Parents' Guide to DogMan

One of Luc Besson's more unusual movies, this thriller is sometimes preposterous but even more frequently thrilling; it's even touching, thanks to its gentle, terribly wounded central performance. DogMan takes a cue from the 2005 movie Unleashed, also written and produced by Besson, which followed another solitary warrior who has survived abuse (including being caged) and finds a kind of solace. But unlike Jet Li and his martial arts mastery, Caleb Landry Jones—best known for memorable character parts in Get Out and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and as "Banshee" in X-Men: First Class—finds other ways to tackle life's hurdles. His amazing performance as Douglas is remarkably quiet, as his expressive eyes ooze pain; he's resigned to his situation, and he's found peace with it. And his bond with the dogs is believable, even if some of their tricks strain credibility (in one scene, they fetch ingredients for Douglas to bake a cake).

Besson's skills as a great pulp filmmaker are as slick as ever: He finds just the right minor playful tone to sugarcoat the violence. (There's even some Shakespeare in it!) He's not subtle, but it works: When Douglas' brother hangs a sign reading "IN THE NAME OF GOD" on the young boy's cage, he reads it backward, seeing "DOG" instead. It has the feel and pacing of some of Besson's best movies, including La Femme Nikita and The Professional (Leon). Even so, it's edgy enough to be potentially off-putting to many viewers, including animal lovers (dogs are sometimes threatened or in jeopardy, and dogs ruthlessly kill bad humans). But for fans of Besson and those looking for something out of the ordinary, DogMan is highly recommended.