and Vic Tayback is wry in his scenes as the cynical store owner, bringing an air of clarity to the storyline whenever it flags. HORSEPLAYER is edited well and is supplied with an aptly moody score, and only occasional lapses of sense in the dialogue and Dourif's off-putting strangeness will cool one's enthusiasm for it.

I first thought this movie had to be one of those "shown-once-on-tv-and-never-released-rarities", because of the low number of votes here (45, not counting my own), but then to my amazement, I found out that there was actually a decent DVD out on Region 2, and of course I bought it on first sight! Then it arrived a few days later, and when I popped it in my DVD-player, I knew I was in for a treat of ultra-rareness. See, the only reason I wanted to buy this movie was because Brad Dourif played the leading character, but to my amazement, the movie actually had four really good performances, and not just one (which I had anticipated).

Dourif is his usual self, playing the shy and disturbed young man, who is this time confronted by two gold-digging artists (played by the convincing Michael K. Harris and the beautiful Sammi Davis - no relation to Sammy Davis Jr.), who try to both lure a bunch of money from him, but primarily wants to use him as a tool for their creation of art.

Bud (Dourif) hates art, and wants to have nothing to do with it, or the rest of the world for that matter, and he enjoys spending several hours a day sitting in the freezer-box in a convenience store, owned by the late Vic Tayback (in his last feature film before his death). Once in a while, a young kid (played by the interesting cameo-actor Max Perlich) comes in the store, trying to steal a few petty things, and he later gets an unfortunate run-in with Bud, which will give him the final push over the edge, leading to the abrupt but passionate climax near the end.

Overall, I did find it quite hard to keep an interest in this movie, and the soft saxophone-music got really annoying after the first ten minutes or so, but seeing Dourif in a commanding leading role, along with a great performance by Vic Tayback was definitely worth the time and money, but if you're no fan of either actor, then it's probably not your cup of tea. However, after seeing this movie, you just might become fans of them (and Michael Harris as the troubled artist).

All I can say is: See it, because if you don't, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.. it could be good, or it could be bad, but if you don't see it, you will never know. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know exactly what I mean ;)

"Horseplayer" is a well acted, but slight, psychological drama. Brad Dourif plays a loner who bets on the ponies by day, and works in the liquor store across the street at night. This very orderly existence is totally upended by the arrival of an artist, M.K. Harris, who gets his artistic inspiration from his girlfriend, Sammi Davis, and her seductions of innocent strangers. When Sammi Davis puts her moves on Dourif complications ensue. Understandably Dourif does not handle rejection well, so when she has to let him go, he gradually becomes unhinged, with disastrous results. Vic Taback, in his last film, is Dourif's sympathetic boss and owner of the liquor store. - MERK

This is an excellent movie that had zero promotion when it came out in the early 90s. I saw a small flyer for it at some punk/art shop and based on that alone went to see it. I loved it and dragged back my brother to see it 2 days later. Guess what -- it had already stopped playing!

This is a film that is so L.A.-specific -- I have seen the art-student creepy types at many a gallery opening. All the actors do an excellent job particularly the extremely weird MK Harris as the artist (hardly need to mention Brad Dourif who is always good). It is a true crime that this is not available on DVD with director's commentary. Kurt Voss also made "Sugar Town" -- another very good L.A.-specific film -- but I think this is his best.

If you have a multi-region DVD player you can get a copy from the UK -- otherwise try to track down Kurt Voss in L.A.!

Update (10-1-10) -- it's available -NEW- in Region 2 DVD for under $5.00 on Amazon U.S.! Just ordered my copy. With all-region DVD players costing less than 100 there is no reason not to get this film. Also- MK's artwork is done by amazing LA artist Bill Barminski - before he became semi-famous. Music by the Pixies right before they hit it big.