The Big Dog is a 2023 Australian comedy film written and directed by Dane McCusker.[1]

The Big Dog
Directed byDane McCusker
Written byDane McCusker
Produced byJessica Murphy
Claudia Shepherd
StarringJulian Garner
Felicity Price
Asha Boswarva
CinematographyOliver Hay
Edited byJarrod Young
Music bySam Weiss
Release date
  • 2023 (2023)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Cast

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Reception

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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 75% based on 8 reviews.[2]

Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald Jake Wilson gave it 2 1/2 stars stating "But while the antic tone is never entirely dropped, the comic pay-offs never really arrive – and by the time Richard is lying on the floor crying and Sam is mumbling ominously about a “day of reckoning”, it's clear McCusker is aiming for something other than low farce, or indeed the highbrow heartlessness of a Haneke."[1] Jim Schembri on jimschembri.com gave it 2 stars calling it a "a prime example of a great idea that loses its way."[3]

In the AU Review Paul Gray gives it 3 1/2 stars and states "Packaged around a dynamic that’s probably more common than we believe, the conversations that the film brings forward are perhaps meatier than the entire execution, but however uncomfortable we may find The Big Dog‘s dealings, it can’t be denied how impactful McCusker’s film is overall."[4] Screen Hub Stephen A Russell gives it 3 1/2 stars concluding "Marking McCusker as one to watch, this hangdog tale goes for broke and its bark has bite too. Might just need a bit more meat on the bones next time."[5]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b Wilson, Jake (9 November 2023), "Ever heard of 'findom'? This uneven sex farce will have you Googling it", The Sydney Morning Herald
  2. ^ "The Big Dog". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. ^ Schembri, Jim (10 November 2023), "'The Big Dog' an Oz social satire that goes off the rails", jimschembri.com
  4. ^ Gray, Peter (8 November 2023), "Film Review: The Big Dog is a black dramedy that delights in the misery of its assembled company", The AU Review
  5. ^ Russell, Stephen A (6 November 2023), "The Big Dog review: a dominatrix film with bark and bite", Screen Hub
  6. ^ Estera, Christine (9 December 2023), "AACTA 2024 film and TV nominations revealed", News.com.au
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