A Dog Called... Vengeance

“How long have you been locked up?”

A Dog Called…Vengeance offers a unique blend of political suspense and animal terror. The film begins in a remote South American prison camp guarded by a vicious German Shepherd. The dog is unleashed by the militant bounty hunter, Zancho (Francisco Casares, Golden Balls), tasked with hunting down escaped fugitives. Soon, we’re introduced to Aristides Ungria (Jason Miller, The Exorcist), an imprisoned mathematician with a hidden secret. He escapes during an accident, taking with him essential information for the freedom fighters battling the militant regime. Zancho and his dog are called into duty. 

The film gains steam as Ungria treks across the landscape, fleeing from the dog, who soon acquires an almost supernatural sense of vengeance. Whenever the convict finds respite, whether with a group of farmers or a horny village woman named Campesina (Yolanda Farr, El espiritista), the angry dog stops at nothing to kill Ungria. The feature moves city-wide in the third act to establish the freedom fighter’s agenda. The dog’s involvement seems ancillary now. However, an exciting conclusion for both man and beast is reached.  

Director Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi was just coming off a successful action trilogy with That Man in Istanbul, They Came to Rob Las Vegas, and The Summertime Killer. Isasi’s approach was to remain abstract in the storytelling here but keep a political allegory that many could identify with globally. It was marketed in Spain like another JAWS to get young people into the theaters. The erotic elements drew audiences as well with non-exploitative scenes of nudity. It was risky, for sure. Thankfully, censorship was relaxed post-Franco, allowing some nudity and sex to appear. 

The film's practical effects are solid for a small Spanish thriller. Bloody gunshots, machete amputations, and other gory elements look surprisingly good. The canine star delivers a mostly convincing performance; its snarls and toothy attacks add a sense of genuine menace. The dog is up to the task in each scene, though the editing and music do the heavy lifting for this pooch. Unfortunately, a few scenes with the dog are pretty intense. However, a disclaimer from Producer Deva Cinematografica reads, “Antonio Isasi (director) ensures that no of the animals involved were harmed in the making of this film.” 

Outdoor scenes look fantastic, with sprawling landscapes, swamps, and canyons giving the film an enormous scope. Dense jungles create an atmosphere of dread. The film, lensed by Juan Gelpí (The Corruption of Chris Miller), nicely blends the gripping wilderness chase sequences with Peckinpah-inspired action. 

Performances are strong, with committed work from Jason Miller and the supporting cast. Attack sequences with the mutt show the cast’s range for expressing genuine fear. I can’t blame them. A Dog Called…Vengeance may defy easy categorization, but as a thrilling companion to late 70’s thrillers, it is an easy recommendation. 

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Thanks to Severin Films, A Dog Called…Vengeance arrives on Region A Blu-ray housed in a black keep case. The BD-50 Disc loads the Severin Films logo before landing on the static Main Menu screen with typical navigation options. 

A Dog Called..Vengeance leaps to Blu-ray with a pleasing HD image in the film’s original 1.60:1 aspect ratio. The back cover of this release touts that this is the first official North American disc release with a 2K scan from the original camera negative. Primaries are strong, with green military appointments and landscapes occupying most of the color palette. Blues are dynamic, balancing out drab earth tones. The transfer leans yellow in most outdoor sequences, though it's hardly noticeable from casual viewing. Wide landscape shots are beautifully composed. Modest fine detail levels keep tensions high, giving us clear closeups of terrified political prisoners. Occasional specks and dirt share the frame with a strong grain field. 

For audio, we’re provided with two DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono tracks in either Spanish or English. English subtitles are available for both. The English-dubbed dialogue isn’t bad. Thankfully, Jason Miller is a native English speaker, making the experience easier to digest. Spanish dialogue is rendered too strong and pointed. It’s not my preferred track on the disc, but it is available for those who desire it. The effects are punchy in the audio mix but fit well within the established tense thriller tone. Tense orchestration keeps the proceedings moving. 

Severin Films surprises us with three interviews for the disc, rounding out a compelling package for this hidden gem of Spanish cinema. Start with “A Film Ahead of its Time” before checking out the other interviews. 

• A Film Ahead of Its Time (HD 14:18) An Appreciation by Angel Sala, Head of Programming at the Sitges Film Festival. Offering his thoughts on the film, Sala provides a deep dive into the influences and impressions of the film. In Spanish with English subtitles. 
• Memories of a Guerilla Woman (HD 20:57) An interview with Marisa Paredes, who portrayed Guerrillera in the film. She provides an overview of her career and then details her experiences working on the movie in a positive light. In Spanish with English subtitles. 
• Daughter of Titans (HD 13:19): An Interview with Maria Isasi, daughter of Director Antonio Isasi and Marisa Paredes. Here, Maria speaks about her childhood, her father’s ideologies behind filmmaking, and the legacy of A Dog Called…Vengeance. 

A Dog Called…Vengeance offers plenty to enjoy for audiences looking for an unusual thrill ride. Isasi-Isasmendi is a relatively unknown entity, which makes discovering his work an appealing venture after the credits roll. In contrast, the film has some drawbacks, but it's a competent man-on-the-run flick with loads of suspense. I had a great time with the movie, wondering where it would go next. The Blu-ray disc from Severin Films provides a solid A/V package complimented with a tri of interviews for interested fans. Recommended