Hounddog

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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”© Empire Film Group. All rights reserved