‘Hippo’ Review: Black and White Coming-Of-Age Tale Is A Nightmarish Wonder

If you are searching for an eccentric feature with a ton of bite, “Hippo” might do the trick . Filmmaker Mark H. Rapaport, who co-wrote the script with lead actor Kimball Farley, has crafted a distinct, dark, and ultimately resonant coming-of-age tale about two misguided step-siblings (Farley, Lilla Kizlinger). Both CinemAddicts co-host Eric Holmes and I highly recommend this feature. Check out our review below!

Hippo (Kimball Farley), thanks to delusions taught by his mother (Eliza Roberts), believes he is a true warrior. Actually, he is a total sociopath with violent tendencies. He believes aliens invading Earth, and he must protect his step-sibling Buttercup (Lilla Kizlinger) and mother from the onslaught. Buttercup, who seems to be the rational one of the bunch, has designs of her own. Her plans may lead to an ultimate confrontation with Hippo and change this dysfunctional family dynamic.

Eric Roberts does solid work as the film’s narrator, and he is just one of the many elements that make “Hippo” a standout debut feature from director Mark H. Rapaport.

Although the entire feature is shot within the confines of a home (director Mark H. Rapaport used his grandmother’s domicile), “Hippo” never feels claustrophobic. There is a perverse, amoral and compelling world to explore thanks to the complexities of each of the three leads. Jesse Pimentel also has a supporting role as Darwin, a potential suitor of Buttercup’s (they met, if memory serves, on Craigslist).

The picture, set in the 1990s, is shot in black and white and “Hippo” is worth a watch just on a visual level. The great news is the narrative is well executed and original. It’s no surprise that filmmakers David Gordon Green (“George Washington”) and “The Righteous Gemstones” collaborators Jody Hill and Danny McBride are among “Hippo’s” associate producers.

“Hippo” is now playing at New York’s Quad Cinema, and it will roll out to Los Angeles and Seattle in the coming weeks. For more info, check out Hippo’s website.

Check out our “Hippo” review on YouTube or on this week’s CinemAddicts episode. The podcast also features Eric’s interview with Mark H. Rapaport and Kimball Farley:

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