He Was Once 35 years old

This bizarre parody of the animated religious children’s show Davey and Goliath uses actors but looks like Claymation because of the stop motion, distorted voices, giant prosthetic ears and hair and sets that make Pee-Wee’s Playhouse look realistic. Davey’s father whips him with a belt for saying that he saw a bear, though he really did see a bear, while his sister looks on in glee. His dog Goliath, actually a leopard-skin footrest with a grotesque tail, tries to help but gets whipped too. Oedipal dream sequences and Davey’s revenge are also highlights in this unforgettable and darkly hilarious suburban nightmare.

Credits

He Was Once Cast

Name	Character
Todd Haynes He was 28, now 63 years old	as Randy
Rob LaBelle	as Dad (voice)
Susan Norman	as Sally

He Was Once Crew

Name	Department
Stephen Kazmierski as Director of Photography.	Camera
Mary Hestand as Director.	Directing
Mary Hestand as Writer.	Writing