DOGHOUSE: Movie review by Mike Pickle

Doghouse (2009) starring Danny Dyer (Severance) and Stephen Graham (Snatch) is part zombie flick, part comedy, part action. This is a one-two punch of a Horror film. Don't make that obvious comparison to Shaun of the Dead though. Yes, this film has funny English blokes, zany action and zombies, but that's where the similarities end. Though it looked as if this was going to be a vehicle for the charming smart ass brit Danny Dyer, it turned out to be a strong ensemble piece. Every one of these manly English cut-ups bring something fresh and different to the film and each have their own interesting take on the Men are from Mars Women are from Venus commentary that runs throughout the narrative.

Through dryly clever (and very British) dialogue we learn that this group of men, each with their own struggle with their respective female counterparts, take their friend Vince on a weekend of male bonding at a remote village to take Vince's mind off his recent divorce. They arrive in the village to find that it is abandoned and there is a stench of death in the air. As the simple, but effective, story unfolds we learn that all the women in the village have been infected with a virus that turned them into man-hating cannibals for whom the cast and crew coined the name "Zom-birds". They hide and feed in the woods until this unwitting man buffet walks into town.

When the Zom-birds come to feed it kicks the film into high gear. You won't have this much fun watching a horror film if you tried. Every man-hating zombie girl is just as creative and interesting as the rest of the characters. Many moments trade realism for visual and/or comedic effect and it simply works. There are some great low-budget special effects that are done so well that they look big-budget and virtually seamless. The Director leans heavily toward practical effects and refuses to rely on CGI and this adds more magic to an already solid film.

Not the most deep or complex horror film you are likely to see, but it never takes itself too seriously therefore prompting you to have one hell of a dumb fun time watching this example of how British filmmakers make it look easy to make an effective and charming horror film. Plus anything with Danny Dyer is likely to keep you entertained.

Doghouse Movie Trailer:

Doghouse was written by Dan Schaffer and directed by Jake West.

Official Doghouse Movie Website