DVD Corner

A Dog Called…Vengeance Blu-ray Review

“A Dog Called…Vengeance” deserves more attention.  

Based on a novel by Alberto Vάzquez Figueroa, 1977’s “A Dog Called…Vengeance” (AKA “The Dog”) is a simple, but layered story set in a South American country ruled by a Dictator known as Benefactor or The Dog. The central plot focuses on a political prisoner/mathematician (Ari) who escapes San Justo prison with valuable intel for the resistance movement. A man (Zancho) and his trained dog pursue him, but Ari manages to kill Zancho and evade the dog. The story does not end there, however, as the dog relentlessly tracks him (and boy does he track him). There’s also a key subplot involving Ari’s wife who is now with child and collaborating with the enemy.

The release of “A Dog Called…Vengeance” is precisely what makes boutique labels like Severin so special. They unearth obscure films, forgotten gems or never before released films like “A Dog Called…Vengeance.” Despite being made in the 70’s, director Antonio Isasi (who co-wrote the film alongside Juan Antonio Porto) made a multi-genre film that still feels incredibly fresh to this day. It’s a political thriller, an animal thriller, a survival thriller, a prison escape movie, and a manhunt movie all rolled into one. Even with budget limitations, Isasi gives the film a big scope with thrilling sequences (the escape down a steep mountain and the boat shootout), dazzling stunts, perfect location shooting, and inventive shots (also a credit to cinematographer Juan Gelpi). The editing by Carmen Frias is also top notch here and makes the pacing flow incredibly well.

One might think ‘Dog’ might become a bit tedious with the dog chasing Ari for a portion of the 115 minute runtime, but the movie takes a turn into the resistance element which almost feels like another film in and of itself.

Jason Miller (of “The Exorcist” fame) is the main star here as Ari. The underrated actor gives a truly bold and convincing performance in a physically demanding role. The actor even does segments of the film entirely nude during the prison escape! Now that’s commitment. Let’s not forget the German Shepherd’s performance either. A superb performance by a canine through and through. The movie wouldn’t work without it.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.66:1 1080p. Scanned in 2K from the original camera negative, this is a largely stunning restoration featuring vibrant colors. Yes, there’s a couple rough shots here and there, but that can be overlooked.

Audio Track: Spanish and English Mono. How do they sound? Both tracks are decent but definitely not high quality. The Spanish track provides better sound while the English track is a bit snowy.

Extras:
* “A Dog Called…Vengeance” trailer
* “Memories Of A Guerilla Woman”- A 21 minute interview with actress Marisa Paredes. Subjects range from Antonio Isasi to politics.
* “Daughter Of Titans”- A13 minute interview with Maria Isasi (the daughter of Antonio Isasi and Marisa Paredes) who talks about memories of her father, her upbringing, and behind-the-scenes production stories.
* “A Film Ahead Of Its Time”- Head Programmer of the Sitges Film Festival Ángel Sala sheds light on Antonio Isasi’s career and the daring originality of ‘Dog’ in this 14 minute interview.

October 4, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | 70's Movie, A Dog Called...Vengeance Blu-ray Review, Antonio Isasi, Political Thriller, Prison Escape Movie, Severin, Spanish Cinema, The Dog Movie