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IMDb > Horseplayer (1990)

Horseplayer (1990) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
5.6/10   52 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 25% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
David Birke (writer)
Larry Rattner (writer)
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Genre:
Tagline:
One hunts. One seduces. One kills.
Plot:
Bud is a strange loner who works in a liquor store by day and is addicted to betting on the horses at night... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Reviews:
Interesting movie, based purely on the performances.. more (3 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Brad Dourif ... Bud Cowan

Sammi Davis ... Randi
Michael Harris ... Matthew (as M.K. Harris)

Max Perlich ... Kid
Vic Tayback ... George Samsa
Rocky Giordani ... Biker
Debby Steele ... Gallery Receptionist
Stephen Saban ... Critic #1
Garret Greenword ... Critic #2
Pino Giordani ... Girl in Gallery
Bill Barminski ... Shopper in Liquor Store
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Additional Details

Runtime:
89 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The last film of Vic Tayback. more
Quotes:
Bud Cowan: I play the horses, and that's my only vice. more

FAQ

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful.
Interesting movie, based purely on the performances.., 2 April 2008
6/10
Author: KnatLouie (jeghader@hotmail.com) from Copenhagen, Denmark

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 ;)

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