Dog Dayz is a short film that takes place primarily in the car, the broke down car, of a couple an anniversary date.
The bulk of the story is the typical relationship banter between Martin (Gerard Miller) and Rhona (Nicola Clark) that dissolves into a bickering which hints that these two have spent a lot of time together. They are in a car park after dark when Martin finds that the car won’t start. His frustration is easily agitated by Rhona’s instant jump to judging his failures to keep the car well maintained. While they argue about not wanting to argue, they are surprised by a random stranger who has mistaken the couple for “Doggers”.
As an American viewer, I must admit, I was completely new to the term “Doggers”. Apparently a growing hobby in Scotland, and possibly spreading throughout Great Britain, is public sex by consenting adults for the viewing benefit of interested voyeurs. This pastime seems to be common enough that there are numerous websites which list the best dogging locations, arrange meet-ups, and allows website visitors to share stories and media from recent Doggings.
Understandably offended to be mistaken for Doggers, Martin and Rhona are taken aback. The insult from this common pervert is enough to push their intensified quarrel past the edge and to a darkly comical end.
The performances of Miller and Clark were convincing as that couple that you roll your eyes at in public and hope to never become with your own partner. Marc Jennings as the surprise Dogger brings the right amount of levity to remind audiences of the comedy that often rears it’s head to mock us in our lowest moments. And aside from catching the tiniest reflection of crew in one short clip (sorry to call you out), the cinematography was very natural and raw – the right touch for the realism that made this short film worth watching, chuckling at, and then sharing with some friends.
Even though this is a European film, so in theory the producers could have gotten away with it, there is no actual Dogging. Nor are there any actual dogs in this short movie, however the symbolism is there. What the the director, Madelyn Dwyer means with this, on the other hand, I can’t quite say. Is Dwyer trying to say that all men are dogs? Or that men and women both, be they couples, singles, or cosplay swingers, are all just animals behaving like dogs? Or is the director just having fun with combining themes of canines and Dogging for nerdy comical relief? I do not have an answer to this, but I will say that I enjoyed this short, Dog Dayz from Gilnockie Films & Projects.
