by Anna F.

Created on: September 13, 2008

Fernando Araball's I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse mesmerizes the viewer with scenes of surrealistic imagery that run the gamut from simply strange to utterly bizarre, while paradoxically boring the viewer. Despite touching on themes such as religion, mother-son relationships, sexuality, and the horrors of civilization, the imagery in Crazy Horse easily loses the uninitiated viewer and initially fails to communicate anything of importance. Shock value trumps meaning in many of these clips, which involve mutilated tongues, penises used as candles, naked men who roll around in giant clear plastic gerbil balls, and excrement eaten as lunch. The parts of the film that do prove a clear point, such as Marvel's experiences in the city, do so in a painfully obvious way.

I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse begins when lead character Aden Rey (George Shannon) flees civilization to hide in the desert (presumably because the police suspect him of his mother's murder) where he meets a hermita miraculous midget named Marvel. Enchanted with Marvel, Aden brings him to the city to see all that modern life has to offer. A series of misadventures ensue, and Crazy Horse begins to resemble a warped version of Encino Man.
Arrabal rejuvenates this oft-used plotline with breathtaking desert landscapes, gratuitous violence, and eerie music that enhances the already unsettling mood of the film. The haunting soundtrack mixes menacing church organs with unearthly sing-song melodies, while the clopping of horses' hooves plagues Aden's tormented mind. The music adds to the film's overall surrealism as much as the imagery does, and perhaps more. The disturbing vocals, comprised of spooky children's voices and creepy cooing, heighten the viewer's feelings of apprehension. The music paired with the visually stunning scenery and vivid images (as bloody and disturbing as they are) creates a unique film experience. These three components come together in a way that supports and strengthens the film's avant-garde and unconventional material.

The viewer can appreciate I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse as a work of art in its own right without analyzing it too deeply, but weak acting tempers the film's aesthetic success. American actor George Shannon plays Aden Rey, and his inability to speak French resulted in the dubbing of his voice. While not apparent throughout most of the movie, in a few instances the movement of his lips does not match the words coming out of his mouth. Shannon plays Aden in a stilted

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