The Plague Dogs (1983)

88% of users liked it
(2,644 ratings)

Like Watership Down, Plague Dogs is an animated cartoon feature based on a novel by Richard Adams and produced by Martin Rosen. And also like Watership Down, it is more appropriate for an older audience. Two dogs escape from a British government research lab. As the authorities hunt down the canine… More Like Watership Down, Plague Dogs is an animated cartoon feature based on a novel by Richard Adams and produced by Martin Rosen. And also like Watership Down, it is more appropriate for an older audience. Two dogs escape from a British government research lab. As the authorities hunt down the canine fugitives, the two dogs search for their original master and for a place where they'll be free from the iniquities and cruelties of Mankind. Plague Dogs was completed in 1982, but was not released in the US until two years later. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Martin Rosen
Written By: Martin Rosen, Richard Adams
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Animation, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Dec 17, 1983 Limited
On DVD: Oct 20, 2004

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The whole movie is shot through with despair and dread; it feels like a prolonged howl of helplessness.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Pierluigi P

Perhaps the bleakest and yet most moving animated film I have ever seen. The animation is simple but perfect, and the story is mature and overwhelming. the uneasyness, impotence and sadness stays with you long after the credits have rolled.
Luke B

From the director and author of Watership Down comes this delightfully British and morbidly depressing animation. Us Brits even make our cartoons miserable. This is not for kids but it also isn't strictly for adults. It deals with dark themes including animal testing, mental… More
From the director and author of Watership Down comes this delightfully British and morbidly depressing animation. Us Brits even make our cartoons miserable. This is not for kids but it also isn't strictly for adults. It deals with dark themes including animal testing, mental illness and generally depicts humans as the cruel bastards we are. The animation is beautiful, capturing the wonderful countryside in a subtle and grim fashion. The vocal talents on display are also a marvelous bunch, each actor giving a performance as serious as any of their live-action work. This film is very brutal in places and has some of the most shocking imagery in any film.
Henrik S

From the makers of cult classic animated movie "Watership Down" and if you liked (or let's say know) the first one you will love this one. Based on Richard Adams anthropomorphical novel starring two talking dogs which escape from a grizzly research labratory. From then… More
From the makers of cult classic animated movie "Watership Down" and if you liked (or let's say know) the first one you will love this one. Based on Richard Adams anthropomorphical novel starring two talking dogs which escape from a grizzly research labratory. From then on, they roam the countryside in seach of food, a new master, friends and a way to escape the cruelty of this world ridden with sadistic humans. The movie is very dystopian, set in the rainy, dark and rainy landscape of some Irish/Scottish/British highland area. So do not expect Disney-like backdrops or cute little sidekicks, but grim old dogs and even some gore (yes, kill those sheep !). The movie is one long attack on animal cruelty and the cold heartedness of humans, terrible things is, as much as this movie overstresses the badness of humankind, it is pretty much right and you can just sit there, nodding in ashamed agreement. Anyway, the movie is a nice detour of all (and I mean all) classic animation movie you have ever seen, and is definetely not for children. If you are interested in animation, animals or both, give this a go. It is one for the obscurity cabinet in your collection for sure. H.