A BOY AND HIS DOG (1975) A Film Review Copyright Dragan Antulov 2001
When people hear the phrase "post-apocalyptic" films, they usually think about extremely violent low budget action films, set in deserts that are supposed to represent the modern civilisation turned into wasteland. Most of these films were made in late 1970s and early 1980s, inspired by the success of George Miller's MAD MAX 2 and new-born fears of nuclear annihilation in Reagan's year. However, post- apocalyptic films were made before late 1970s and they didn't always belong to the area of action genre. One of such examples is A BOY AND HIS DOG, 1975 black comedy directed by L.Q. Jones and based on the award-winning novella by well- known science fiction author Harlan Ellison.
The plot of this film is set in Arizona in the year 2024 A.D. The world had been devastated by nuclear war seventeen years ago, and the surface of the Earth is turned into desert, roamed by various drifters in search of food, drink and shelter. One of them is Vic (played by Don Johnson), eighteen-year-old boy whose only companion is Blood (voice by Tim McIntire), dog with whom he has telepathic connection. Blood's instincts, wisdom, knowledge experience help Vic in his everyday search for food, but so far Vic can't find the only thing on his mind - a girl. Finally, two of them stumble on a girl in the form of young Quilla June Holmes (played by Susan Benton) and rescue her from homicidal rapists and mutants. After a night of passionate love Quilla disappears and Vic, against Blood's better judgement, goes looking for her in the underground, where some remnants of civilisation survived and turned into grotesque version of ultraconservative America. The underground men are sterile and Vic finds out that he had been lured down in order to impregnate underground women, but this task turns out to be anything but pleasant.
After the opening scenes of A BOY AND HIS DOG, when scenes of nuclear explosions serve as backdrop for authors' commentary on contemporary world, viewers instantly know that he is going to watch black comedy, but hardly anything can prepare them for the surprise and macabre twist at the end - probably one of the best finales in the history of cult movies. Between those two points we have an opportunity to watch Don Johnson of MIAMI VICE fame in his early days, when he very believably plays young, horny teenager. However, the best thing about whole film is his interaction with dog and Tim McIntire whose voice always spews critical and right-on- target comments on boy's mundane and irresponsible behaviour. The dialogue is extremely funny and very entertaining, and Susan Benton also adds them additional dimension when she enters the picture. Unfortunately, in the segments that deal with underground society, writer and director L.Q. Jones goes overboard with his grotesque attempt of satire on conformist and semi-totalitarian tendencies of small- town America. Those segments provide opportunity for great Jason Robards Jr. to give quite effective portrayal of soulless bureaucrat, but that performance doesn't improve general impression. Another problem with this film is obvious lack of budget that forced filmmakers to shoot many scenes underground or at night; inadequate lighting make many happenings on the screen incomprehensible to the viewer. Those who are patient and forgiving enough are going to be awarded with good acting, sharp dialogue and effective black humour, so the cult reputation of A BOY AND HIS DOG is well deserved.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
Written on June 2nd 2001
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax Fido: 2:381/100 E-mail: drax@purger.com E-mail: dragan.antulov@altbbs.fido.hr
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