The Dogs (1979) User Reviews

Day of the dog.

[dbdumonteil · 7/10 · 26 February 2005]

There 's nothing supernatural in "les chiens" ,but Alain Jessua's treatment gives us the strange feeling we are sometimes watching a sci-fi,fantasy and horror movie.The atmosphere seems irrational,and even the "good" heroine turns into an almost disturbing character.She was the victim of a rape and she bought a dog to protect her.In the town,a lot of people do the same,in spite of the mayor's opposition.Depardieu portrays the owner of kennels where he trains the future dog-handlers (we've got to call them like this because it's not longer the nice little pets).A movie about insecurity,like all Alain Jessua's movies of the seventies ,it was too ahead of its time for its own good.

At the end the movie ,the heroine has come full circle :she recognizes her rapist (or ,which is not the same,she thinks she recognizes him)and violence is about to break out again.

Hound's Tooth Chic

[writers_reign · 7/10 · 6 September 2008]

With the possible exception of a jockey - for which his build tends to disqualify him - Gerard Depardieu has, in a career spanning more or less four decades, taken on roles in a gamut that runs from A to about W so we shouldn't be that surprised to find him here as a breeder of 'attack' dogs who also trains would-be owners/handlers. Add to the mix a comely young woman who, in the wake of a vicious rape, acquires a dog and set of instructions from Depardieu; add further a zealous doctor, a spate of 'rogue' dog attacks on the good burghers of the ville and you have an offbeat yet strangely satisfying film. A selling point for me was the name of Fanny Ardant in the credits but this was only her third film and she has little to do other than wear a white uniform and look cute.

A terrific gem from France

[searchanddestroy-1 · 15 August 2014]

Just discovered this film recently. Such a shame that it was not earlier. Since 1979 it was made...It's a vigilante movie speaking of dogs used by ordinary law abiding citizens to defend themselves against...

Well this movie also speaks of racism, as already did the awesome DUPONT LAJOIE. Gerad Depardieu is outstanding here. I'll add a comment about him, on the Trivia line concerning his feature. Go and read it.

Nicole Calfan is also here at her ever best. A pretty Young female who nearly was raped and suddenly decides to get a fierce dog for her own safety. and guess what, she becomes somewhere one of the bad folks of the story. Don't miss the scene where she howls to her dog to kill a man. The poor innocent Young woman becomes at this moment a wild animal herself.

And another sequence with her too, when during a training scene with dogs, she also howls to her beast to bit the training man with his upholstered protection. Look at her face, she seems to make love when screaming her dog to bit the training man. Yes, folks, she literally makes love through her dog...Outstanding sequence !!!

Terrific.

A movie that makes you think long after the viewing.

A true masterpiece. The Alain Jessua's best piece of work.