Dog Pound (2010)

A mean prison thriller that goes for the jugular throughout, the Canadian film DOG POUND is in actual fact a remake of the British borstal classic SCUM from 1979. While it's not as powerful or harrowing as that film, nevertheless it packs a punch in its harsh depiction of bullying and brutality within prison confines.The prison in this film is a juvenile one and the movie is populated by new and unfamiliar faces, but don't let that put you off, because DOG POUND turns out to be a highly effective movie in its own right. The acting is up and down and probably the weakest part of the production, but that matters not when the direction is strong and the writing compelling.DOG POUND is a slow paced film for the most part and yet it's alive with simmering tension as character relationships develop and things move towards some scenes of violence which are devastating in their depiction. Some of the sub-plots are distinctly underwhelming (with the fate of one particular character not a patch on his counterpart in SCUM) but others hit home with precision force, making this a film I really got into.

From what I have read Dog Pound is a film influenced by the British film Scum and is not a remake but if the truth be told it is almost exactly the same. Even some re-makes of other film's are not as close as these two film's are and because I seen Scum first and thought it was brilliant, Dog Pound has a lot to live up to. So does it then? The answer is no it doesn't, it's not even close. I suppose if I hadn't off seen Scum first I would of though this was a slightly above average film. The main character Butch is no where near Ray Winstone's character Carling and as I watched him, I just felt like I was watching a man trying to act tough. Maybe it is just me but I think he made the film worse. No spoilers here though and if you watch or have seen Scum then there is no need to tell you anyway. Not a lot more I want to say about this film really, it is no where near the level of Scum and having said that I would recommend that film but not Dog Pound. I warn you in advance mind, it's not for the faint hearted. Dog Pound 6.5 out of 10, Scum 9.5 out of 10.

In various aspects, Dog Pound fulfills with its purpose: bringing us a raw and intense look to a "juvenile detention center", supposedly dedicated to the juvenile delinquent's rehabilitation, when it is in fact a sadistic and brutal environment which stimulates the cruelty, the intolerance and the violence as the solution to every problem. I have to say that Dog Pound kept me interested; however, its story is almost non-existent, and it's reduced to a series of vignettes which follows the experience of three young interns of a recent entry.The main problem from Dog Pound is that it doesn't provide too much to the "prison cinema". On the positive side, the performances are very good, and I also appreciated the fact that none of the performers are models/actors, something which helps to the realism of the story. The only problem with the cast is that the actors are too old for the characters they interpret. If director Kim Chapiron had selected 15 or 16-year-old actors, Dog Pound would have been more shocking and subversive. Unfortunateley, he let that chance go.In conclusion, Dog Pound entertained me; it brings an interesting message; the performances are solid; and Chapiron's direction is agile and efficient, with the emphasis on the clarity and free of stylish distractions. However, it didn't leave me completely satisfied, mainly because it doesn't bring anything new to the "prison cinema". I consider it worthy of a moderate recommendation by itself, but there are much better "prison films" out there, such as Bad Boys (1983), Celda 211 and Un Prophéte.

Can't stop thinking about this movie. I'm a huge Adam Butcher fan - loved him in Saint Ralph and now, as a grown-up, he's definitely matured as an adult. It's disturbing and harsh but probably realistic. SPOILER ALERT A few things that did bug me about the film --Never followed up the murder of the one young inmate, the killer didn't seem to be taken to justice or questioned or an investigation launched (unless that's something I missed) --Riot scene was well staged but again, a tad unrealistic --Adam Butcher kicks down the door yet they're able to close it --I hate unfinished movies, a la Coen Brothers. But again, I can't stop thinking about it. Very powerful.