Dogman (2023)
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A paralyzed man who loves dogs and performs as a drag artist must defend his pack of mutts from a local crime boss.
The story
A truck driven by a paraplegic man disguised in drag and filled with dozens of dogs is stopped by police in New Jersey. The driver, Douglas "Doug" Munrow, is arrested. Psychiatrist Evelyn is called to interrogate him, and the film unfolds largely through Doug's recounting of his life story in a series of flashbacks. The narrative explores his traumatic upbringing in a dysfunctional family, his deep bond with his canine companions, and his life on the margins of society as a drag performer and a man seeking justice for his past.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a traumatic childhood where his abusive, religious father and brother forced him into a life of hardship, Doug became a protector of dogs. Following a physical altercation that left him paralyzed, he fled to a life of solitude, eventually running a dog shelter in an abandoned school and performing as a drag artist. To survive and retaliate against the wealthy, he trained his dogs to commit burglaries. When an insurance investigator threatened him, Doug's dogs killed the man. Later, Doug faced off against a crime boss named El Verdugo. During a violent siege, Doug was injured but successfully defended his home. The film begins and ends with his arrest and interrogation by Evelyn. During the interrogation, he reveals his vulnerability and his bond with the dogs. In the final moments, the dogs create a distraction at the police station, allowing Doug to escape. He takes a few steps outside before dying surrounded by his loyal pack, while one dog remains to watch over Evelyn.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- France
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Luc Besson
- Writers
- Luc Besson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Caleb Landry Jones · Doug; Jojo T. Gibbs; Christopher Denham; John Charles Aguilar; Grace Palma
- Genres
- action; thriller
- Themes
- abuse; loyalty; marginalization
- Tone and mood
- disturbing; violent
- Premise and plot tags
- drag; disability; crime
- Reception
- Critical reception was mixed among the press, but considerably more favorable among audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 59% · review count: 71; Metacritic · score: 67 · scale: 100
- Production trivia
- The film was originally scheduled for 19 April 2023.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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