Doghouse [DVD] [2009]

 

 

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This film is heavily influenced by it's two main elements - Jake West's bonkers manic/pervy/comic/violent style, and the attitude you expect from a good Danny Dyer flick - an 'all blokes together, birds and violence' blokey approach. I went in expecting a 'Severance' level of genius and as a result I was a bit disappointed, but after adjusting to the difference in tone I realised this is a film that you enjoy on its own terms. When Danny's 'Neil' and friends decide to escape from the city to help a friend get over his divorce, they plan to head for a village where the women vastly outnumber the men in order to party their woes away. Unfortunately the village has fallen foul of a mysterious plague, and the women are all - literally - maneaters. Naturally the lads end up trapped, and fighting for their lives and to discover what went on in the ravaged village.
It's a brilliantly fun idea, and instead of playing it for real horror, West plays it for campness and laughs. 'Sexy' zombie/vamp women drool blood and chase the panicked guys around, and West even has the comedy balls to have flocks of rabid women chasing a remote control car in one of the scripts funniest scenes. That's not to say he forgets the gore. West enjoys going over the top, and there are many scenes with claret and entrails flying left right and centre, usually in a 'so disgusting it's funny' manner. Moments when the men start to feel superior again are usually slapped down with well timed comic irony or a brilliantly judged gag, and very little of the humour is anything short of madcap and thoroughly enjoyable.
I didn't notice any great benefit from seeing this in Blu-Ray, but I imagine that it's at least noticeably better than on DVD as I remember the images being impressive and the sound having great impact despite the film's 'low to mid-budget' status.
Sometimes the plague-women makeup was a little too deliberately crazy-looking to the degree that it looked a bit fake, but that kind of thing seems to be due to West's deliberately excessive style, and it didn't harm the movie. Some of the set pieces and gore are also very well handled and painfully convincing.
This is very much a 'blokes on a lark' caper, and while the beginning reeks of misogynism, this seems to be a deliberate excess to contrast with the women getting their revenge and roundly kicking the blokes' backsides for the majority of the movie. It's very silly, very funny, and very gory. Just don't go in expecting a 'serious' horror movie, or you'll be very disappointed.

Watched many times. Hope They bring out Doghouse 2 with same cast and more of the same, great film highly recommended.

I'll state right from the word go what is glaringly obvious in that "Doghouse", the latest film from British horror movie director Jake West won't win any awards for being original or innovative. More to the point he may not curry favour with the feminist brigade as it might definitely be safe to say that when it is all said and done that It undoubtedly would be accused as being misogynistic. After all a movie where six male friends organise a lads night out in a remote English village to help a fellow pal and now divorcée get over their marriage ending, only to find them selves savagely set upon by the female population which have some genetically mutated in to man eating cannibals. You know It's hardly going to be a film that promotes better harmony and understanding between the two sexes. Coupled with the fact that one of the main protagonists played by ever rough and ready Danny Dyer as a cocky, bear swilling sexist misogynist who fancies himself as something of a ladies man. It doesn't take a genius to realise that West may be treading on thin ice were it not for the fact for all It's arguably contentious material it's a pretty infectious, tongue in cheek horror comedy that makes no bones about where It's intention lie.

Rather than demonise woman it serves to lampoon the ultimately futile, inanity of the war of the sexes. Neither the men nor the woman depicted in the movie are necessarily depicted in an entirely favourable light and while the majority of the woman seen have unwittingly been transformed in to flesh eating monstrosities they in fairness can't be faulted for their imposed blood lust. Ultimately and without giving too much away the blame for the virus that has genetically altered them is revealed to be partially if not entirely placed on feminine shoulders. While the six friends who organised the getaway trip's spouses/girlfriends with the exception of one who is gay(who's partner may as well be a woman) in their brief appearances are seen to be nothing more than moaning, winging harpes. Misogynistic you might think but can also can be indicative of their poor judgement and possible idiocy when they thought they had chosen their ideal respective mates.

But for all of this and the misfortune that befalls our heroes (or all be it anti-heroes if depending on how you want to look at it) at the hands or should I say claws of the genetically augmented females. And with male protagonists who also consist of a stereotypically obsessive comic book geek as well as Dyers Misogynist they're the hedonistic labels that are commonly placed on men rather than women. Although it's to screenwriter Dan Schaffer's credit (as well as the actors) that for all of the faults of the majority of the characters you find yourself genuinely caring about what happens to them.

Out of the cast only three are relatively well known with Stephen Graham, of course Danny Dyer and Noel Clarke (most renowned for playing Mickey Smith in BBC's "Doctor Who") while the rest of the male pack along with the rest of the ensemble are ultimately rather obscure names. Dyer's Neil is hardly a large step for Dyer as an actor who seems to have carved out a niche for playing cockney wide boys and reminiscent of his previous role as Steve in Brit Horror flick "Severance" finally never the less effortlessly manages to tickle your funny bone so much so that you can't help but falling in love with the sexist imbecile. Graham a wonderful Liverpudlian actor most recognised perhaps for his roles in "Snatch" and the BBC's gritty domestic drama "The Street" plays the recently divorced Vince and is arguably the outright leader of the group who brings the necessary down to earth level headed charm who inwardly convinces the audience that he's something of a ticking time bomb of emotions. While Noel Clarke while decent as Mikey seems to be playing a character not too far from his (similarly named) Mickey Smith personae in a certain British science fiction show. The rest of the cast offer solid support with little known Terry Stone cropping up as the obligatory Sgt. Gavin Wright who's ultimately a hackneyed walking talking plot device utilised to push forward the story's unoriginal but fun plot. With former "Emmerdale" star and pin up Adele Silva appearing very briefly as well as former "Classic Doctor Who" actress Mary Tamm as a local politician.

Comparisons of course are going to be lay-ed at the film's door with the more polished "Shaun of the Dead" and invites immediate comparisons although unlike the misfire that was 2008's flat offering "The Cottage" which served to send up the slasher movie genre. "Doghouse" get's by on it's charm along with it's kinetic pace and knowing well placed intelligent digs at both sexes. Flawed though it undoubtedly is and perhaps maybe even rough around the edges and not quite as sublime and clever as it would like to think it is, Schaffer's script is still witty and knowing enough so that the film is never the less enjoyable and aided by the overall solidness and enthusiastic performances. Wallowing in the whole comedic clichéd nonsense of it all. Although the film's final act does appear to begin to arguably get too heavy handed and begins to grate while the ultimate denouement is a tad weird, perhaps because Schaffer was left stuck with how to wrap it up and I'm guessing due to budgetary restrictions that West was forced to deal with it still makes for a slightly more polished and entertaining film than I might have envisioned. What other film could have latex bond-aged mutant females as well as the disgustingly over weight of flesh eaters which could be accused of degrading woman and manage to get away with it?

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3.0 out of 5 stars Who Let the Sexists Out?
Any British zombie comedy is going to have to realise pretty early on in their production schedule that `Shaun of the Dead' will loom over them like a giant undead rom-zom-com. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Sam

4.0 out of 5 stars The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Vince is crestfallen, his relationship with his lady is over. Enter his blokey bloke mates who decide to take him out to a country village for a fun lads weekend. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Spike Owen

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for Fans of 'Shaun of the Dead'; Awesome Flick!
4.5 out of 5

A group of friends head out to the town of Moodley for a "boys only" weekend in an attempt to get away from their significant others back home and also... Read more

Published 12 months ago by A.P. Fuchs / Canister X

5.0 out of 5 stars Shining Light for British Independent Films
Not the most elegant or thought provoking film you'll ever see I'll concede, but it is the perfect movie to just enjoy. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Ranatron

5.0 out of 5 stars A good giggle!
I have to say this is not the deepest film but if you want a laugh this is the one for you....I am however awesome in it! Watch out the Witch is going to get you hehe

Published 14 months ago by NicolaJane

5.0 out of 5 stars Goergeous
That's anice Zombedy here. Do not expect a "Shaun of the Dead" follow up though.
Here it's a plain comedy based on the fears men have of women (like being engaged, being... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Colin Vettier

3.0 out of 5 stars Mad cows and Englishmen zombie out.
Ah, Danny Dyer. Bless him, he'll do owt to pay the mortgage.

Actually, this little zombie offering wasn't half as bad as it could have been, thanks to some strong... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Mitz

4.0 out of 5 stars age limit
well on here it says the age is 15 and over when in fact on the dvd it says 18 and over

Published 17 months ago by samantha

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, funny and very enjoyable!.
This was quite an enjoyable film, much funnier and faster-paced than I expected, and with a sharper brand of humour - at least far more than I'd imagined when my friend described... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Puzzle box

3.0 out of 5 stars It sufficiently good.
Simple, but effective, and very funny movie. Specially for the very fans of the Zombies. And pub friends! Enjoy!! ;)

Published 18 months ago by Ribus

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