DVD Corner

DogMan Blu-ray Review

“DogMan” is a strange, but unique Luc Besson film. 

“DogMan” begins with a wounded cross-dressing man (Doug) confined to a wheelchair being arrested and taken to a detention center.  He was found with a car full of dogs. How did he get here? What happened to him? Why does he have so many dogs? The full story unfolds when Doug begins to discuss his past with a psychiatrist (Dr. Evelyn). Doug has had a traumatic life since childhood. He and his dogs were abused by his father, his mother abandoned him, his father locked him up in a cage with his dogs, and his father shot and paralyzed him. His dogs were his only friends. After getting out of that situation, Doug’s life takes many turns as he performs Shakespeare plays in his youth alongside a teacher he has a crush on, becomes a drag queen, runs a dog shelter, starts a criminal enterprise in which his dogs steal valuables and offers up protection services with his dogs to local people (including those being terrorized by a gang leader named El Verdugo). 

Apparently it’s Luc Besson week here at DVDCorner with “La Femme Nikita” being reviewed yesterday and now his latest film “DogMan” getting ink today. The French writer/director tends to be known for action-thrillers, but that’s certainly not how “DogMan” would be characterized. There may be action scenes, but it’s more of a psychological character study about Douglas whose own faith and friendship with dogs helps him through his lifelong traumas. 

The story can be guilty of revealing too much backstory and going off on weird tangents (the claims adjuster plot is utterly ridiculous), but there’s something rather refreshing about this movie in that it’s unlike anything else in the film world at the moment. It plays like a cross between “The Pied Piper” and “The Crow” and even that doesn’t entirely feel like an apt description. It’s honestly rather surprising how it even got made in this challenging film marketplace.

There are two reasons “DogMan” works as well as it does- Caleb Landry Jones and the dog cast. Caleb Landry Jones has been a fascinating actor for well over a decade now with memorable performances in “Twin Peaks: The Return,” “Get Out,” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” to name a few. He’s a bold actor that always seems to go for a wide variety of roles. As Douglas, he gets a major lead role to seek his teeth into. He commits so deeply to the part that you forget he’s acting. However one may feel about the oddball movie itself, there’s no denying that Landry Jones is crushing it as Doug. As for the dog cast, they’re wonderful. The stunts (including a Home Alone esque house trap sequence) alone are a cinematic joy to behold. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a pristine hi-def print. 

Audio Track: 7.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? A crisp and clear 7.1 track.

No extras.

June 11, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Caleb Landry Jones, DogMan Blu-ray Review, Dogs, Luc Besson