Dogs in Space (1986)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Richard Lowenstein

Writer:

Richard Lowenstein (written by)

Release Date:

1 January 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The film is set in a house occupied by a collection of social misfits. The main storyline is that of a strange musician's relationship with a girl...

Plot Keywords:

Punk | Australia | Melbourne Victoria | Drug Addiction | New Wave Music

Cast

Michael Hutchence	...	Sam
Saskia Post	...	Anna
Nique Needles	...	Tim
Deanna Bond	...	The Girl
Tony Helou	...	Luchio
Chris Haywood	...	Chainsaw man
Peter Walsh	...	Anthony
Laura Swanson	...	Clare
Adam Briscomb	...	Grant
Sharon Jessop	...	Leanne
Edward Clayton-Jones	...	Nick
Martii Coles	...	Mark
Chuck Meo	...	Charles
Caroline Lee	...	Jenny
Fiona Latham	...	Barbara

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Australia:MA (re-rating: 2009) | Australia:R | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Burrowes Film Group

Trivia:

After Anna and Sam's fight, Anna goes to her Mum's house and watches an old movie on TV with her. That movie is My Man Godfrey (1936).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At one point, a cover for the Marvel Comics title "The Thing" is seen tacked up on the notice board. That series wasn't published until 1983, and the specific issue cover seen was published in 1985 - several years after the events of the movie.

Quotes:

Tim: That's TV, Sammy. That's what you watch when you've got no brain -- like you and me.

Movie Connections:

Features My Man Godfrey (1936)

Soundtrack:

Sky-saw

Punk rawk! Raw and real.

This is for when you're feeling like you need some company, but you don't feel like venturing past your doorstep. It's a good example of "slice of life" cinema, taking us through the dirty, drug-addled day-to-day life of a punk commune in 1978 Melbourne. The late Michael Hutchence was the best choice to play Sam; though the film is a true story, it seems as if the role were written for Hutchence. Several of the parts were cast with non-actors, people that director Richard Lowenstein found in public, and that only adds to the gritty realism of the film. It's almost enough to make me wish I had been there. The strong performances by Nique Needles (as Tim, a friend and bandmate of Sam's) and Saskia Post (as Sam's girlfriend) are icing on the cake. As a bonus, you won't find a much better soundtrack - Iggy Pop, The Boys Next Door (later the Birthday Party), Brian Eno, Gang of Four, Dogs In Space (Hutchence and other actors/musicians from the film) and Melbourne locals of the day.