Customer Reviews
Dog something, but not Dogville! - By: Mr. T. Ford, 21 Dec 2008 
It is not very often I start watching a film but turn it off after only 20 or 30 minutes but I just had to with this. When it started I thought to myself 'wow what a good idea to start a film, to tell the back story before we get into the beef of the story'. I am of course referring to the 'stage' effect of the film. I was horrified when I got 30 mins & realised that the WHOLE film would be like this. You see, full marks (or an extra star at least!) for having idea's outside of the box & being brave enough to see them through, it's just it doesn't make the film visually exciting. The cinematography of a film can add as much to the whole as some of the other sums of the parts. When you take that away, the scenery etc, it can make it very bland. Maybe I regret turning off because by all accounts, reading other reviews it gets better after a boring start, but I still thinking I would be squirmingin my seat after 3 hours. Don't get me wrong, I love films that are out of the mainstream & a bit different from the norm but this one was a stretch too far for me, after all I'm not a lover of theatre. This would probably be an awesome stage play, just not a three hour film. IN MY OPINION!
Lord of the Flies all over again - By: jeannie-bee, 10 Dec 2008 
Maybe you need to spend time as a strangerin a small community to appreciate how perceptive this movie is. Strip away the postcard scenery & the smiles for the tourists, just like the director did by taking away the set & near neighbours, & this is what you get: Human dominance fightsin the raw, bullyingin the name of righteousness, a long slow slide into Lord of the Flies. The issuesin Dogville are far from pretty.
Innovative and brilliant and oh so very dark! - By: R. Boden, 13 Oct 2008 Superb movie. Very interesting direction & styling, with the set reduced to an almost-bare soundstage with the outlines of buildings, trees etc drawn onin white paint. Simple wooden frames denote doors, a mine etc. Don't let the simplicity fool you - there are some outstanding effects - such as when snow falls onlyin the street but not inside the houses or when blossoms blow down the street but not through the "walls". The styling afords you the ability to watch all the charactersin the background whilst other scenes progress. This works particularly wellin the scenein which Grace is attacked by Chuck. The movie ends with Grace getting a "Pirate Jenny"-style revenge on her tormentors before she moves on from Dogville, headed for Manderley.
Extremely interesting, but a bit unpleasant - By: Jamie, 30 May 2008 
This was a really good, inventive film that offers a different experience from the usual. Basedin a basic set & with limited props the film moves at a pace which allows it to slowly gather menace. There are some unpleasant scenes which seem to be more shocking due to the basic style of the film, but I wouldn't suggest that this is any reason not to watch it. A fascinating film that will make more of an impression on you than the majority of special effect laden blockbusters will ever do!
Mmmmmm - By: John Murray, 03 Feb 2008 Quirky little revenge comedy from the man that brought you the Rom-Com 'Breaking the Waves'. OK not all of this is quite true but if you spend your time watching this film trying, as Mr Von Trier may want you to do, to deconstuct or read into it various meanings you may miss out on enjoying an almost 'Kind Hearts & Coronets'-style revenge comedy with a blackly funny narration from John Hurt. Soon to be made into a musical featuring Claire Sweeney.
