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We begin with testicles—titan-sized testicles yanked clean from the pelvis of a slumbering devil by a wandering man in chains. That opening is metal Af and unforgettable, and just about par for the course across this rotoscopic animated film by brother filmmakers Lauris and Raitis Abele—a gloomy squall of flesh, faith, and fucking that harkens back to the gory, glory days of Heavy Metal magazine and adult fantasy animation of the 1980s.

In the 17th century, an unholy darkness grips the Livonian village of Zaube. Domineering local pastor Bukholcs (Regnars Vaivars), with the help of his lame, acquiescent adoptive son and servant, Klibi (Jurgis Spulenieks), tries to lead his flock down a path of righteousness, but standing in his way is the people’s reliance on local alchemist and tavern maid Neze (Agate Krista). After the theft of a holy relic from his bedroom, Bukholcs accuses Neze of witchcraft,...

The eye-popping trailer for animated feature Dog of God has debuted ahead of the film’s Tribeca Festival premiere.

Lauris Abele and Raitis Abele directed the movie from a script they co-wrote with Ivo Briedis and Harijs Grundmanis. Media Move is handling global sales on the film that began screening at the Cannes market last month, when Esc Films acquired French rights for the project ahead of a planned release later this year.

Created with rotoscope animation, Dog of God is set in the 17th century and focuses on a woman accused of witchcraft and how her trial uncovers the existence of a werewolf. The footage includes a scene in which a Hitler look-alike is tortured.

Jurgis Spulenieks, Kristians Karelins, Einars Repse, Agate Krista, Regnars Vaivars and Armands Bergis round out the voice cast for the Latvian production. Producing the film are Raitis Abele for Tritone Studio and Kristele Pudane,...

Exclusive: Paris-based Esc Films has acquired all French rights for animated thriller Dog of God ahead of its world premiere in Tribeca in June.

The film has been launched for sales at Cannes by Berlin-based Media Move ahead of the New York debut.

Dog of God is directed by Lauris Abele and Raitis Abele and produced under the banner of their Riga-based film production company Tritone Studio. They also take writing credits with Ivo Briedis and Harijs Grundmanis.

The feature follows in the wake of the Oscar for Latvian animated feature Flow but the adult skewed work is very different from family-focused Academy Award winner.

In the film, rotoscope animation sets the stage for 17th century story about a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.

The Latvian production includes the voices of Jurgis Spulenieks, Kristians Karelins,...