Dogtooth Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Dogtooth Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 22, 2025

Yorgos Lanthimos' "Dogtooth" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critic Adam Nayman; archival audio commentary by actors Angeliki Papoulia and Hristos Passalis; archival program with Yorgos Lanthimos; deleted scenes; and more. In Greek, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The provider

The text below was initially used for our review of the first Blu-ray release of Dogtooth, which British label Verve Pictures produced in 2010. You can access the review here. You can also read Casey Broadwater's review of Kino Lorber's first U.S. release of the film here.

Dogtooth is a controversial Greek film that was screened at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Un Certain Regard Prize, and more recently selected to represent Greece at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. In the United States, Kino International are set to release it on DVD in 2011.

What takes place in it is impossible to describe accurately with simple words. At best, a writer would likely point out how shocking parts of it are. Also, more than two-thirds of it can be easily rearranged without impacting the precision and efficacy of its message.

Dogtooth follows closely several members of a wealthy family living in a large suburban house somewhere in Greece. The head of the family is a slightly overweight man (Christos Stergioglou, Chariton's Choir) in his late forties, possibly early fifties, who has a well-paying job in a nearby factory. His wife (Michele Valley, Birthday Town), son (Hristos Passalis), and two daughters (Mary Tsoni, Angeliki Papoulia) spend all of their time in the house, without ever leaving. No names are given for any of them.

Recognized as the undisputed provider, the man takes care of everything the family needs -- food, clothes, porn. When he is in a good mood, the family knows it. When he is in a bad mood, the family feels it. Because things are the way they should be, no one ever attempts to question his authority.

The man’s son is in his early twenties, which is why he occasionally pays Christina (Anna Kalaitzidou), a security guard from the factory, to visit the house and have sex with him. The man is convinced that it is good for the boy. Christina does not mind either. She is single and needs the extra money the man pays her.

During a regular visit, Christina asks one of the girls to lick her. If she does, Christina will give her a present. The girl agrees, and later tells her sister about Christina’s unusual request. Then she tells her father. Soon after, the two girls begin licking everyone’s fingers, elbows, and arms.

Meanwhile, the man announces that there will be a new addition to the family because Mom is pregnant. Everyone is happy, even Christina. They take a picture together. Then they laugh and have a good time.

But an odd accident changes everything -- one of the girls decides to explore the world outside the house and makes a bold move. The man fails to react accordingly and, much to his annoyance, all hell breaks loose.

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Dogtooth is a minimalistic, extremely polarizing film, which Michael Haneke would have loved to direct. It hits hard where it hurts the most. One cannot possibly like it, but one should certainly be able to appreciate it. It is bold and brutally uncompromising, to the point of being offensive, but also illuminating.

The message of Dogtooth is simple -- parents could be as dangerous as those that they are supposedly trying to protect their children from. This message is impossible to reject. In the United States, Jerry Springer made a fortune welcoming some of the worst of these parents to his popular show, producing thousands of hours of shocking content that proves its validity.

*In 1990, Michele Valley, who plays the submissive mother in Dogtooth, also appeared in another very controversial Greek film, Singapore Sling, which won multiple awards at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Dogtooth Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Dogtooth arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces a brand new 4K makeover of Dogtooth, supervised and approved by Yorgos Lanthimos. The 4K makeover is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release. I viewed it in native 4K and later spent time with its 1080p presentation on this Blu-ray release.

The entire film looks dramatically better now. It is not only because delineation, clarity, and depth are improved in areas that used to look shaky. All visuals, the brighter ones with plenty of natural light and the darker ones with many nuanced shadows, boast a substantially better dynamic range. There is richness and vibrancy in these visuals that give the entire film a much, much more attractive appearance. Also, the improvements are very consistent. I did not encounter any traces of distracting digital corrections. Image stability is outstanding. On my system, the film looked spotless as well. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Dogtooth Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: Greek DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Greek DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The comments below are from our review of the combo pack release. I viewed the new 4K makeover of Dogtooth in native 4K and later spent time with its 1080p presentation on this Blu-ray release.

I revisited Dogtooth with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I thought that the music during the party sounded fuller and thicker, not as it does on the other Blu-ray release of Dogtooth that I have. Also, I must mention that the Region-B release of Dogtooth I have has the audio pitched slightly higher. The dialogue was very clear, and the English translation is excellent.

Dogtooth Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by actors Angeliki Papoulia and Hristos Passalis. The bulk of the information that is shared in it addresses the shooting of various sequences from Dogtooth, many of which were apparently completely improvised. The commentary is in English.

• Commentary Two - in this audio commentary, critic Adam Nayman deconstructs Dogtooth and explains how it revitalized the Greek film industry. Nayman also addresses the career and work of its creator, Yorgos Lanthimos.

• Interview with Yorgos Lanthimos - in this archival program, Yorgos Lanthimos remembers how the original idea for Dogtooth emerged and discusses some of the key themes and conflicts that are present in the film. In English, not subtitled. 13 min).

• Yorgos Lanthimos in Conversation - in this archival interview, Yorgos Lanthimos discusses his latest film, The Favourite and his working methods with critic and director of the NYFF Kent Jones. In English, not subtitled. (45 min).

• Deleted Scenes - three deleted scenes:
  
  1. Father Sings
  2. Fly Me to the Moon
  3. Bathroom Dance

• Trailer One - presented here is an original theatrical trailer for Dogtooth. In Greek, with imposed English subtitles. (2 min).

• Trailer Two - presented here is an original trailer for the recent 4K restoration of Dogtooth. In Greek, with English subtitles. (2 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Booklet - a 10-page illustrated booklet featuring a reprinted interview with Yorgos Lanthimos and techncial credits.

Dogtooth Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dogtooth hits very hard, almost as hard as Irreversible. However, some of its biggest fans, like the late David Lynch, have described it as a comedy, which is quite bizarre. I do not find it funny at all. It carries a chilling message about the destruction of the nuclear family in the West, which Yorgos Lanthimos correctly predicted would become a massive problem. Kino Lorber's upcoming release brings an outstanding new 4K makeover of Dogtooth, supervised and approved by Lanthimos. I think that it is an all-around winner on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.