An allegory about imprisonment and the savage nature of humans when given total freedom? I guess. But more ostensibly the movie is demented, bizarre, and uncompromisingly honest. Like these little people are spilling their souls for Herzog and the audience. The movie is disturbing in a way I've never experienced before. There is something deeply disconcerting about watching Hombre standing and chuckling at a kneeling camel for three minutes. It strikes a chord in me that has never been struck.

I've been a little skeptical and apprehensive about this film, but it was a pleasant surprise. It's not the big gimmick I was expecting it to be. I may not completely understand it, but the surrealism pushes all the right buttons for me. Fascinating stuff.

This was so weird.

Disturbing but compelling viewing.

Herzog filters our perception of reality through dense levels of absurdity and farcical situations. The dwarves are rebellious, cunning, indignant... and at times gleeful, either way they seem to become more and more carefree as they break their bonds of institutionalisation via acts of increasing violence and destruction. There are some truly remarkable shots here. We are forced to look at ourselves through the mirror of the sublime, and the results are ever so suprising.

Rebellious dwarfs having some fun - that's a cool and weird idea. But that's not interesting to watch for over 90 minutes considering there's hardly any plot and I can't see any point of it.

This movie is what they have on loop in the 9th level of hell.

"An artsy, dull, allegorical study by Herzog on antiestablishmentarianism and the free human spirit portrayed by some undefined establishment and its rebelling members/students/patients. The whole cast consists of dwarves, perhaps to point out a system that is too big, impractical and inappropriate for an enjoyable and free life."

Way too tedious and long but I'm fairly certain that dwarf laughing is what my mind is going to conjure up at the moment of my death.

Herzog's extremely weird film opens with the most irritating music in the world. The entire cast consists of dwarves - Herzog even found a little Miss Kinski! I think they are supposed to be inmates in a mental institution that rebelled. Now that they can do anything they want, they have no clue what to do. This one might be TOO weird to enjoy alone... it should be watched with others I think. I have no clue what to rate it so I am just hitting my number pad a couple times and going with that.

Heavy on symbolism and imagery, short (sorry) on plot and character; mankind breaks free of its cruel prison and proceeds to destroy and torture. At times disturbing, hilarious or both, but I have a feeling Herzog said much the same to better effect in Aguirre.

One of the clearest examples of Herzog's favorite adjective: "ecstatic", as the surface of the film continuously erupts with intensities. Beautiful and terrifying.

This is what Gremlins would look like if it were made by Buńuel.

dull and tedious. -1 for the monkey crucifixion

Aimless and absurd, but it works. I'm no animal rights activist by any stretch of the imagination but the crucified monkey and dead pig scenes knock this down a few points and keep it out of Tier 9. I could, however, listen to Hombre laugh for days. I'll probably dream (or nightmare?) about that laugh.

83.750

A film with a cast exclusively composed of dwarfs ought to be less boring than this. I understood what Herzog was trying to say but come on, this could be edited down to a 15-minute short and nothing valuable would be lost.

An adjusted look at general madness. What occurs within Even Dwarfs Started Small is a collection of absurdity, a revelry of the unusual and an assortment of the sublimely odd. There's little in here that does not entertain, and when those segments which do not entertain serve to establish an unusual tone for the film. Nothing goes without purpose, while it can be argued whether or not the film truly has a purpose it's besides the point, as the film is very Lynchian in its circus of atmosphere.

To call this a mindfuck would be an understatement; this is what happens when Herzog takes his dreams and creates pure celluloid nightmare fuel. Bizzare for the sake of it, chaotic, provocative, slow, unforgetable. 96 minutes of childish dwarfs screaming, laughing - oh, do they laugh - and crucifying monkeys, definitely not for anyone. I need to find a way to wash my brain

Very out there and definitely classic Herzog material. It never clicked with me as much as I would of liked however. For me its low tier Herzog but that's still a good time. A particular drawf's laugh is going to stay with me for quite some time.

A bizarre and utterly unique movie, and one of Herzog's best.

Like a modern Lynch film (only without the unnerving emotional intensity), the viewer is alienated and is forced to dwell in the images; it's a shame that only a handful of them carry any visually engaging qualities. It has a strong sense of artistic purpose, but it just seems strung together haphazardly. In a nutshell, it just never reaches it's full potential.

Hypnotic. So bizarre and surreal, and Herzog's incredible ability to create whole new unique worlds is at its best here. Highly rewatchable.

My favorite Herzog film, and one that is better experienced than explained.

I was certain I wouldn't like this movie, and yet I found myself entranced by the weirdness of it all. There may be little point to it all (one could say it makes some observations about sanity, or freedom, but that'd be a stretch) but it's so entertainingly odd, and beautifully photographed, that it's a pleasure to watch.

if there are more fucking nightmarish films than this i hope i never come across them

The first time I saw this film, it was something I truly did not know what to think of. It was the Eraserhead of German cinema, but after a repeat viewing, and an understanding of Herzog's work, it was extremely entertaining, and definitely more understandable. Great Herzog.

Absolutely crazy and bizarre but it's a great and singular movie experience. Somehow all of this madness works.

Daring and provocative, but ultimately I didn't really get a lot out of it; the amount of animal abuse in this film was also a bit too much for me to handle.

Unforgetable and chaotic, only Herzog could make a film like this. Full of strange events and characters that entertain, this is really fine absurdism. The score is excellent too.

...so surreal...so surreal.

I appreciate Herzog at his weirdest. I really do. But there was an underlying disturbing aspect of this film that really got to me. As Herzog describes, this certainly is a film of "wildest nightmares," and the relentless nature of its insanity was a bit too much for me to "enjoy." If you can put it that way.

Watched for completion because I like Herzog, but certainly not one of my favorites. I can appreciate what he's trying to do (per his own description) but the film never really takes off for me. It feels more aimless than chaotic and I think some of it could have been left on the editting room floor (do we really need Hombre laughing at a freaking camel for 10 minutes?) Disappointing.

A bizarre film entirely about the antics of rebellious midgets. A lesser filmmaker would surely have turned this into something distasteful or a stupid allegory, but Herzog invests incredible sensitivity, attention to detail and general cinematic prowess, and the result is astounding. The acting, photography and music are perfect. It's a one-of-a-kind movie and I can guarentee you'll never see anything like it.

this film is undoubtedly the product of an acid flashback, and is about as entertaining as stirring oatmeal for three hours. it does, however, prove a point; no matter how bad an actor you are, if you're a dwarf you can always get a job in film.