Appalachian Dog

I did not know what to expect when I picked up 'Appalachian Dog'; the 2025 period drama from Colin Henning. Maybe I liked its poster or maybe its title gave me a sense of wonder. What began as a slow descent into an exploration of love and connection transformed into something else entirely by the time the credits rolled. I took some time to process what I had seen and then it hit me, what I had seen was beautiful.

There is so much to appreciate in this film and yet, I will not be able to do it justice (you will have to see the film for yourself, dear viewer). From the characters to their subtle nuances, Henning knows to craft a story. This is a film that explores the volatile and fiery links between relationships and desires and how the two lead to unintended consequences. Set in isolation, the story is a basket case of how specific circumstances affect complex human lives.

Colin Henning both writes and directs this feature and I had no idea this was his first foray into directing until I went on the internet later. From the narrative heft to perfectly paced editing, Henning directs the story like a maestro. He knows when to push the story in first gear and when to hold back, allowing the audience to truly take in the emotional beats.

The acting is fantastic as each actor manages to infuse their character with the authenticity needed. In the technical realm, the film manages to soar above and beyond. The cinematography is stunning; with Henning making sure to use both lighting and colors to add another layer to the story. The editing is great as well, making the film a joy to sit through.

Deftly combining humor and tension, Appalachian Dog manages to deeply explore the nuance of relationships and desire and how these two work both in tandem and in conflict with one another. This film is a triumph and it managed to move me, impress me and give me a deep sense of wonder as to how we don't truly appreciate the complexities of human relationships. I loved every second of Appalachian Dog and I cannot recommend this film enough.

Appalachian Dog is a beautifully crafted Southern Gothic drama that delves deep into the complexities of love, loss, and identity in post-World War II Appalachia. Directed, written, and led by Colin Henning, the film offers a poignant exploration of a man returning home to a world that has irrevocably changed.

Writer-director Colin Henning, who also stars as Teddy Henry, crafts a slow-burning narrative that delves into the complexities of post-war reintegration and shifting personal dynamics. Henning's portrayal of Teddy is nuanced, capturing the internal turmoil of a man out of sync with his surroundings. Morgan delivers a compelling performance as Marion, embodying a woman torn between duty and desire. Franklin's Peggie brings depth and authenticity, highlighting the societal challenges of the era.

The film's cinematography is a standout, with Aidan Macaluso capturing the Appalachian landscape in all its raw beauty. The use of natural lighting and ambient sounds immerses the viewer, creating an atmosphere that's both intimate and expansive.

While some critics have noted areas where the film could delve deeper into character backstories or streamline its narrative, Appalachian Dog stands as a powerful meditation on love, identity, and the struggle to reconnect with a world that no longer feels the same.

Appalachian Dog is a testament to the power of subtle storytelling, offering a rich tapestry of human emotion set against the backdrop of a changing world. Yes, the pacing is slow, but that's part of its strength. It allows space for reflection and immersion. If you appreciate character-driven stories with emotional depth and poetic visuals, this film is absolutely worth your time.

The narrative unfolds slowly, unhurried by modern pacing, which may not appeal to every viewer. Yet that deliberate rhythm feels authentic. It gives space for the silences to speak volumes.

Appalachian Dog is not merely a film; it's a mood, a place, a feeling. It invites you to sit with discomfort, reckon with history, and find the beauty in brokenness.

Appalachian Dog - a film about trying to get back to a life of normalcy after experiencing a life-changing event and finding out that rejecting your newly found desires and self-discoveries are harder to ignore than expected. Reality often hits the hardest to those who reject it the longest and in this film that point is portrayed quite poetically - using sewing and threads as an allegory to represent the idea of trying to mend a relationship that's slowly ripping apart. These attempts, however, go against the nature of our characters and we are taken on an emotional journey as we see the characters struggling to face each other as they try to keep everything from ripping apart like a piece of fabric that's been stretched beyond its capacity. Of course, nothing goes according to plan as the cloth gets torn apart just as the truth starts slipping out and the true feelings of our characters towards each other are revealed. However, that might not be as bad of an ending as you might think, with the characters each accepting the other for who they truly are and that even though they are torn, they can still exist as two pieces cut from the same fabric.

To start off, I would like to appreciate and applaud the cinematography of this film. The breathtaking stills, the well thought out framing of each scene and the abstract shots which very well convey the feeling that needs to be. The shots of the stunning landscape of the Appalachian hills transport you right to the film's location and instantly make you feel warm and cozy feeling like nothing else. The lighting/ color grading in each shot was also very relaxing on the eyes and not at all straining or exhausting to look at. My one critique, however, would be directed towards the sound design. There were multiple shots in the film where it was more than obvious that the dialogue had been dubbed over as the audio didn't seem to exactly match the actors' lip movements and sounded a bit off compared to the other scenes surrounding it. The actors also deserve recognition for their amazing work, being able to properly convey every emotion to near perfection, I personally was very touched by the facial expressions and acting of nearly every cast member. Clearly a truly talented cast had been chosen for this very special film. Overall, the film was extremely beautifully shot and well-made.

Finally, to end things off, I felt as though the setting chosen for this kind of sexual exploration and self-discovery film was quite unique. Using a man's time spent in war surrounded by sexually frustrated men as a way to explain his true feelings coming out and how he managed to survive without his wife all those 5 years and same for the wife who was going through a similar situation but instead surrounded by women is genuinely one of the more unique takes I've seen in this genre. This film was more of a self-discovery film than a romance and could easily pass as a documentary or biopic of sorts seeing as how realistic and well-written it was. I, myself am not the biggest fan of romance films so this film was quite a pleasant surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end, seeing the quarrel between each of the cast members and how they try their best to hide the truth and their true feelings from one another as a desperate attempt to bring things back to normal as they were before the war. And as it happens in real life, things don't remain hidden forever and reality often makes its way through, revealing each person for who they truly are and what they feel and despite all that our husband and wife come to terms with their true nature and accept the fact that although there is no thread that can stitch them together, they will always be a part of the same cloth and that there is beauty in that.

Appalachian Dog surprised me in the best way. Set in post-war Appalachia, it's a quiet but emotional film about a man trying to fit back into a life that's moved on without him. Colin Henning wears all the hats-actor, writer, director-and pulls it off beautifully.

The visuals are stunning, the performances feel real, and the sound design somehow makes wind and water feel dramatic. It's slow in the best way-like it wants you to sit with the characters and feel what they feel.

Did I expect more actual dogs? Maybe. But what I got was even better: a powerful indie film with heart, tension, and soul.

Rating: 9/10.

If you are a true cinemaholic, you will appreciate this independent film. Appalachian Dog is written and directed by Colin Henning who also stars in his film along with a decent cast: Georgia Morgan ("Interview with a Vampire", "Penelope!"), Hayleigh Hart Franklin, Brooke Elizabeth ("Dear DIEry"), Colin Henning ("Wild Crime").

The storyline is intriguing with many plot twists. It takes place post War World II, a young solider, Teddy, returns to his home in the Appalachian Mountains where is wife Marion has set up a small welcoming gathering with two of her female friends, Peggie and Cate. Teddy appears aloof and uninterested in resuming his life as a tailor. He ponders the whereabouts of his dog and how to avoid working.

Teddy learns that while he was away Marion hired Peggie to assist as a seamstress, which seems to bother him due to their finances and expects Marion to just take over. He comes up with several failed excuses to evade from sewing clothes. However, Marion has secretively prepared a plan of her own.

Meanwhile, Cate is having to deal with the challenges of taking over the daily farm chores due to Andrew being mentally, physically incapable of manual labor. It appears he might be suffering from post war trauma, or at least that is what he wants others to believe.

Just like the twisted trails found in the Appalachian Mountains, this film has it's share of unexpected turns and eerie settings, but one question still remains... What happened to Teddy's dog?

Appalachian Dog can be viewed on streaming platforms such as Amazon, Tubi, Hoopla and Verizon Fios.

• Writer for Countdown City Geeks.