Review Tuesday: DOGTOOTH (2009)

 

 

DOGTOOTH

2009

Manipulative parents have stunted their adult children's mental and psychological growth.

A friend of mine has been recommending all manner of media to absorb, and I have been happy with each, so when she suggested DOGTOOTH, I couldn't say no!

 

It starts off strange, immediately. It's filmed in Greece, and is about a Greek family. I had a bad feeling right away! A father brings home a blind-folded to have sex with his adult son. The son acts child-like, so you wonder if he has some development challenges. The you meet his two adult sisters, who have the same child-like mentality, while have some sophisticated knowledge. They seem fully functional, just child-like. As the movie progresses, you realize there is something seriously disturbing afoot - that the parents purposely keeping these three in this state, supposedly for their own protection. That is, until they lose their DOGTOOTH. When a person loses their dogtooth, one of their canines, they are ready to venture out into the world, and out of the family compound.

 

The movie is this insane downward spiral as outside influences impact the "children" and their thought processes and behaviors. 

 

Gotta admit, as FUBAR as this thing was it was also pretty compelling. Watching the parents manipulate the kids and seeing these adults act like small children was disturbing. My friend described it as a psychological experiment gone wrong, and I would whole-heartedly agree! Not for the feint of heart, but it's compelling in its inhumanity. It is NOT hilarious! WTF is wrong with the NYT??? This is a psychological horror film!!!

Watch it on AMAZON