Christmas Eve was a busy day for my family and we spent most of it at two get-togethers, but prior to them, I had AMC on mainly as background noise, but a movie came on I couldn't believe gripped my attention as much as it would. Prancer (1989) isn't the kind of film I figured would ever necessarily hold my attention, but because of its wintry Midwestern setting, and the lead little actress (Rebecca Harrell) who is a fierce, stubborn, fearless character (her scene pleading with animal doc Abe Vigoda to help the possible Santa reindeer, Prancer, not taking no for an answer despite his every possible effort to free her grip from the door of his car is an example of just how spirited she is at accomplishing something she sets her mind to) wanting to help a wounded reindeer and stay at home with her dad instead of being sent off to live with an aunt (Sam Elliot, the father, a man-of-few-words, hardened, and tough guy who does love her but believes she would be better off with a woman who could offer more stability and better nurturing than he can give), Prancer just simply won me over. I have told you, I'm an honest guy, even if you might consider me a pussy. I just look at this girl who will fight tooth and nail when she believes in a cause, and such integrity/perseverance, not to mention, a will to help that reindeer, have it return to Santa (she believes in him wholeheartedly, while others wish she would grow up), and somehow convince her father than moving away is just giving up, that he should reconsider his stance.
We, horror fans, know the director, John D Hancock, from his excellent spook-show, Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and he gives this film a stark, bleak outlook for a farmer whose way of living is in dire straits (he damn near insists that Harrell lives with her aunt because of his difficult situation, not seemingly willing to argue with her and accept her heartfelt, sincere cries against this decision). There's nothing spectacular about the town they live; it's grey, cold, and scarcely populated. Cloris Leachman looks like an aging witch, staying in her home, basically secluding herself from others due to the way her person is treated with notoriety and mockery (the kids, especially, are more than a bit rude). Harrell, of course, makes her way into Leachman's life, a positive influence, in that kind of sub plot that motivates change and gradual re-emergence from hermitage. Because Prancer offers Elliot a means to get some financial leeway during his tough financial stretch, Harrell sets out to rescue the reindeer from a cage exhibit that sits outside a butcher's store, making him a steady profit. Harrell's agonizes while Elliot seethes with regret and guilt. Through an attempt to rescue Prancer, suffering a fall from a tree, injuring herself, Harrell is able to bring a community awareness to just the kind of character this little girl has...and forces Elliot to look at his mistakes and failure to regard his daughter's feelings and re-access their current predicament. Prancer, not a movie I was expecting to like at all; it was a startling surprise.
Christmas Eve was a busy day for my family and we spent most of it at two get-togethers, but prior to them, I had AMC on mainly as background noise, but a movie came on I couldn't believe gripped my attention as much as it would. Prancer (1989) isn't the kind of film I figured would ever necessarily hold my attention, but because of its wintry Midwestern setting, and the lead little actress (Rebecca Harrell) who is a fierce, stubborn, fearless character (her scene pleading with animal doc Abe Vigoda to help the possible Santa reindeer, Prancer, not taking no for an answer despite his every possible effort to free her grip from the door of his car is an example of just how spirited she is at accomplishing something she sets her mind to) wanting to help a wounded reindeer and stay at home with her dad instead of being sent off to live with an aunt (Sam Elliot, the father, a man-of-few-words, hardened, and tough guy who does love her but believes she would be better off with a woman who could offer more stability and better nurturing than he can give), Prancer just simply won me over. I have told you, I'm an honest guy, even if you might consider me a pussy. I just look at this girl who will fight tooth and nail when she believes in a cause, and such integrity/perseverance, not to mention, a will to help that reindeer, have it return to Santa (she believes in him wholeheartedly, while others wish she would grow up), and somehow convince her father than moving away is just giving up, that he should reconsider his stance. 
We, horror fans, know the director, John D Hancock, from his excellent spook-show, Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and he gives this film a stark, bleak outlook for a farmer whose way of living is in dire straits (he damn near insists that Harrell lives with her aunt because of his difficult situation, not seemingly willing to argue with her and accept her heartfelt, sincere cries against this decision). There's nothing spectacular about the town they live; it's grey, cold, and scarcely populated. Cloris Leachman looks like an aging witch, staying in her home, basically secluding herself from others due to the way her person is treated with notoriety and mockery (the kids, especially, are more than a bit rude). Harrell, of course, makes her way into Leachman's life, a positive influence, in that kind of sub plot that motivates change and gradual re-emergence from hermitage. Because Prancer offers Elliot a means to get some financial leeway during his tough financial stretch, Harrell sets out to rescue the reindeer from a cage exhibit that sits outside a butcher's store, making him a steady profit. Harrell's agonizes while Elliot seethes with regret and guilt. Through an attempt to rescue Prancer, suffering a fall from a tree, injuring herself, Harrell is able to bring a community awareness to just the kind of character this little girl has...and forces Elliot to look at his mistakes and failure to regard his daughter's feelings and re-access their current predicament. Prancer, not a movie I was expecting to like at all; it was a startling surprise.
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