Night of the Dog

Just got back from the Palm Beach International Film Festival where it was too windy...and there was too much catfish on the menu. Anyway, as there is at every fest I attend, there was one film that snunk out of the bushes and blew this old man away. I'm no prude, but NIGHT OF THE DOG made me blush for laughing at extreme violence, perversity (especially one character's "f**k banter") and character's so stupid and lovable...well shoot, I wished I was back in my old days on the college campus. This is one wild, hysterical ride...and I have no doubt you'll be hearing all the unforgettable line whisper beyond the herb-smelling doors of dorm rooms before too long. It's funny...most indie films and filmmakers worry so much about the "look" and "message" of indie and art films, they produce lifeless, yet polished, garbage. NIGHT OF THE DOG makes the story and energy their first priority, like "Clerks," "Slacker" and "Stranger than Paradise" before them. It was the toast of Palm Beach and I was happy to join in on the fun.

Night of the Dog is a night that almost makes me want to get a dog. The writing is such that you almost think it wasn't written, it all flows so smoothly. You think the camera just followed these guys around for the night. The acting substantiates this illusion. Peter Michael Donovan is brilliant as the guy helping out his friend (even if it's not by sleeping with the guy's girlfriend), & Jeremy Catalino brings the terror of a man on the run right up to your face & wags its briefs-clad fear inches from your nose. Eshom Nelms is very believable as the frustrated antenna-ball artist who finds a new career thanks to the next-door neighbors. The drama & surprises keep it exciting while the comedy keeps the surprises pleasant. Not one for the kiddies. Oh, & the original music by Peter Donovan is as catchy as anything you'd hear on The O.C. Look for the alternate ending on the DVD.

I also caught this film at the Palm Beach Film Festival. It was very entertaining, and I thought it an outstanding freshman effort. I hope it gets wider release. I can picture this as the next cult film, like "Office Space". Very entertaining. Some of the story lines were uneven, but the acting was superb, and my friend and I laughed the whole way through. Good luck to the filmmakers, and anyone who has a chance to catch this little gem, please do. It will be time well spent.

This movie is really 4 stories about lousy romances, linked by the fact that all the men in the film work together at a movie theater. I don't want to spoil it and go into too much detail, but the funniest one in my opinion was the "phonebook" sequence. And yes, the filmmakers did all work at a "fascist" (their words) movie theater, which acted partly as their inspiration.

I saw this movie at the SMMASH film festival in Excelsior. I thought it had great dialog and was just about the most hilarious thing I've seen in a while. The acting was all good, all believable. The thing I liked most about the film was its range. It has four inner-cut stories that go from pee your pants funny to I'm crying in my cheerios. The film takes six friends through a crazy night dealing with their girlfriends. I don't want to ruin anything for anyone who hasn't seen this so I'm just going to say go and see it, you won't be disappointed. At the end of the screening they showed an alternate ending. It takes all of the characters an puts them on the set of making their own porno. They all have different jobs and I haver to say about that is "I am the long sheriff, this is the wet town."

Night of the Dog is seriously funny. The irony of the situations and the predicaments these men get into is absolutely hilarious. I'd recommend seeing it to anyone with an appreciation for dark comedy; not to mention a crave for a little mischief. Oh, and if you think your life sucks, I bet money it won't/can't get any worse than the crazy "Emily" situation, The woman and her phone books, or the absolute insane "detective" work done by a man who is determined to discover the truth. There's an array of jealousy, animosity, love, friendship, lust, will, and hot dogs. If that's not enough to make you want to see it, I don't what is!