Potential Spoiler Alert
Vampire Hunter D better look out. There’s a new antihero in town, and his name is Dog of God! This character is more creepy than charming; given the movie’s title, I looked into its production history. And when the storylines of both are similar, I’m going to have a tough time deciding on who is the better hero.
This animated film made by Latvian filmmakers Lauris and Raitis Abele has lots of elements to like. It’s presented as a parable. When they drew inspiration from the court case where the Thiess of Kaltenbrun was accused of theft, he admitted to being a werewolf. It’s a story that might surprise even history buffs. According to records, officials brought an 82-year-old man to court, where he admitted to being a werewolf. He recounted his battles against witches and wizards who served the devil, and as an emissary of his mighty Lord and saviour, he’s out to do good rather than evil–which humanity is having trouble believing!
Rotoscoping creates an uncanny valley effect, which can sometimes effectively convey magical realism rather than grounding the work. The fluid-like design is great for moments where I thought I’d see Thiess (Einars Repše) transform, but alas I counted only one where the change is clear.
With Buckholz (Regnārs Vaivars) far from a pure man of the cloth, and Baron Klodt (Kristian Karelins) driven by carnal desires, the werewolf’s presence feels justified. They’ll buck any female willing to accept them, and it is up to this emissary from God to teach them a lesson! When this priest has affections for tavern operator Neze (Agate Krista) and she sees him for what he is, even she deserves redemption despite being accused of witchcraft!
That’s when Klibi (Jurgis Spulenieks)’s purpose becomes clear. He must make a choice between helping the wolf and the barkeep. After living in fear because Buckholz has never been his ideal “Father,” he’ll need help to escape his prison. The situation is the perfect entry point for the emissary from God to enter!
As a folktale, there are plenty of unsettling truths that get revealed. Some of it includes the hypocrisy that exists within the Church system, and others concern the probable events that caused the paranoia towards witches. The former regards some disciples as sheep, to be used, and the latter mirrors what we know concerning some Witch trials. They’re born out of paranoia (or eating mushrooms). While horror fans might expect a certain level of gore to be included, the film ultimately subverts expectations and goes for a true art-house style approach to reveal decay, torture, and pain.
While many horror films revel in visceral depictions of violence, Dog of God subverts these expectations, opting for a surprisingly restrained yet equally impactful approach. What happens next is not altogether surprising, and I’m happy to see these filmmakers take a different direction regarding how to end a movie. Unlike typical European werewolf tales that often end in death, ‘Dog of God’ offers a refreshing, art-house take on why Lycans exist for a greater good and persist in legend!
4 Stars out of 5
Dog of God Movie Trailer
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