Baxter: review - be ready to be disturbed

Baxter is an old French movie about a dog looking for its perfect family. You have access to his thoughts and opinions, always following the dog’s point of view. Do you think we’re talking about a cute dog looking for a sweet owner? Yeah… not even close.

Baxter is not cute

Baxter is not a cute dog. He is scary and creepy as hell.

Actually, he might be considered a psychopath. He kills his first owner! Then, he tries to kill a baby for no other reason than jealousy and selfishness. It is a weird way to show a dog.

Yet, Baxter is not the only one that’s creepy. When he finally finds what seems to be the perfect owner, that’s when the movie gets genuinely uncomfortable to watch. The kid is as messed up as the dog.

Innovative

When I watched it, I had zero information about the film. The only thing I knew was it was about a dog—nothing else. When I realized where it was going and how they portrayed a disturbed mind, I thought the movie was recent. The 80s clothes and the whole vintage environment would be just for the “scenario”. It wasn’t.

The movie is from 1989! So it is way ahead of its time! It was very innovative, different from what you had at the time, and that deserves to be highlighted.

Dark

The whole movie is strange and leaves us with a bad sensation.

The end is terrible. Not only because of what the kid does but because no one sees. No one. No one realizes how disturbed the boy is. As external viewer, we immediately start to imagine a future for this character as if he was a real person. We feel for those who would have the bad luck of crossing his way. It’s scary.

Disturbing movie

The movie wasn’t what I was expecting - at all - but it is, no doubt, a good movie. A good quality movie, yet so disturbing that I don’t want to see it again. Honestly.

If you look at its IMDB page, it is labeled as a comedy. I refuse it. Yeah, the dog says a couple of funny lines in the initial scenes. Yet, any trace of humor disappears as the story develops.

Is it worth it? Well, it is a creepy and absolutely out-of-the-ordinary movie. But, if you’re ready for that, then watch it.

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