Stephen Byrne

Richard Adams/Martin Rosen's creations are monuments of brilliance to both - this is a beautiful and disturbing movie bringing to life Adams' Novel the Plague Dogs. How erriee, haunting and moody are the sensibilities evoked by this dark animal dystopia. Arguaably more impactful than its satellite gem Watership Down the movie.. This is a gloomy and sober dog tale - and is warranted by the reality of its subject matter - animal experimentation. The questions is implicitly suggested at all times Should we permit the human animal conduct experimentations on animals to conduct research projects - even if this means preventing the loss of human and further animal life? ' Adams wants us to view the subjects response to that question. The animation evoking the English mountain landscapes, the livestock and the barrenness of the bleak and stony moorish rockscapes is beautiful, blast winds and chilly rain squalls that elate the spirit and makes one feel glad that these places still exist far away from any metropolis however, raw and uninhabitable they might seem - at the very least they are reassuring - there are not many people there. . Rowf and Snitter are unforgettable dyad of unrelenting resources. Forever will they be in my mind, heroes of sacrifice and facing life's vicissitudes and pain with bravery and honour. The strong animal sense of foreboding evinced by Sniiter is reminiscent of Fiver in Watership Down. John Hurt, Christopher Benjamin, James Bolam and Nigel Hawthorne are only a few of the memorable voices who collaborated to put together this terrible beauty.