‘DogMan’ Review – A Zany, Clever And Surrealistic Thriller

Ruckus. Wild. Crafty. These are just a few of the words describing DogMan. The film, written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Luc Besson (Léon: The Professional, Taken), crafts a surreal, outrageous, but doggone enjoyable film. The story focuses on a boy who, after being abused by his father, finds solace and friendship in man’s best friend. Dogs become his salvation, and in a film that blurs the line between reality and fantasy, this zany thriller shows the power of four-legged justice.

DogMan opens with the arrest of now-adult Douglas, played brilliantly by Caleb Landry Jones. When he faces questioning for a criminal past and driving a truck full of dogs, he meets psychiatrist Evelyn (Jojo T. Gibbs). Douglas proceeds to recount his life story from childhood to the present day. The framing of flashbacks, intercut with Douglas’s at-times quirky and playful banters, makes for an amusing exposition. Tragedy laces his childhood; losing the use of his legs, he must use a wheelchair, forming few attachments other than those of dogs he both finds and rescues.

The film straddles the lines between an absurd drama and an emotional thriller. Early in the film, during his childhood, Douglas is injured and experiences a rebirth via dogs, which brings to mind the scene in Batman Returns when stray cats resurrect Selina Kyle. Douglas declares vengeance on the world but never outright becomes a villain or even rises as a hero. He is an antihero or almost a jester-like character. Morally loose, but spiritually guided. Douglas is seen forming a bond with his canines and even becomes an amateur Robin Hood. The dogs steal from the rich to bring about his belief in the redistribution of wealth. In addition to the robbery exploits, he operates something of a protection service vis a vis the dogs while moonlighting as a drag queen. DogMan never takes itself too seriously and allows for endless enjoyment.

Besson is no stranger to action and high stakes. He utilizes dogs in various scenes, which border on the outright comical to the downright intense. Even though there is a farcical element to dogs taking on armed gang members and orchestrating robberies, Besson keeps the tension tight with superb cinematography. The film’s scope is enormous, and most importantly, Caleb Landry Jones has carte blanche to ham up his character while playing it with riveting pathos.

DogMan borrows inspiration from films like Taxi Driver and Joker. A scene in a police car and the purple suit Douglas sports in the finale evoke memories of the latter film. There is a surrealist angle that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. The audience will judge if this entire drama is real or contrived in Douglas’s head. However, Jones’s sincerity in the role will undoubtedly have people cheering on this complicated would-be protagonist.  

The film could be better stitched. The plot takes incredible left and right turns with almost no notice or warning. One moment, there is a loss of love; the next, a dog is tearing someone limb from limb. However, those sudden jerks in tone are never enough to turn DogMan into inedible dog chow. While the film rightly focuses on Douglas, Evelyn uniquely contrasts his character. They begin as opposites at the start, but by the film’s conclusion, they are far from the patient-doctor paradigm. Douglas playfully remarks that the pain in their lives links them. 

DogMan will not be four-paws with all audiences. From the first scene to the end, the film requires a significant suspension of disbelief. However, those who stick with the film and enjoy the incredulous romp of events may find something that elicits a smile and more than a few oddly-timed laughs. Moreover, dog lovers are welcome, and this film embraces that mantra—full stop. DogMan is undoubtedly the most outrageous film I’ve seen this year, but it’s unlikely to be the most forgettable.   

DogMan will open in select theaters on March 29, 2024, courtesy of Briarcliff Entertainment. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJSX_o-MvYs]