18 October 2022

Review: A Boy and His Dog

Blu-ray: A Boy and His Dog (1975)

Based on the novella of the same name, A Boy and His Dog is very much a film of its time, directed by actor L.Q. Jones, it follows the adventures of Vic (a very young Don Johnson), a 15 yr old lad who with his dog Blood travel the post-apocalyptic wasteland of America and communicate through telepathy.

All Vic cares about is eating and finding women to rape/fuck. Mmm, told you this is very much a film of its time. Together they fight raiders and evade mutants all while searching for food … and women to rape. It’s clear that Vic has no sense of morality as he’s alone so has no moral compass because he hasn’t been taught one. He’s also quite stupid, were Blood is well read (?) and teaches him history telepathically (??), they argue a lot, but need each other to survive the wasteland.

Searching a bunker for food and hopefully a woman for Vic to rape, they find some people – all dead, including a freshly raped woman who has been mutilated and is about to die, Vic is annoyed as she may have had one more rape left in her.
Yep – this is a film that definitely would not see the light of day now.

While at a sort of outdoor porn cinema, Blood smells a woman, they follow her to a bunker where Vic attempts to rape her. Raiders arrive and they battle their way out, only for the girl Quilla June Holmes (Susanne Benton), to persuade Vic to accompany her ‘Downunder’ where there is food and a life waiting for him, but he can’t bring the dog.

We later find out Quilla has been sent out by Lou Craddock (Jason Robards), to get some new sperm into the population.The underground town of Topeka is run by the committee, and they all wear this bizarre clown-like white face make-up.

A Boy and His Dog is similar in tone to other Sci-fi films of the 70s, and I have to admit I didn’t enjoy watching Don Johnson act very shouty at a dog who kept shuddering and looking scared – there was also a dog-fight which was pretty horrible and before you shout ‘Vegan Alert’! Yes – times were different then and the ill treatment of animals was pretty run of the mill, as was ‘looking for a woman to rape’.

I can’t say this is a terrible film. It isn’t, but it’s not that good either (without the normalisation of rape and animal welfare concerns), though I can understand it being one of those films that has achieved cult status from its ‘weirdness’ and stars.

Special Features