Dark Horse (US, 2011)

I've long been a Todd Solondz fan, since seeing Storytelling in QFT on my first visit to Belfast in 2001, following a never-to-be-surpassed 6 weeks inter-railing around central Europe. In particular his daring black humour, and the fact I can frequently relate to the sometimes pathetic, edgy, marginalised misfits, misfortunates and minorites who populate his freaky shows.

Selma Blair reprises her role as Vi from the hilarious Storytelling 10 years later as an anomic, heavily medicated, still aspiring writer living at home with her folks. After a brief meeting with loser Richard, Vi/Miranda casually accepts an out-of-the-blue proposal of marriage. Their relationship becomes complicated through illness and accident, while Richard must negotiate difficulties at his job in his father's company. Christopher Walken plays a not very Walken-esque Richard's father, Mia Farrow's in there too, and Donna Murphy as Marie pretty much steals the show towards the end.

Unfortunately managed to miss this during last month's Belfast Film Festival. 'Misanthropic' is frequently used to describe Solondz's work, I would tend to view it more as articulate, dark humour. Dark Horse may not be Solondz's best film, but it's a good one and retains his trademark qualities.