Review: Dog Bites Man (2023)

Indie filmmakers make getting the most out of limited resources an art form. One recent film that is a good example of this is Dog Bites Man from Director Vincent Zambrano. While on a weekend getaway, a couple is attacked by a dog from a local village. While trying to contact the local dog warden, a rock is thrown through a window of the farmhouse they are staying in. When trying to escape they find the air has been let out of their tires, cell phones are locked in their car, and the dog has returned. They now find themselves trapped in the vacation house, cut off from the outside world and unwilling participants in a new Civil War. ​

Dog Bites Man is a completely character driven, dialog heavy movie that progresses like a stage play. I felt it was a really creative way to tell the story as well as cover the many topics discussed. When we are first introduced to our two characters, Darm and Evo, the initial dog attack has already happened. Darm, played by Andrew Rogers, is a poet who initially seems to be the braver of the two. Cade Morrison’s Evo is the more “ one. The dynamic between the two fluctuates throughout the movie. Overall, Darm seems to be more level-headed, but there are moments of paranoia and fear that seep through the cracks. When this happens, Evo then becomes the more rational of the two. Their topics of debate range from local bigotry towards their lifestyle, to anti-intellectualism, to whether they should just continue to try and enjoy their weekend regardless of the potential threat outside their door. These back and forth interactions explore how quickly things can escalate to “Us vs Them” and if such thinking is actually warranted. There is a running gimmick with the two debating if they should eat the ice cream in the kitchen or not. While this is funny, it also is an example of trying to find something comforting to latch on to while your brain is running a mile a minute in fear.

The direction and camera work kept things interesting considering the story focuses on just two people in one location. While much of the story is the banter between Evo and Darm, Zambrano does an excellent job of reminding the audience and the characters of the threat outside. These moments tend to happen just when our pair seems to be getting comfortable. I felt the message that was trying to be conveyed is that you always need to be on guard with your beliefs because they are always being challenged. If you get too comfortable, those beliefs could be squashed. There were a couple of times I questioned where the story was going. It was at those moments that things took a turn and the message became clearer.

Dog Bites Man is a talk-heavy film with a lot to unpack. This would be a very fitting movie to be shown in colleges to spark discussions, or possibly translated into a stage play. If you are looking for an action-filled story or a slap-your-knee type of comedy, then this is not going to be for you. But if you are interested in watching debates on current cultural topics performed by two very talented, charismatic individuals in a stage-like setting, then you will want to check this out. 

Dog Bites Man is now available on Amazon Prime Video:   www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CV2KM2GS/