Dog Pound follows three delinquents, Butch (Adam Butcher), Davis (Shane Kippel) and Angel (Mateo Morales) as they get caught for the crimes they’ve committed and wind up in Juvenile Correctional facility and the things they have to deal with there. It’s kind of like Oz Jr. Things are particularly hard for Butch, you assaulted a correctional officer, who is being harassed by three bullies who decide to make is every waking moment a living hell while he’s in there, yet he’s unwilling to rat them out to those in charge.
The problem with the film is that we’re not given enough to like about Butch in the beginning to really care about these horrible things that are happening to him. Yeah, it sucks, but he attacked an officer, he kinda had it coming. But like when he assaulted the officer, he doesn’t like being pushed around and retaliates ten fold. However, Butch gets a second chance when it turns out several families filed a class action lawsuit against the police officer he assaulted. They realize he acted in self defense. Now all he has to do is be good on the inside for two weeks and they’ll let him out. But can he do it?
I have no doubt that these kinds of things go on in Juvenile Correctional Facilities all over the country. The penal system, no matter what age group, is a very flawed system. And while I’ve never seen a film about JCF, I have seen several prison films and this film kinda just feels like that, only with teenagers. This film also reminds me of Manic which came out in 2001, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Don Cheadle. That film takes place in a mental institution, but it deals with institutionalized teenage angst in much more interesting way.
All that said, Dog Pound isn’t a bad film. While not very original, it’s still an okay story with some pretty strong acting. It has a very strong, intense ending. It’s made well enough that it should keep you engaged long enough to get through it. I’m not sure it’s a movie you’d ever want to watch again, but if you’re into prison films, it’s worth sitting through once.
The film is presented in a 16:9 widescreen format. The sound is in 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Nothing to complain about as far as the video and audio go. It all looks and sounds good.
There are no special features.
I see the desire to make a strong lasting film about what goes on in Juvenile Correctional Facilities, I just don’t think this is it. Dog Pound isn’t a bad movie, it’s just not great. It’s perfectly okay. But it does leaving with a feeling of, “Okay…. so?”
Tribeca Film presents Dog Pound. Written by Jeremie Delon and Kim Chapiron. Directed by Kim Chapiron. Starring: Adam Butcher, Shane Kippel and Mateo Morales. Running time: 88 minutes. Rating: Not Rated, be warned, this film does have a rape scene in it. Released: August 13, 2013..
