| Plot |
HOUNDDOG
is a provocative Southern tale set in the late 1950's rural
Alabama about a precocious young girl Lewellen (Dakota Fanning)
and her journey into the beginnings of adulthood and her
struggle for freedom from the abuse and repression that
surrounds her.
Lewellen lives with her stern religious zealot grandmother,
GRAMMIE (Piper Laurie), but spends most of her time down
the hill with her much-adored DADDY (David Morse) in his
falling down shack.
Daddy is wild and rough and brings home a STRANGER LADY
(Robin Wright Penn) who has a mysterious history with him
and comes and goes when his drunk and abuse becomes too
much for her. But while she's around, Lewellen's longing
heart reaches for the strange girlfriend and she attempts
to seduce her with song.
Lewellen is deeply talented and finds comfort and safety,
as well as a place to put her hurt and rage, in the music
of Elvis Presley, even though CHARLES (Afemo Omilami), the
wise groundskeeper of the mansion down the road, tries to
convince her that "there is more to fill out that emptiness
than just Elvis." Charles teaches Lewellen about snake
medicine and imparts his wisdom that "you gotta always
make good outa what can poison ya."
Lewellen and her closest friend, BUDDY (Cody Hanford), are
caught in a shed during a heavy rainstorm. During the storm
Daddy is struck by lightning while driving his tractor and
the event leaves him incapacitated as an emotional and mental
child. Grammie is convinced that Daddy was stricken down
by God to punish Lewellen for her alleged sins with Buddy.
Lewellen becomes Daddy's caretaker and their dysfunctional
relationship becomes even more pronounced, Lewellen becoming
the parent and Daddy the child. Without any guidance and
with Lewellen taking care of the person who should be taking
care of her, she begins to move into dangerous terrain.
When Elvis Presley comes to town for a concert, Lewellen
is desperate to go but has no money for a ticket. So, Buddy
tricks Lewellen into dancing and singing like Elvis for
WOODEN'S BOY in exchange for tickets he has to the concert.
During the impersonation, Wooden's Boy attacks Lewellen
and leaves her innocence behind.
This is the beginning of Lewellen's descent into the cycle
of abuse and her own pursuit of self-destruction. It is
only Charles who can see the spirit in Lewellen and save
her soul. He teaches her to use music, "the Blues",
to turn her tragedy into a gift. Lewellen ultimately finds
her true voice, giving her the strength and courage to walk
away from her past and into her future |
