Women who claim abuse by Hammer speak out in doc
In the three-part Discovery+ docuseries “House of Hammer,” about allegations against actor
Armie Hammer, someone makes a sharp observation: “Nobody cared about anything but the word ‘cannibal.’ ” That’s because text messages — allegedly from Hammer (who declined to be interviewed for the series) to women with whom he was intimate — were made public last year, in which he talks about his cannibalistic fantasies. But those interviewed for the series are clear about other concerning aspects of his personal conduct they describe as manipulative, coercive, violent, abusive and possibly criminal.
“House of Hammer” also delves into the back story of the Hammer family itself, a saga of power and wealth going back several generations. Casey Hammer, who is Armie Hammer’s aunt, provides her own account of the family’s dynamics and inner workings, and why the allegations against her nephew sound, in her words, “familiar.”
Hammer first came to prominence playing the dual role of twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in the 2010 Facebook origin story “The Social Network,” later gaining a higher profile for his performance in 2017’s
“Call Me By Your Name.” But by early 2021, in the wake of allegations first aired on social media, he was dropped from upcoming projects — and by his representatives as well.
The aims of “House of Hammer” appear to be similar to those of the 2019 Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly,” giving
alleged victims an opportunity to tell their stories. Sexual sadism is a recurring theme. The whiplash of effusive compliments and near constant attention — love bombing — and then pushing women to go along with situations they say they found frightening or unsafe.
Directors Elli Hakami and Julian P. Hobbs adhere to Discovery’s true-crime house style, which tends toward lurid stylistic choices. Some interview subjects are seated in front of a background that suggests an artfully lit concrete bunker. The ominous musical score is full of grinding metallic sound effects. I find it all offensive and unnecessary because it detracts from the seriousness of the endeavor.
“House of Hammer” most prominently features Hammer’s ex-girlfriend Courtney Vucekovich.
She was too rattled to talk about a particular sexual encounter that she says left her so shaken, she ultimately ended things between them.
Another one of his alleged victims interviewed points out that Hammer “used BDSM (bondage, dominance, submission, sadism and
masochism) as a smokescreen ultimately to hurt women and inflict pain on women, which is the scariest part.”
There is also an explicit rape allegation made by a different woman, a client represented by attorney Gloria Allred, with the latter interviewed here. Allred makes the distinction that if you’re engaging in BDSM, it “doesn’t mean that anyone can do anything to anyone during a sexual relationship. If she withdraws her consent and he continues, that’s a crime.” (Hammer has not been charged with any crimes.)
The portions featuring Casey Hammer provide context that paints a picture of violence in the home growing up, dysfunction and includes possible statutory rape. While Casey gives her insight into what life was like inside her family, the series has less to say about her brother Michael, Armie’s father, once he got married and started a family of his own.
What were things like inside the home in which Armie was raised? No one here is able to say.