A Boy and His Dog (1975)

· by · in 1975. ·

Synopsis:

In a post-nuclear-war world, 18-year-old Vic (Don Johnson, TV’s Miami Vice) travels across the wasteland with a telepathic dog, Blood, looking for food and women (not necessarily in that order). Against the advice of Blood, Vic follows a young woman into an underground society, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead.

Reaction & Thoughts:

“They didn’t have to cut her! She could have been used two or three more times!”

Adapted from a controversial novella by celebrated sci-fi author Harlan Ellison, this post-apocalyptic opus is one of the blackest comedies I’ve ever come across. A fearless blend of irreverent humor and dystopian tropes, A Boy and His Dog makes searing statements about many societal problems that are still relevant in today’s world.

This was the pet project of beloved character actor L.Q. Jones, who directed, produced and co-wrote the movie. What attracted Jones to this nihilistic story? Perhaps the answer lies in Jones’s relationship with Sam Peckinpah, one of the most pessimist filmmakers in cinema history. Jones and Peckinpah made five movies together, and were close friends in real life. I guess “birds of a feather flock together” because the movie has the kind of disheartening fatalism that characterizes Peckinpah’s oeuvre.

And like Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs (1971), A Boy and His Dog has gotten in a heap of trouble with some viewers over its sexual politics. While I’m simpatico with people who are turned off by the story’s treatment of women, I think these viewers aren’t looking at the larger picture: it isn’t really anti-women, it’s anti-humans. It’s a differentiation that probably doesn’t mean anything to people who dislike the movie, but it’s something that one must keep in mind when discussing the themes of the story.

Unsurprisingly, the only likable character in the movie is a talking dog. All human characters are unappealing, including the protagonist, a lecherous teenager who scans the barren land in search of women to rape. One needs to look past the icky characters in order to appreciate the nuanced themes of this intriguing satire. A Boy and His Dog uses crude humor to explore that idea that division breeds fear and violence.  

Don Johnson is perfectly cast in the lead role. Johnson’s boy-next-door charm makes his callousness all the more disturbing. Jason Robards Jr. (All the President’s Men) steals the film’s second half as the leader of the underground society. Cult actor Charles McGraw (original The Narrow Margin) plays “The Preacher.” And special kudos to actor-musician Tim McIntire (The Choirboys), who is a hoot as the dog’s voice.

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

A Boy and His Dog isn’t for everyone (my wife bailed after just 10 minutes). Despite the tawdry aspects of the story, this politically-incorrect sci-fi saga offers some fascinating insights into various social maladies. It covers similar ground as Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971) (my wife couldn’t finish Kubrick’s movie either), so if you liked that film, you’ll enjoy this one. Color, 91 minutes, Rated R.

This is my contribution to The Futurethon Blogathon, hosted by Realweegiemidget Reviews and Cinematic Catharsis.

Theatrical Trailer:

30 responses to “A Boy and His Dog (1975)”

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  3. I remember being fascinated by the title when I was a kid. I always liked the title. But later when I actually watched the movie, I didn’t like it. You’re right–the dog’s the most likeable character! So sad, the knee-jerk reaction about women being treated badly. God, get off your pedestal, people!! It’s not always about you! lol. It really WAS about the terrible treatment of all people in general. Interesting about the director following in Peckinpaw’s pessimistic footsteps. Oddly, I just read a short story by Ellison the other day called I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream which was very disturbing, to say the least. He, evidently, was a bitter, angry, and aggressive person. I haven’t looked him to to ascertain why, exactly.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I think you are right about Ellison. He does have a reputation for being a rude, very negative person, and I think his work reflects his personality. Apparently, he was the Hunter S. Thompson of the sci-fi world.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Great review!
    I wasn’t expecting it to be funny when I first sat down to watch it, so I was shocked and didn’t know what to think. Subsequent viewings have made me enjoy it more and more.

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  6. I need to check this out as I’ve only seen dribs and drabs that seemed deeply disturbing. I like the title, I like LQ so I’ll see. ‘Clockwork Orange’ I can get through though I suppose its horrifying too but I’m a Kubrick buff. LQ must have been proud of his film because in a couple of Peckinpah documentaries he is wearing ‘A Boy and his Dog’ T shirt. Maybe you could get one of those!

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    • I’m a Kubrick fanboy (I don’t think he ever made a bad film), so I quite like Clockwork Orange, even though I realize it isn’t for everyone. The same thing can be said about LQ’s movie — I like it (LQ had good reasons to be proud of the film), but I’m aware that many viewers find it disturbing.

      Liked by 1 person

      • A Clockwork Orange being the first sci-fi film to be Oscar-nodded for Best Picture can say a lot about how some disturbing films can be worthy of pride. I’ve had my shares of films that I’ve found disturbing, either at first or enough to never want to see them again, and yet I can appreciate why they might earn significant acclaim.

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        • I mean two of my all time favorites are Peckinpah’s ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia’ and ‘Cross of Iron’ and certainly some might find them disturbing but it is a disturbing world and sometimes it is good to explore the darkness of it through art.

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          • Agreed. Peckinpah was a troubled man who saw the world as an inhospitable place. He was kinda right — life can be very cruel.

            My Top Peckinpah movies (in order of preference):

            Straw Dogs
            The Wild Bunch
            Ride the High Country
            Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
            Junior Bonner

            Liked by 1 person

            • Nice list. I could talk about him all day. I’d like to see ‘Pat Garrett’ get a ‘definitive’ release Blu/4K all the versions everything that is the big one. I love collecting all his stuff on DVD/Blu. Heck I have ‘The Westerner’ TV series and yes even ‘Convoy’. You should check out the newer set of ‘Major Dundee’ just amazing amazing stuff on it. I could go on but I’ve been effusive enough.

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  7. I like to think that audiences can be wise enough to not automatically judge a film as misogynistic because of some vulnerable female characters. Or racist because of black or Asian villains. Anti-human may be the most appropriate term in the sense of how it can chiefly apply to most futuristic dystopias and certainly those like Orwell’s 1984.

    Ellison could indeed be quite harsh as I learned from the first time I saw him in an interview on YouTube. His major issues with James Cameron over how Terminator was clearly influenced by his contributions to Outer Limits were of course noteworthy.

    Thank you, Eric, for your review.

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    • Ellison’s combative personality seemed to have ruffled a few feathers. I’ve read that James Cameron was very annoyed with Ellison about the plagiarism charges. Frankly, I’ve seen the Outer Limits episode in question, and I don’t see many similarities. In fact, when I first watched Terminator, I immediately thought of Yul Brynner’s character in Westworld.

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        • I mean between Schwarzeneggar as the Terminator and Brynner as the Gunslinger. As for how Outer Limits: Demon With A Glass Hand and Soldier were both supposed to be influences on Terminator, the sci-fi inspirations for interventions from the future were obvious. But I think that La Jetee was most strongly influential in that regard, certainly when Terry Gilliam made 12 Monkeys.

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          • Well, I think there is a difference between “inspired by” and plagiarism. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference — for example, De Palma’s Dressed to Kill. On the other hand, Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys is clearly an extended version of La Jetee. And, by the way, Gilliam’s Brazil is a reworking of Orwell’s 1984.

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            • Gilliam certainly has a gift for adding his own flare to basically familiar sci-fi subjects. It was Time Bandits of course that first gave me appreciate for that.

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  8. Another great review, Binford, I love your take on all the movies you write about. I don’t always comment but I do subscribe and read them all. Don Johnson is one of the cutest dystopian anti-heroes ever; need to see this one again!

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  9. Another nice review! It’s a polarizing movie, for sure, but I’ve always enjoyed it for its commentary on society. I agree that Blood is by far the most likable character. Thanks again for joining the blogathon!

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  10. I saw this during its re-release in the early ’80s, not having any idea beforehand what it was about, and I seem to remember not understanding much of it (I was still a teen and not quite learned when it came to cinema). I think I was expecting more sci-fi and less…weirdness? Your review makes it sound more watchable as an adult, however, so I’ll see if my library has it and I’ll give it another look. If anything, I’d like to see how Charles McGraw fits into all this!

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    • True story: my dad bought us a brand new VHS copy of A Boy and His Dog thinking that it was a Disney-like movie, and was shocked to discover that this wasn’t a kiddie show! LOL! Anyhow, it’s definitely a weird movie.

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