Review of Man Bites Dog (1992) by Selven K — 25 Oct 2007

This 1992 Belgian pseudo-documentary in French goes places that few others have dared to venture. This is strictly non-mainstream fare which makes movies with reputations like Clockwork Orange and Reservoir Dogs seem like Disney films in comparison.

Though the film is grim in nature, it is laced with a morbid sense of humour that ensures we do not take the proceedings all too seriously. It is an achievement in itself .that as macabre as it maybe that the filmmakers have managed to derive humour out of this material; though general audience would probably be too overwhelmed by the brutality and wickedness of it all to appreciate that.

Remy Belvaux who directed this film and who also plays himself in the film did not go on to direct too many features after this. He certainly won't be in the future because he took his own life just a year ago. Make of that what you will.