The Plauge Dogs, 13 Tzameti

Achieved Reviews
March 3rd, 2007

The Plague Dogs
Rosen, 1982



I never would have seen or even heard of this without the help of the Ectothermal Pup, so here’s to him to introducing me to this great animated, if overlooked, film. Two dogs escape from a research lab, but not before they are possible exposed to the black plague. After the authorities realize this, they start a massive hunt for the two dogs. But the two dogs are only looking for direction in life, and ultimately for home. They’ve only know pain and hardship, with good memories either distant or nonexistent. It’s a really a depressing movie, deeply emotional. The two dogs, especially for someone with an affinity for animals, are very easy to relate to and understand, and as a result we grow very close to them. The voice acting is fantastic, and so is the writing. The two dogs, and an unlikely friend they pick up along the way, are very well written, dynamic and genuine.

It’s ultimately a heart shattering, emotionally devastating movie, and the ending is just something that will not leave me. It’s so sad, and the song that plays makes it even harder to watch. The only problem I had with the movie is the perhaps episodic nature of its narrative structure, but even that I may come to grips with in time. In the end, I think Plague Dogs can be considered a sort of lost classic of animated films, perhaps because it is very dark, or maybe because it simply is not made by Disney; but considering the incredible emotional core of the film, I defiantly think more people need to see it.



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13 Tzameti
Babluani, 2005



13 Tzameti essentially takes the game of Russian Roulette to the next level. Load the pistol, raise the gun, spin the chamber, point at the man in front of you and pull the trigger when the light goes on. If you’re lucky the gun behind you doesn’t go off, and you advance to the next round. It’s a chillingly cold blooded film and fascinating to watch from a philosophical aspect. “Remember, you are born once and die once. There is nothing in between.” It’s also a very suspenseful film, considering the subject matter, as you can imagine.

Unfortunately, it’s also predictable. Since there is only one main character, it’s safe to assume he doesn’t die at least until later on, and therefore you never really feel like he is in danger during the first few rounds. Also, I didn’t like how the execution of the build up was. It was great at building suspense, but not always great at releasing it. In the end, it’s flawed but still worth checking out for sure. Dark, gritty, visually stunning and very unique idea for a film. It’s like climbing into the mind of a suicidal man and ending up in a world that almost doesn’t even resemble ours, ultimately making it a success despites a few of its pitfalls.