A DOG CALLED…VENGEANCE: One Persistent Pooch!

A DOG CALLED…VENGEANCE (Blu-ray)

1978 / 115 min

FROM SEVERIN FILMS

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bastard😼

A weird-ass mash-up of prison escape film, animal attack movie and political thriller, A Dog Called…Vengeance (on-screen title, The Dog) is narratively all over the place, but sometimes outrageously entertaining. It also shows (literally) a lot more of actor Jason Miller than we might be prepared to see.

The only American in this Spanish production (and dubbed by another actor), Miller plays Ari, a political prisoner languishing in a Venezuelan prison run by a cruel warden at the behest of fascist dictator Omar Romero (Aldo Sambrell). After escaping, he’s hunted by tracker Zancho and his vicious dog. But even though Ari manages to kill Zancho, the dog continues the pursuit. This leads to several violent clashes as Ari makes his way cross-country, including a lengthy segment where he’s fighting the pooch completely naked (pretty ballsy on Miller’s part, in more ways than one).

Romero is apparently a very unpopular president indeed, because damn near everyone Ari meets is ready to help him avoid capture, including a resistance group who already know of his escape. I’m still not sure how protecting Ari fits into their assassination plans, but it does afford him the opportunity to hop between the sheets with a few ladies, including old girlfriend Muriel (Lea Massari), who fathered Romero’s son while he was incarcerated. We’re also treated more of Miller in the buff. He’s a pretty hairy guy, by the way.

Giving the dog a bath is always an ordeal.

Meanwhile, he’s relentlessly stalked by the dog, which has the uncanny ability to stay on his trail even after Ari is miles away in the big city. My absolute favorite scenes have the dog trotting around town looking for Ari, like something straight out of The Incredible Journey. In fact, the best parts of the film are those featuring the dog, whether attacking others or seeking out his quarry. Less interesting are the story’s political aspects, but they do set up a surprise ending I didn’t see coming.

A Dog Called…Vengeance is kind of a crazy film, but well assembled and fast paced (though a few superfluous sex scenes briefly stall the momentum). In addition to the animal action, there are a couple of well-executed shoot-outs and bursts of violence. As the protagonist, Miller delivers a solid - and somewhat brave - physical performance, relying on a minimum of dialogue. However, it's kinda weird seeing him smile on occasion. He usually looks so damn solemn.

EXTRA KIBBLES

A FILM AHEAD OF ITS TIME - I know if I necessarily agree with that, though Sitges Film Festival’s programming director states his case with a entertaining appreciation.

INTERVIEWS - Memories of a Guerrilla Woman features actress Marisa Paredes, who was married to director Antonio Isasi for eight years and offers affectionate anecdote about him and the film; Daughter of Titans features the director’s daughter, Maria Isasi, as well as Marisa once again.

SPANISH & ENGLISH VERSIONS

TRAILER