Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- misanthropic
- witty
- awkward
- indie movie night
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film typically misanthropic but incisive and unexpectedly satisfying, with generally favorable reviews despite its narrow appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Abe lives parasitically with his parents, avoids work, and projects his frustrations onto his family while expecting emotional support.
The film presents Abe and Miranda's grim relationship and family dysfunction with caustic, uncomfortable comic distance.
Abe is thirty-five, still living by choice with his parents, avoiding meaningful work, and pursuing marriage without emotional readiness.
Abe is sustained by his mother's blind support while directing resentment toward his father and younger brother.
Films like Dark Horse, and why
Happiness
misanthropic dark comedy examining damaged adults and social alienation
Welcome to the Dollhouse
uncomfortable character-driven comedy about arrested development and dysfunctional relationships
The Squid and the Whale
bleakly comic portrait of self-loathing, failed ambition, and emotional isolation
Movie Details
- Director
- Todd Solondz
- Release Date
- 2012-06-08
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (124)
Cast
- Jordan Gelber
- Selma Blair
- Mia Farrow
- Christopher Walken
- Donna Murphy
- Justin Bartha
- Zachary Booth
- Aasif Mandvi
- Tyler Maynard
- Peter McRobbie
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dark Horse about?
- A caustic, uncomfortable portrait of a spoiled thirty-five-year-old whose fantasy of adulthood collapses under the weight of his own entitlement.
- What is Dark Horse like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dark Horse as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Dark Horse violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Dark Horse.
- What did critics think of Dark Horse?
- Critics broadly found the film typically misanthropic but incisive and unexpectedly satisfying, with generally favorable reviews despite its narrow appeal.
- Which films are like Dark Horse?
- Films with a similar feel include Happiness, Welcome to the Dollhouse, and The Squid and the Whale.
- How long is Dark Horse?
- Dark Horse runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dark Horse?
- In United States, Dark Horse streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
