Dogtooth (2009)
Summary
Genre: Comedy, DramaGoodies:
+ Very weird, but very intriguing characters, + Innovative plotBaddies:
- Not for everyone, - Some graphic images that some may not likeRating: 
Dogtooth is a very unique viewing experience. I haven’t seen a whole lot of Greek films, but I will not judge their cinema based on this film – because it is obvious this is not the norm of any countries film type. The whole experience of this film is a great metaphor for “Nature vs. Nurture” with a HUGE leaning towards nurture – a film about how control from a young age can inform the people we become, our nuances, and our entire mental facility.
Dogtooth is a very unique viewing experience. I haven’t seen a whole lot of Greek films, but I will not judge their cinema based on this film – because it is obvious this is not the norm of any countries film type. The whole experience of this film is a great metaphor for “Nature vs. Nurture” with a HUGE leaning towards nurture – a film about how control from a young age can inform the people we become, our nuances, and our entire mental facility. The film, about a very controlling father (not specifically in an abusive way until later in the film) who almost uses his children as an experiment for how he wishes to create a person. For example, taking labels off of products, so that everything in their world is generic. The children (teenagers at this point), are so messed up from their lack of socialization and views from the outside world that they are taught to believe that certain words mean what they don’t actually – zombies are small yellow flowers, the sea is a leather sofa-chair, etc. In some ways, it is an interesting conversation about meanings and norms in any society, but more disturbingly the limits of control dominate the theme of this film. A very interesting study of parenting and ‘learning’ make the film worthwhile on multiple levels. Be warned, there are some very uncomfortable parts in the film – but the odd thing is that as you watch the film, you almost believe the normalcy to be their sole situation and makes things that would normally be very uncomfortable only slightly uncomfortable. It’s a hard dynamic to explain, but Dogtooth may end up being the most unique film I have seen this year (and it’s only February!). Go see it!
this was a weird weird movie.
It def. was very odd on many levels, but it interested me in such a unique way – there was an odd yet fascinating tension that was presented to deal with, and it made really think and involve myself with the story and characters despite their neurotic and disturbing sense of control and socialization.