The Plague Dogs (1982) - Movie Review

The Plague Dogs seems to have slipped under the radar of dark and disturbing animated films from the eighties. While Watership Down is often remembered for its dark, adult storyline and surprisingly high body count shown in graphic detail (horrifying many young children and their parents), The Plague Dogs (written by Watership Down author, Richard Adams) remains mostly forgotten by mainstream audiences as another animated adaption of one of his even more depressing works. Copies of it are scarce and the uncut version is notoriously hard to find (with the more available version having several scenes censored due to disturbing content and a total of 15 minutes cut from the original 103-minute-long version).

The Plague Dogs tells the story of a pair of dogs (Snitter and Rowf) who manage to escape from an animal research laboratory where are subjected to multiple abusive experiments and their attempt to live by themselves in the hills and high waters. While they attempt to adjust to life with no human influence as well as the mental toll the experiments have taken on them, the research facility and other humans begin to hunt them down, believing them to be carriers of the plague.

The most impressive feat in the animation lies in its painstaking attention to detail; the mannerisms and characteristics of the animals are exceptionally true to life (with the fact that it was done without the use of rotoscoping being particularly impressive). It was also completed with no use of computers; the paintwork for the backgrounds and drawing is all done by hand and could only have been a labour of love for those who worked on it (including legendary animator Brad Bird before he began his work with Pixar). The voice work is also top-notch, with legendary actor John Hurt as the voice of Snitter, the traumatized cynic and Christopher Benjamin as the soft-spoken and unstable Rowf. The film relies mostly on silence and heavy sound design to carry the weight of its atmosphere as opposed to musical tracks. However, the ending credits track "Time and Tide" by Alan Price offsets the story perfectly as it begins to play over the ending scene (which was changed from the book to the film, with the film opting for a grimmer but ultimately more fitting ending).

Anyone familiar with Richard Adams previous work Watership Down is no doubt aware of the infamous reputation of its animated adaption. The animation style alone fooled many at the time to believe it was a much lighter story suited to children than the mature and explicitly violent tale that it was. Which is why it may surprise some as to just how much more graphic and disturbing The Plague Dogs is in terms of content; making Watership Down look like the much more child-friendly film in comparison.

From beginning to end, the film makes it clear that nothing about this adaption is going to be toned down. When the opening scene shows a dog nearly drowning in a vat of water, only to be pulled out before death, it sets the tone for the rest of the story (that being unapologetically brutal and deeply sad). However, the sympathy garnered by Howf and Snitter throughout the film is what keeps it from sinking into being unbearable to watch. The amount of mental torture they go through when all they want is for someone to take care of them makes the journey they take worth watching in hopes they will succeed. However, while those who connect with it emotionally will find it a powerful and affecting experience, the films biggest strength of just how emotionally strong it is can also be its greatest weakness, as it runs the risk of alienating a broad audience.

While many rightfully respect Watership Down as a beautifully made film, detractors usually cite that the grim tone and scenes of violence throughout make it a hard film to watch and it’s no understatement to say The Plague Dogs is even more emotionally draining. Therefore, appreciation for the artistic effort and the deeply moving story between the two main characters will depend entirely on the viewer’s tolerance for such content. The Plague Dogs pulls no punches in showing the dogs and other animals in pain throughout the narrative, meaning it most likely won’t sit well for those who have a sensitivity towards animals (dogs in particular) or disturbing content involving the torture of animals. Despite having a similar animation style to Watership Down, The Plague Dogs is even less suitable for children and is unmistakably an adult work.

Similar in tone to such works as Schindler’s List and Grave of the Fireflies, The Plague Dogs is a powerful film but not a pleasant one. Those able to see the beauty in it will be those who appreciate the relentlessly dark tone in favour of the powerful emotion and social commentary tied to it. It is certainly not for everyone, not even the majority, as an animated film this bleak and dehumanizing is bound to alienate a general audience (especially considering the subject matter and themes of animal abuse). While difficult to watch however, it is a beautifully crafted, deeply tragic and emotional film that acts as a howl of despair for its protagonists and the cruel world they find themselves in. A must-see for lovers of obscure animated titles and dark, mature story-telling.