‘Muzzle’ Review – A Cop Thriller That Goes To The Dogs

Audiences expecting a canine to take a bite out of crime will find Muzzle, starring Aaron Eckhart, a pedestrian cop thriller with some bark and no bite. While Eckhart adds some resonance to the familiar story of a cop with a troubled past trying to rebuild his life, the movie ultimately goes in myriad directions, leading nowhere and delivering a hurried finale.

The movie opens on a solid yet gut-wrenching note. Amid a scene of urban decay, audiences meet Eckhart’s Officer Jake Rosser and his K-9 partner Ace. While on patrol, they become caught up in a shoot-out that, after a chase, leaves Ace dead and Rosser on suspension. Rosser is a hot head reeling with PTSD, filled with a past riddled with wrong choices. The loss of his four-legged partner and friend enhances his loneliness and plight. The death of Ace serves as the movie’s lynchpin, and after his suspension, Rosser finds himself teaming with another K-9 named Socks. Accentuated by two titanium teeth in her mouth, she is grizzlier than Ace and hails from a mysterious past, making her the perfect companion for Rosser. Once together, they embark on a mission to hunt down Ace’s killer.

The idea of two damaged souls bonding together is compelling, mainly when one is a four-legged companion. The movie is at its best when Rosser and Socks are together. There is a tender scene earlier on after Rosser takes her in, where they share a microwave meal in his apartment. On the case, they peel through the seedy and corrupted soul of Los Angeles, trying to find the bad guys, recalling films like Turner and Hooch and Top Dog. However, unlike those two movies, this is no comedy. It ratchets up the grit and seriousness and finds itself leaning into melodrama, suggesting even a dark comedy angle might serve this story infinitely better.

The problem for Muzzle is the competing narratives need to offer more setup or pay-off instead of muzzling the story. The movie runs ninety minutes, which is both its strength and weakness. It is a slog in parts, mainly when there is a dump truckload of exposition. Ideas are left hanging, and what few ideas marinate are given nothing more than passing mention and then dropped without care. On one hand, this wants to be a story about a broken man finding a kindred spirit in the dog. On the other hand, it tries to be a cop thriller spotlighting the drug-infested underbelly of Los Angeles. There are elements of corruption, along with a ham-fisted love story, which all result in a tangled web of storylines not even a detection dog could sniff out.

Clarity on the story would be a start, as would be establishing a central villain. Hints are throughout, but more is needed to build a credible threat. The idea of Ace’s killer is there, but in the bloat of the story, it fails to materialize. The audience never has time to care nor invest fully enough in Rosser’s story as he struggles to put back together his life and avenge Ace. The ending is a rush, leaving the audience jolted and lacking closure.

However, the movie has effective points. Any dog lover will wince at the grizzly opening and feel their heartstrings tugging, and the police dog training montage Is engaging. Different parts offer the dog’s point
of view, especially when on the hunt, and these little flourishes provide a nice change of pace to the cop procedural. There is a ground-level approach to the movie regarding setting and cinematography. Director John Stalberg, Jr. removes the glitzy City of Angels, instead showing a trek through a dirty and crime-filled metropolis. Audiences may appreciate the harsh authenticity shown on screen, which gives some semblance of depth to the story.

The major strength of the movie is Eckhart, who plays a gritty yet wounded soul in need of redemption. While the story never rises to showcase his full range of talent, he delivers a layered performance grounded in believability. His tough-as-nails exterior compliments his four-legged co-star. The partnership between man and man’s best friend is where Muzzle tries to build its story but never finishes, ultimately finding itself in the doghouse.

Muzzle will debut in theaters and will be available to rent on digital platforms on September 29, 2023 courtesy of RLJE Films. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYY5QdEGEZw]