Blu-ray Review: Remastered Edition of ‘70s Cult Hit ‘A Boy and His Dog’

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Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – Some people take L.Q. Jones’ adaptation of Harlan Ellison’s “A Boy and His Dog” very seriously. When Jones begins his new discussion with the author talking about how there are people who consider his film the best science fiction movie of all time, it raises an eyebrow for a second, but he’s right. There are people who bow at the altar of this kinky tale of survival. Not me. I’ve always found it a bit clunky and too episodic in its narrative but if you think I’m crazy for that opinion, the Blu-ray is a beauty with a gorgeous transfer and illuminating special features.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-ray rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

“A Boy and His Dog” is about a post-apocalyptic future (there is no other kind) in which people fight for survival and carnal satisfaction. The title characters are a young man and his telepathic dog named Blood, who sniffs out women for him to sleep with. The film lurches from set piece to set piece and is too tonally inconsistent for me but it has some intriguing ideas, especially for when it was made. And the transfer is a beauty. The movie looks great. If you’re a fan, and Jones is right that there are a lot of you out there, then you should be happy.

A Boy and His Dog was released on Blu-ray on August 6, 2013
A Boy and His Dog was released on Blu-ray on August 6, 2013
Photo credit: Shout Factory

Synopsis:
World War IV lasted five days. The earth ravaged, survivors struggle to find food, shelter and companionship in the post-atomic wasteland. This celebrated sci-fi tale follows a young man, Vic (Don Johnson), and his sardonic and telepathic dog, Blood, as they wander in search of food and women. They find the suspiciously eager Quilla June (Susanne Benton), who lures Vic into a surreal city deep beneath the earth’s surface. What’s waiting for him there is certainly not what he wanted.

Directed by L.Q. Jones and based on the award-winning novella by acclaimed author Harlan Ellison, A Boy And His Dog is a dark and often wickedly funny trip through a post-apocalyptic world, where the friendship between a boy and his dog is the only currency that matters.

Special Features:
o In Conversation: Harlan Ellison And L.Q. Jones
o Commentary By Director L.Q. Jones, Director Of Photography John Arthur Morrill and Critic Charles Champlin

“A Boy and His Dog” stars Don Johnson. It was released on Blu-ray on August 6, 2013.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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