Brothers Raitis and Lauris Abele craft a skin-crawling animated feature that breathes new life into the horror genre through its distinct style and intriguing lore—even if it’s not the most easily accessible.
Dog of God throws viewers into a 17th-Century Livonian village where religious figures and political higher-ups intermingle with ease. However, the traditional happenings of the village are broken when strange occurrences are spurred by the arrival of a man claiming to be a “werewolf.” What’s instantly striking about Dog of God is its rotoscope animation that perfectly instills a distinct aura of horror. There’s a rich contrast with the colors that make for some eye-widening scenes of eerie beauty. Not only does it make the character designs stand out, but it plays with the dark atmosphere incredibly well. The introduction of this werewolf character is stunning in how it blends nature and an inhuman creature. Throughout, there are these creepy visuals that constantly set the mood and keep things tense with uneasiness. There’s this weird plant-like entity that characters obsess over that’s got a very Lovecraftian feel, and the persistent check-ins with this deteriorating corpse symbolize how horrifying things are getting.
This film is never shy about its horror or its more adult approach to the humor and antics of these characters. Despite this village having clear religious oversight, there’s a lot of crudeness and horniness. From sexually-charged jokes towards women that either elicit laughs or punches to a lot of sex montages that are so graphic you’re left stunned, this film certainly proves animation isn’t just for kids. Not to mention, there’s such a strangeness to it all that it makes Dog of God almost like an unexpected thing you’d find on Adult Swim late at night—which is a big compliment. The deep dive into depravity not only allows for some unique humor to enter the film, but it also gives the setting a darkness within that’s so inviting for the evil that comes.
In general, all the aesthetic and tonal elements of the Abeles’ vision really hook viewers into the film’s vibes. However, they also inject some intriguing lore that gives Dog of God a more distinct place in the horror genre. For starters, it’s great that they bring a different take on a werewolf character that acts more as a foreboding spiritual entity. Instead of this wolf-like creature entering the village, it’s more of a shaman man who spews unsettling visions of what’s to come for these people. It’s always interesting to hear the character delve into the mythos of his werewolf origins and the connection he has to some of the weird things happening around town. Plus, it’s cool to see the Abeles utilize some Livonian history and tales to make the film’s story have some thick roots in reality.
Raitis and Lauris show a strong vision with Dog of God that makes it visually entrancing and unique for horror fans or those wanting something truly different to watch. However, despite their best efforts, this isn’t exactly the most accessible film. For a while, the story feels totally aimless until the werewolf character is introduced far too late into the runtime. A lot of times, the more outrageous parts of the characters and story overshadow key parts of the film—like the overarching narrative or characters themselves. So, it’s tough to keep track of what’s happening in the story or figure out who these characters really are. Even after watching it, the characters and their motivation blend together too much for anyone to remain memorable, and it makes the film have few arcs that really connect with you. What’s most disappointing, though, is that none of the lore reaches its potential. The inclusion of Livonian history and beliefs is recognized, but never stretches past the surface to make a meaningful impact—which definitely isn’t the intention.
Dog of God makes a bigger impression with its striking animation, dingy characteristics, and the fascinating potential of its lore, but it doesn’t come with an approach that most viewers will connect with. Yet, that doesn’t make it totally style over substance. There’s definitely something here that could hook viewers and Dog of God is such a unique experience that it’s easily got modern cult-classic written all over it for genre fans.
