Review of Dogtooth (2009) by Lizzy D — 26 Apr 2012

"Soon your mother will give birth to two children and a dog.".

Synopsis: Homeschooled siblings who grow up cut off from society create an idyllic alternate universe, which is shattered when their father lets in an outsider -- a female security officer brought home to satisfy his son's libido.

Dogtooth represents everything that foreign cinema has to offer. Free from the judgmental studios whom judge a film not on it's quality but rather the firm's ability to market the picture to target audiences. Unhindered by the obstacles a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars would create. Quite simply, Dogtooth is cinema at it's most liberal.

And possibly at it's most disturbing and bizarre. If anything, Dogtooth is a picture you will not easily forget; it's execution is far too outlandish and it's themes/scenarios far too powerful, though the film's peculiarity opens the door for some very funny moments which round out a wonderful overall experience.

Undoubtedly some may claim the film is worthless and concerned with being nothing more than controversial, the film does have a very concrete, if somewhat ambiguous narrative. The picture can be viewed as a cautionary tale for overbearing and overprotective parents, or as a simple parody of how every family has it's quirks, and is effectively a single unit cut off from the rest of the world. Though be warned, the film is about family life but is the polar opposite of a family film, it's incredibly disturbing and not intended for consumption by minors.

Incredibly bizarre, shockingly disturbing, and at times funny, Dogtooth is why more people should watch foreign cinema.