Dog Pound (2009)

75% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(1,195 ratings)

Three boys caught between youth and adulthood struggle to survive behind bars in this hard-hitting drama. Alex (Mateo Morales), Butch (Adam Butcher) and David (Shane Kippel) are three teenage criminals who have sentenced to the Enola Vale Correctional Facility, a juvenile detention facility in… More Three boys caught between youth and adulthood struggle to survive behind bars in this hard-hitting drama. Alex (Mateo Morales), Butch (Adam Butcher) and David (Shane Kippel) are three teenage criminals who have sentenced to the Enola Vale Correctional Facility, a juvenile detention facility in Montana. Goodyear (Lawrence Bayne), a guard who looks after the young inmates, is tough but fair-minded and urges the youngsters to play by the rules and quietly serve their time so they can earn a second chance on the outside. But the new inmates have to deal with young men who have been in lockup for a while, many of whom have become accustomed to the violence and intimidation of life behind bars. Banks (Taylor Poulin) is already a hard case who thrives on bullying those smaller and more vulnerable than himself; once he targets Butch, the new inmate starts down a path of retribution from which there is no return. Dog Pound was the first English-language feature from French director Kim Chapiron; the film earned him an award as "Best New Narrative Filmmaker" at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Kim Chapiron
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Apr 24, 2010 Wide
Studio: Partizan Production

Critic Reviews

Mike Edwards, What Culture
Intense scenes of violence build to a conclusion that will leave you shaken.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
The film is graced by excellent acting and based on extensive research.
Philip Kemp, Total Film
With largely improvised dialogue and a cast including genuine ex-offenders, Chapiron captures a powerful stench of authenticity.
, Daily Express
Covers predictable ground with admirable sincerity and is notable for some eye-catching performances, not least that of Adam Butcher as an angry young man.
Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
[Chapiron] never lets things gets boring, even if he can't help indulging in a few too many prison movie clichés along the way.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
There's no doubting the seriousness of the point Chapiron is trying to make regarding the way that young criminals can become trapped in a spiral of reoffending, but by pushing all the action into barely believable melodrama, his argument is weakened.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Impressively directed, superbly acted teen prison drama that packs a powerful emotional punch.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
The ghost of Alan Clarke's Scum makes its presence felt in this lowering tale of a youth correctional facility in the American Midwest.
David Aldridge, Radio Times
Though Alan Clarke's original film still has the edge, this perhaps has more relevance for a new generation of cinemagoers.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
With a plot greased by spit, vomit and blood, it doesn't pack the same sucker-punch as the original but is never less than entertaining. Top dog.
Xan Brooks, Guardian [UK]
Handles its brief with pace and precision.
Matt Bochenski, Little White Lies
Kim Chapiron could make a seminal film about today's youth, but this isn't it.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
There's something lacking in this respectable, effortful Scum-like drama from French director Kim Chapiron...
Nev Pierce, Empire Magazine
Offers a punchy insight to prison life. Unfortunately, it is a familiar and tepid storyline.
David Jenkins, Time Out
[A] snarling but predictable survival tale...
Nigel Andrews, Financial Times
Graphic and gonzo at best, at worst Dog Pound suffers from a lack of viewpoint.
Robbie Collin, News of the World
Chapiron couldn't be telegraphing this stuff more obviously if he was standing down the end of Stansted runway with a pair of glow sticks.
Chris Prince, Sky Movies
Tough, confrontational and thought-provoking cinema that, like its protagonists, deserves to get a fair chance on its release.
Martin Roberts, Fan The Fire
Building to a bravado climax that suddenly becomes almost apocalyptic in its aesthetic, the film succeeds wholeheartedly in breaking through its inspirations to stand on its own as a great prison movie.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

My predicted rating: 2.5 I'm not sure if this has any official announcement to say that this is a remake of the film "Scum', but there is no doubt that that is the case. A modernised correctional facility in America provides the backdrop to this tale. Bear with the… More
My predicted rating: 2.5 I'm not sure if this has any official announcement to say that this is a remake of the film "Scum', but there is no doubt that that is the case. A modernised correctional facility in America provides the backdrop to this tale. Bear with the beginning, the performances come across a little amateur, but that seems to grow through with the storyline. It's not a patch on the original, however the violence shown has excalated and you do get the sense of fear from this film.