Dogtooth (2009) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

Yorgos Lanthimos is an acclaimed Greek filmmaker, who most recently directed The Lobster, which, by many accounts, is very good and very weird. Many share the same sentiments about his 2009 breakout, Dogtooth, too. However, I will admit that it's very weird, I can't admit to it being very good.

Dogtooth is a family film, but it's in no way for families. The basic premise is that three adult children are held captive by their father in a nice estate. Their naiveties and their shelteredness drives a lot of the film's drama, which frankly, was too weird and too boring for me. Somehow, Lanthimos found a way to make his film both surprising and dull. There's only so much weird sex and dryness one can take before deciding it's all too much.

Is there an audience for Dogtooth? Definitely. Somehow, this movie was Academy Award nominated in the foreign language category. For me, though, I found Dogtooth too strange, too discomforting, and too alienating to appreciate. Perhaps all of this was Lanthimos' intention.

4.5/10