Sub Wicker Man plot and some lumpy acting, but the true evil here is the lack of editing. This should be a snappy 85 minute film. Instead, all the bits anyone with any concept of flow and pace would have cut out are left in. Every scene is too long. Also, the music, being subdued, does not match the action sequences.
A missed opportunity.
13 Reviews
Painfully Silly
manurebros22 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I joined IMDB just to warn others.
I'm embarrassed to admit i watched this thinking it Had to get better -- don't make the same mistake i did. The last half hour of this dog descended from silly to unbelievably amateurish to embarrassingly stupid.
Silly Looking Animal Heads ---- Really???
I'm embarrassed to admit i watched this thinking it Had to get better -- don't make the same mistake i did. The last half hour of this dog descended from silly to unbelievably amateurish to embarrassingly stupid.
Silly Looking Animal Heads ---- Really???
It's a dog, all right. And, not in a good way.
vegicat11 July 2018
I watched this because of the fairly good ratings. I'm guessing all the good ratings were from their Kickstarter friends.
I love horror movies, weird horror movies, and Australian films. This one, not at all. Possibly one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Starts off slow and keeps going slow. No plot. Storyline made no sense. There was no tension, no horror, no thrills, and no suspense.
I could go on about it and tell spoilers, but the spoilers wouldn't even make sense. The filming was weird. I can't count how many times the camera was focused on someone's crotch as they literally walked onto the camera, then it cut and you watch their butt as they walk away. What was up with that?
I'm not going to tell you not to watch the movie, just warning you. I fell asleep three times and finally gave up 10 minutes before the end. I couldn't put up with the excruciating boredom and lack of real story.
I'm going to go watch the short film this was supposedly expanded from. I have a feeling all the good reviews were from that. I gave it a one, and I was being generous.
I love horror movies, weird horror movies, and Australian films. This one, not at all. Possibly one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Starts off slow and keeps going slow. No plot. Storyline made no sense. There was no tension, no horror, no thrills, and no suspense.
I could go on about it and tell spoilers, but the spoilers wouldn't even make sense. The filming was weird. I can't count how many times the camera was focused on someone's crotch as they literally walked onto the camera, then it cut and you watch their butt as they walk away. What was up with that?
I'm not going to tell you not to watch the movie, just warning you. I fell asleep three times and finally gave up 10 minutes before the end. I couldn't put up with the excruciating boredom and lack of real story.
I'm going to go watch the short film this was supposedly expanded from. I have a feeling all the good reviews were from that. I gave it a one, and I was being generous.
Pretty much unwatchable
vyruss27 October 2018
Not at all good
deejayWatson13 August 2018
I was really looking forward to this, I love Folk Horror and I had heard good things, but they were all wrong.
No disrespect to the people involved in making this but it is one of the worst films I have ever had the misfortune of seeing.
It made very little sense, was painfully slow, badly acted and went on for far too long.
There have been a lot of low budget British horror films, some good and some bad, and this is sadly one of the worst, a great example of an effective low budget British horror is The Borderlands. Watch that instead.
No disrespect to the people involved in making this but it is one of the worst films I have ever had the misfortune of seeing.
It made very little sense, was painfully slow, badly acted and went on for far too long.
There have been a lot of low budget British horror films, some good and some bad, and this is sadly one of the worst, a great example of an effective low budget British horror is The Borderlands. Watch that instead.
Really enjoyed this!
lennonpresley11 January 2019
Not a genre I normally watch but thought I'd give this a go and really enjoyed it. It's dark in places and really thought provoking - found myself still mulling it over and thinking about it the next day after I watched it. It's quite Hitchcock-esque in that there is not a lot of obvious gore and horror on screen but more what your imagination runs away with from the images on screen. Overall a really great film.
British folk horror
sfairgrieve-908-87250914 July 2018
At about the halfway point of this movie, there is a quick cut to the TV in our protagonist's bedroom, and there's a DVD of The Wicker Man propped against the TV. That's director Roundtree's acknowledgment of his influence, and the influence is strong - a person from mainstream society comes to an isolated community after one of them dies, encounters some very odd characters, and, through persistence, learns that the society is hiding a dark and deadly secret.
Consistent with the folk horror tropes, we get lots of shots of the bleakly beautiful countryside and seaside settings. It's a slow burn that creates unease and builds dread. And it introduces a secretive group that practices ancient, non-Christian rituals.
Those are all positives, but the film stumbles a bit, mostly in its execution. It's a low budget, independent release, so I cut it some slack, but I felt that the editing at times was a bit clunky, and there was too much use of shaky handheld cameras, odd angles, and extreme close-ups that obscured what was happening. The story, as stated above, is not particularly original, and some of the acting was sub-par.
All of that being said, though, this is a promising directorial debut, and an enjoyable contribution to the folk horror sub-genre.
Consistent with the folk horror tropes, we get lots of shots of the bleakly beautiful countryside and seaside settings. It's a slow burn that creates unease and builds dread. And it introduces a secretive group that practices ancient, non-Christian rituals.
Those are all positives, but the film stumbles a bit, mostly in its execution. It's a low budget, independent release, so I cut it some slack, but I felt that the editing at times was a bit clunky, and there was too much use of shaky handheld cameras, odd angles, and extreme close-ups that obscured what was happening. The story, as stated above, is not particularly original, and some of the acting was sub-par.
All of that being said, though, this is a promising directorial debut, and an enjoyable contribution to the folk horror sub-genre.
I enjoyed Dogged
ThomasEugeneOtterman23 January 2019
I had a great time watching Dogged, in my opinion it was time well spent.
If you are only into big budget Hollywood films full of CGI then unfortunately this film is not for you. However if you're a die hard horror fan like myself that watches as many horror films as possible, and at the same time enjoys seeing new creative ideas, and supports independent horror films than I recommend this to you!
Well-made, Unique Little Low-Budget film.
betchaareoffendedeasily7 September 2020
This film has flaws, it is very low-budget, but it does a lot more right then wrong. I get why some people despise this film, It is advertised as horror, and while it could be categorized as such, more fans of horror will hate this, they will consider it more of a thriller with horror elements, but honestly, the events of this film are presented in a very dark manner. it has the look of a 1970's grindhouse film, reminiscent of the original Last House on the Left. So yes, I believe the jaunty cuts and grainy low-grade photography and shaky camera work are a stylistic choice, but not one that everyone will enjoy for sure.
The acting of Father David is over the top, but it doesn't feel out of place, and it moves at a fairly slow pace, "not a lot" happens, but that isn't actually true. The entire film is one long build up of weird events, all the way to the events of the end, and no, there isn't a lot of on screen violence, what could have been a blood bath at the end is not, and if that bothers you, don't watch this. Most of the violence is suggested at, or shown after the fact, in it's place are red flashes, and I don't see this as copping out, so much as a stylistic choice. I think this is a lesson in showing less, is often more, what is suggested here, is more powerful than what is shown.
It took me a good week to watch this, not because it is boring, but because it has such an unsettling tone and everything generally feels off kilter, it made me feel pretty grimey everytime I watched it. The ending left me feeling pretty upset and despondent. I did really care about the characters. Even if I didn't know everything about them, the way the film takes it's time, you really get to spend a lot of time around the characters, and the lead is very likeable. The acting here, other than Father David, is really understated and well-done, I really liked Rachel as well, they came across as just normal people trying to live a normal life, someone you might have as your neighbor down the street. Daniel was particularly well-played, he could have been turned into a nutty caricature, and in a an almost completely silent role, it is well-done and he has quite an imposing presence. The rest of the town on the other hand are messed up beyond belief, but how, I will not say, you have to find that out yourself.
This is a very low-budget film, but for despite this, it is well-done, it has a good solid script. I do believe the grimy grind house feel is intentional and meant to call-back to exploitation films of the 1970's, it wouldn't be a long shot to call this an exploitation of film either. If you are not a fan of those types of films, or are looking for a straight-up horror film and not slow burn that doesn't slow much actual violence, you will hate Dogged, and I recommend you stay away. If you are a fan of well-made low-budget films, there is a lot to like here. It has a very unique feel and style and it truly creates its own little world.
God Bless ~Amy
The acting of Father David is over the top, but it doesn't feel out of place, and it moves at a fairly slow pace, "not a lot" happens, but that isn't actually true. The entire film is one long build up of weird events, all the way to the events of the end, and no, there isn't a lot of on screen violence, what could have been a blood bath at the end is not, and if that bothers you, don't watch this. Most of the violence is suggested at, or shown after the fact, in it's place are red flashes, and I don't see this as copping out, so much as a stylistic choice. I think this is a lesson in showing less, is often more, what is suggested here, is more powerful than what is shown.
It took me a good week to watch this, not because it is boring, but because it has such an unsettling tone and everything generally feels off kilter, it made me feel pretty grimey everytime I watched it. The ending left me feeling pretty upset and despondent. I did really care about the characters. Even if I didn't know everything about them, the way the film takes it's time, you really get to spend a lot of time around the characters, and the lead is very likeable. The acting here, other than Father David, is really understated and well-done, I really liked Rachel as well, they came across as just normal people trying to live a normal life, someone you might have as your neighbor down the street. Daniel was particularly well-played, he could have been turned into a nutty caricature, and in a an almost completely silent role, it is well-done and he has quite an imposing presence. The rest of the town on the other hand are messed up beyond belief, but how, I will not say, you have to find that out yourself.
This is a very low-budget film, but for despite this, it is well-done, it has a good solid script. I do believe the grimy grind house feel is intentional and meant to call-back to exploitation films of the 1970's, it wouldn't be a long shot to call this an exploitation of film either. If you are not a fan of those types of films, or are looking for a straight-up horror film and not slow burn that doesn't slow much actual violence, you will hate Dogged, and I recommend you stay away. If you are a fan of well-made low-budget films, there is a lot to like here. It has a very unique feel and style and it truly creates its own little world.
God Bless ~Amy
English Folk Horror
silvio-mitsubishi13 June 2022
A young adult returns to his island home for a funeral and is caught up in shady goings-on. Like most films of this style, the drama works best before the motives are revealed, but this does well to keep the tension to the end. The subject matter pulls few punches.
There are some clunky stereotypes and the script does not always flow, but the locations are used to build a satisfying air of claustrophobia. Limited budget means the cliffs that are central to the story never actually appear, and it is difficult to locate the island geographically - a Shropshire mini cab is presumably used to start the protagonist's journey, not end it.
Although the sound recording has alarming echoes during indoor scenes - some soft furnishings would have helped - the incidental music punches above its weight and lends the film a professionalism it perhaps didn't earn. Incidentally, not the film's fault but the Prime subtitles are appalling.
At almost two hours, the runtime could have been trimmed quite a bit but holds the attention effectively for most of its length. A surprisingly large cast for such a low budget can make it tricky to remember who is who. Overall, though, a good effort with credit to the crew for a job well done.
There are some clunky stereotypes and the script does not always flow, but the locations are used to build a satisfying air of claustrophobia. Limited budget means the cliffs that are central to the story never actually appear, and it is difficult to locate the island geographically - a Shropshire mini cab is presumably used to start the protagonist's journey, not end it.
Although the sound recording has alarming echoes during indoor scenes - some soft furnishings would have helped - the incidental music punches above its weight and lends the film a professionalism it perhaps didn't earn. Incidentally, not the film's fault but the Prime subtitles are appalling.
At almost two hours, the runtime could have been trimmed quite a bit but holds the attention effectively for most of its length. A surprisingly large cast for such a low budget can make it tricky to remember who is who. Overall, though, a good effort with credit to the crew for a job well done.
A unique flick with atmosphere
luke-tedder11 July 2018
I rented the title on Google play and really enjoyed it. The film has an unnerving and creepy atmosphere throughout which I thought worked really well to suck you into the world of the remote village. The overall story I thought was strong and easy enough to follow, not to mention a decent plot twist.
Only a few things that took away from the viewing experience for me was some mildly inconsistent cinematography, some unusual camera angles in there and a lot of quick edits which can be disorientating from time to time. However the sound is crisp and well mixed with an atmospheric musical score to accompany.
I'd highly recommend the film to anyone who's a fan of films such as the Wicker Man and those who prefer suspense over blood and gore.
Only a few things that took away from the viewing experience for me was some mildly inconsistent cinematography, some unusual camera angles in there and a lot of quick edits which can be disorientating from time to time. However the sound is crisp and well mixed with an atmospheric musical score to accompany.
I'd highly recommend the film to anyone who's a fan of films such as the Wicker Man and those who prefer suspense over blood and gore.
Impressive Indie Horror.
parry_na17 April 2021
Not everybody goes for slow-burning horror films, but I do. So 'Dogged' won't be for everyone. It's a low-budget venture that lasts for nearly two hours. For those who like spectacular, fast-moving jump scares and mind-altering special effects, this probably won't appeal.
Director, producer and co-writer Richard Rowntree's folk horror would have been more effective if its rich and atmospheric camera work was achieved in a grainy filmic texture; here the video causes it to lose its richness somewhat. But make no mistake, 'Dogged' is an immersive experience, and if you go with it, it'll provide you with a rewarding 116 minutes. Funded via Kickstarter, it tells the story of Sam (Sam Saunders) who returns to his coastal island home to attend a funeral. Here, he discovers that things seem to have changed in his absence, and the local ambience has taken on a very sinister tone. Women folk have been relegated to a position of subservience, while their men have claimed a certain unchallenged dominance. Things get darker here on in ... My score is 8 out of 10.
Director, producer and co-writer Richard Rowntree's folk horror would have been more effective if its rich and atmospheric camera work was achieved in a grainy filmic texture; here the video causes it to lose its richness somewhat. But make no mistake, 'Dogged' is an immersive experience, and if you go with it, it'll provide you with a rewarding 116 minutes. Funded via Kickstarter, it tells the story of Sam (Sam Saunders) who returns to his coastal island home to attend a funeral. Here, he discovers that things seem to have changed in his absence, and the local ambience has taken on a very sinister tone. Women folk have been relegated to a position of subservience, while their men have claimed a certain unchallenged dominance. Things get darker here on in ... My score is 8 out of 10.
Probably the best film I've ever seen
theqprfan27 February 2022
A very good indie horror from a very low budget director and crew. This is my favourite genre of film and I think probably the best one along with Mr. Rowntree's new film called Nefarious of which has just come out but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. This movie was nominated many times for awards including best screenplay and best story. I actually saw them filming in the woods whilst driving past. I would even go so far to say that I love this movie, and it is my favourite. If you're interested in this folk horror then I suggest that you watch Mr. Rowntree's new short film called Misconception which I believe is available on Amazon Prime?
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