Zhangir Botabekov’s student film Horny compassionately and humorously explores the awkward moment when a young man finds himself unexpectedly attracted to his best friend.
Squeaks, a jackalope, sits in a mall, scrolling through his phone while waiting for his friend Fox (and Fox’s girlfriend). As he flips through photos of Fox, Squeaks’ horns begin to grow (nudge nudge, wink wink). Startled by his own reaction, he panics, struggling to understand what’s happening. Wandering the mall, overwhelmed by shame and uncertainty, his horns continue to grow. When Fox finally arrives, Squeaks must face his feelings — whether he’s ready or not.
There’s a welcome roughness to the film’s colorful design and animation that aptly reflects this deceptively simple story about sexuality, identity, and friendship. In lesser hands, Horny could have been reduced to a one-note sex joke. Instead, Botabekov crafts a thoughtful and empathetic exploration of queer identity and its initial confusion, embarrassment, and, ultimately, self-acceptance.
An …