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

DANZA MACABRA, VOLUME THREE: Severin Goes To Spain

DANZA MACABRA, VOLUME THREE:

THE SPANISH GOTHIC COLLECTION (Blu-ray)

1971-1975 / 364 min (4 movies)

FROM SEVERIN FILMS

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

For the third volume of their Danza Macabra Blu-ray series, Severin Films sails across the Mediterranean to resurrect four Spanish gothic horror films from the early seventies. Like most boxed set collections, they vary in quality, but certainly serve up a selection of titles slightly left of the mainstream. 

1971’s Necrophagous (aka The Butcher of Binbrook) is arguably the goofiest, though atmospheric and teasingly ambiguous. However, the story ultimately ends up being a science project gone wrong, with Michael Sharrington (Bill Curran) messing around with human cells, turning people into monsters. He’s also dedicated enough to experiment on himself, with horrifying/amusing results. This is the only film presented in English.

Released the same year, Cake of Blood is a (mostly) historically-based anthology film that’s a bit more high-minded than your usual Amicus flick from the same era. As these types of films go, this one is surprisingly consistent. “Tarot” is as interesting riff on The Seventh Seal, while “Victor Frankenstein” boils Shelly’s story down to its bare essentials (it’s also also the weakest of the bunch). “Terror Among the Christians” features vampires terrorizing people during the Roman era. Finally, “The Dance” (the only story set in the present) has a hypnotic, haunting quality that’s enhanced by creative production design. Alas, no actual cake.

"Wake up! It's time for school!"

1974’s Cross of the Devil is probably the weakest movie in this collection. While not terrible, the story feels the most derivative. A writer heads to Spain to visit his sister after receiving an urgent letter, only to find she’s since been murdered. Naturally, he feels compelled to solve the mystery. This one draws obvious inspiration from the darker - and more compelling  - Blind Dead series. 

Despite the stupidly generic title, 1975’s The Night of the Walking Dead is easily the set’s best film. Also known as Strange Love of the Vampires (which is far more accurate), it’s a stylish, almost romantic tale of nasty villagers vs. sympathetic bloodsuckers. Caught in the middle is terminally ill Catherine (Emma Cohn), torn between an unlikable suitor and compassionate Count Rudolph (Carlos Ballesteros). This one is also the most violent of the four films, especially during the rousing final act.

Obviously, these titles are fairly obscure on this side of the pond. None of them are masterpieces, but fans of early 70s’ European gothic horror will find a lot to love here. Each film has been nicely restored and include some contextually interesting bonus material. Stored in a sturdy, well-designed box, they're also packaged in individual cases with their own unique cover art.

EXTRA KIBBLES

NECROPHAGOUS

SOMETHING YOU’VE NEVER SEEN - An appreciation by Angel Sala,. The head of programming of the Sitges Film Festival.

THE FIRST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD - Maria Pilar Rafales discusses the Sitges Film Festival.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By podcaster Andy Marshall-Roberts.

TRAILERS

CAKE OF BLOOD

INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with actress Marisa Paredes, co-director Jaime Chavarri and actor Jose Lifante.

AN ARTHOUSE UFO - Another appreciation by Angel Sala.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By podcaster Rod Barnett and author Dr. Adrian Smith.

CROSS OF THE DEVIL

INTERVIEW - With screenwriter Juan Jose Porto.

FANTASY AND IMAGINATION: THE LEGACY OF GUSTAVO ADOLFO BECQUER - Video essay about the director by author Xavier Aldana Reyes.

THE REAL TEMPLAR KNIGHTS MOVIE - Yet another appreciation by Angel Sala.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By authors Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw.

THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD

INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with actor Joes Lifante and writer Juan Jose Porto.

A DEADLY INVITATION TO ANOTHER DIMENSION - Angel Sala appreciates this one, too! Yay!

SPAIN’S CINEMATIC VAMPIRES - Video essay by author Xavier Aldana Reyes.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By author Kat Ellinger.

ALTERNATE SPANISH CREDIT SEQUENCE