Baxter

Films where animals are given a persona and a human voice have long been a staple of children's entertainment, but I can't think of a single film made for adults where this is the case. With the exception of oddball French flick 'Baxter', of course! Any film with a premise as weird as this one is bound to become a must see for yours truly, but this is an idea which, when fused with black comedy, certainly has the potential to be great, and Jérôme Boivin's film comes close to fulfilling that promise. The film has a couple of points to make, and tries to fuse them with the perspective of a dog. The film follows Baxter - a bull terrier given to an old lady by her daughter. Baxter isn't fond of his owner, but she keeps him because she's lonely. However, it's not long before Baxter decides he's had enough and the old woman meets an untimely end. Baxter then moves on to the young couple across the street, where's he's happy for a while again, right up until their baby is born and he gets his nose pushed out. Baxter is searching for a human like him; and unfortunately, he soon finds one.

The film shows that no matter how evil a mind an animal has, there's always a human with a worse one. Baxter succeeds in showing life from the point of view of a supposedly obedient animal, and the most powerful things in this respect are the things that show the dog at it's most instinctive - things like mating with another dog and bending to his masters' will. The dog in this film may be a comical impression of the real life 'mans best friend', but somehow it doesn't feel so unbelievable that you can't buy into the film. The main reason why this film is so eerie owes to the voice artist behind the dog. Maxime Leroux's voice gives Baxter a distinctive air of evil and authority, which suits the dog well. The things that the dog says are always interesting and often insightful, which helps the film to create an absurd atmosphere as dogs aren't usually associated with intellectual intelligence. The conclusion to the film is undoubtedly shocking and completely surprising, and works really well. Overall, Baxter is too weird a film to ignore and for that reason if nothing else, it gets my full recommendation.

I stumbled on this film at the video store quite by accident: I have long had a weakness for bull terrier dogs, whose other-worldly appearance makes them perfect for off-center stories (see Tim Burton's early film "Frankenweenie," books "The Land of Laughs" and "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi"), and I understand the director's choice of the breed to embody his bleak vision in this remarkable film. The video package copy used the word "disturbing" three times, and the film IS disturbing, but also distinctive and beautifully realized. NOT for kids or casual movie rentals (not a "date" movie). And: make sure it's subtitled, not dubbed.

This is, without doubt, one of the darkest, most twisted, yet gripping movies I've ever seen. When it was over I didn't quite know what to think of it. I'm still not sure I do. I liked it, though it almost seems perverse to admit it. There are plenty of good descriptions of the movie already posted, so I'll skip that. This movie is not for everyone, but if you are fan of REALLY dark and twisted humor, give this one a try.

I do not know why it took me so long to see this movie, but it is absolutly amazing. This is a movie that I recommend everyone must see. Yes, it is very disturbing, and yes, you may feel disgusted, or even physical ill after seeing it, but it is a great film. Even if subtitles annoy you, take the time and watch this film. 10/10

I rented Baxter based upon the recommendation of a video store clerk and am glad that I did. The film was unique in that it is shot from the perspective of a dog...but rather than anthropomorphizing the dog, it makes a great attempt to capture what an animal's actual perspective might be. In doing so, it also challenges those conceits which lead people to lay claim to being a "higher" species. The movie achieves this by juxtaposing the behavior of Baxter, who acts without malice but rather out of pure natural impulse, with that of the humans he encounters. By creating this contrast, the film does an excellent job of holding up a mirror to the darker elements of human nature. I'm very glad that I saw this film and would highly recommend it.