Black Dog, 2023.
Directed by George Jaques.
Starring Jamie Flatters, Keenan Munn-Francis, Nicholas Pinnock, Paul Kaye, Hattie Morahan, and Ruby Stokes.
SYNOPSIS:
Two teenage boys from very different London backgrounds embark on a road trip North together. As they start to open up about their pasts, the boys learn they have far more in common than they first thought.
It has been a stellar few years for up & coming British filmmakers and with Black Dog, George Jaques has marked himself out as a name to watch with a debut partially written when he was 18. Black Dog tells the story of an extrovert foster kid, Nathan (Jamie Flatters) who showboats a lot and talks the talk but under the surface is an unhappy young man striving to see the sister he has been deprived of contact with and is now in Scotland.
This sets up the central premise of a road trip north between Nathan and his unlikely companion, schoolmate Sam (newcomer Keenan Munn-Francis) who is recovering from his mum’s death and for reasons initially undisclosed driving to Newcastle. A chance encounter sets him on Nathan’s path and the pair form a bond over the course of their journey north. While coming from opposite ends of the track in some ways and growing up with different London upbringings, it’s clear they both have a lot more in common than they initially think.
After a slightly bumpy opening that introduces us to the two, the scenes with the pair together are what carry the film with fine chemistry between the pair elevating this from what could have been quite by the numbers. Keenan Munn-Francis in particular for a film debut gives an incredibly layered performance, exhibiting a calm exterior while dealing with several demons internally. While the script can show signs of its youthfulness and the fact it is a debut the assured performances and sense of fun keep it afloat.
While it is dealing with some lofty themes about grief, sexuality and the care system in the UK, the main thing is that is enjoyable watching these two young men learn about one another and find someone they can confide in for different reasons. The odd couple dynamic never feels grating and there is a natural feel about both performances.
If it’s not quite the finest debut we’ve seen recently there is plenty to admire in Black Dog with plenty of assured direction from George Jaques. The director and cast have shown they are ones to monitor and this will hopefully strike a chord with its tender depiction of grief and loss while still feeling optimistic about the prospects for both Nathan and Sam.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Chris Connor
