Reviews & Ratings for
Dog More at IMDbPro »

12 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Not cheerful stuff but the performances (!) of the puppets is sublime, 30 August 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

A young boy and his father live in a dull, lonely house with the shadow of mourning hanging over them both. The boy misses his mother but gets no comfort from his father's ascertains that she went peacefully. This tragedy is added to by the family dog which is looking increasingly unhealthy.

The challenge of a short in some cases is to try and get a lot across enough story in a short time to make the film work in some way. That is the case here - the film is very short and has a lot of back story to tell us, indeed the back story IS the story. The background is delivered so well it's amazing. The final punch is the least subtle but up till then it's sublime. Little details, little expressions, little movements tell so much about the inner feelings. Even if it's pretty depressing it's still worth watching for the skill.

Did I mention these are not people but steel framed puppets? Puppets with fixed expressions? Yet they still manage to emote so very much and fill us in on the story. The only character I didn't like was the dog itself as I felt that it was made to look too desperate, to much at the end of the road! Though that may have been the point.

Overall this short and (bitter) sweet. It's not cheerful and is the exact opposite but the level of detail that is brought out through minor things should be seen to be appreciated - I've seen plenty of actors who could take a lot from this short.

0 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
The film looked amazing...too bad the story is such a downer., 13 September 2009

Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

When you see the film, you can't help but notice the amazing stop-motion puppets that were used to make DOG. They looked very realistic but also rather creepy because they were so realistic. This is heightened by the ultra-realistic and bleak story.

The film begins with a boy and his father mourning the loss of the mother. While it's never overtly said, it becomes evident later that the father is not only mourning but has Agoraphobia--the paralyzing fear of leaving his home for any reason. The little boy seems depressed. Later, the family dog appears to be dying outside and the father is almost helpless--only grabbing the dog by stretching from the door frame--keeping at least part of his body in the house due to his fear. The dog is obviously sick and probably dying, but because the man cannot let himself leave the home to get help for the animal, he kills it with his bare hands. At that moment, he looks up to see that his son probably witnessed this!! This is truly awful!

Overall, great animations and a horrific and disturbing story I hope never to see again.

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