No one, human or otherwise will ever be as loyal and loving as a dog to his keeper. When you walk through the door after a day's work household members more than likely will greet you with a smile and civility if all is going well. If problems pre-exist then it can be a decidedly colder welcome. Not so with the worshipful family dog who lapses into a dance of euphoric hysteria upon your return. Whether away a few hours or a month the reaction never differentiates. Man's best friend is just that, unless of course your a thinking canine like Baxter.An English pit bull terrier, Baxter is a pound dog that is first given to an old woman on the verge of dementia as a companion. It is a bad union since he craves discipline and leadership and finds it lacking in the senior whom he grows to dislike. Through tragic circumstance, (probably Baxter's fault) he is soon freed from this relationship and moves in with a young married couple. Their youth and energy seem a good fit for the happy Baxter until a "hairless monstrosity" (a baby)arrives and changes the dynamic. Baxter plots against it but is given away before any permanent harm is done. Now in the care of an adolescent boy who has a fascination with the cult of Nazism, Baxter feels he is on the right path. The boy is not affectionate to the dog but he has what Baxter desires, the ability to challenge and dominate him. If nothing else Baxter craves direction.Baxter is no Benji. He is far more introspective than other dogs and a lot more self interested and predisposed to having the disposition of a cat whose independence he admires and hopes to have the chance to kill some day. He is not the ideal of trust and loyalty we expect from the domestic canine but his ruminations and view of the world are both grisly and darkly comic. He is both dangerous and lovable; after all he is a dog.Co-writer and director Jerome Boiven moves Baxter along at a quick pace as the dog goes from owner to owner. Characters are well developed and their situations detailed in a way that allow the dog to more fully state his case and move within the various subplots with ease.It may be disturbing and make some dog lovers growl but Baxter overall is a fresh, original and thought provoking work that deserves best of breed consideration.

Chilling, brooding, low key adaptation of the extraordinary Ken Greenhall/Jessica Hamilton novel about an evil, cynical bull terrier (Baxter) who moves from owner to owner (killing as he goes) until he finds the Master of his dreams, a small boy with Third Reich ambitions. Just as Hamilton's novel, 'Elizabeth', examined the nature and allure of evil, so does "Baxter". As the novel was narrated by the dog, so is this film. The voice-over, in fact, is that of an old, mean-spirited man whose tone is one of despair and malice.Director Jerome Boivin creates a bleak world for Baxter to exist in, a world the dog slips quite easily into. Baxter, like many creatures, has a talent for altering his demeanor to suit the moment or Master's needs. He is occupied with doggy pursuits also, of course, but, at heart, he is an opportunist who feels nothing but contempt for four- and two-legged animals.The score, by Marc Hillman and Patrick Roffé, is extremely spare. At times, we hear only a strange "blip" or single, resonating note on the soundtrack. Cinematography by Yves Angelo has a reddish, saturated interior tint and a bluish exterior one. Performances are measured and fascinating. Lise Delamare as Madame Deville makes an impression.The overall tone of "Baxter" is disturbing and some viewers will be upset by the brutal (faked, of course) animal cruelty. The film is devoid of light, but rich in atmosphere, suspense and revelation. A scene involving a baby in jeopardy is powerful and unnerving.A minor masterpiece.

I do not know why it took me so long to see this movie, but it is absolutly amazing. This is a movie that I recommend everyone must see. Yes, it is very disturbing, and yes, you may feel disgusted, or even physical ill after seeing it, but it is a great film. Even if subtitles annoy you, take the time and watch this film. 10/10

A graphic depiction of cruelty and emotional detachment that may well depict elements of real life, but is not funny so much as it is unsettling. While there is no question that the director designed a powerful film, I missed the perspective or balance of emotional depth that is also a part of real life. The director's point of view seems as heartless and emotionally stunted as the characters he describes.