Reviewed by Kevin Scott
MoreHorror.com
Monster Dog (1984)
Written by: Claudio Fragrasso
Directed by: Claudio Fragrasso
Cast: Vince (Alice Cooper), Sandra (Victoria Vera), Angela (Pepita James), Pepa Sarsa (Marilou), Carlos Santurio (Frank), Ricardo Palacios (Sheriff Morrison), Barta Barri (Old Man),
Horror film anomalies are one of my favorite things ever. An occurrence of happenstance that is just so weird and off kilter, it could never occur or even be suggested again. Ironically, these strange and random acts of film kismet, hold a very important place in the legacy of horror films. Case in point would be Alice Cooper’s only (as far as I know) starring film role. He made a memorable turn in John Carpenter’s “Prince of Darkness” as a supporting character, but never as a leading man, other than “Monster Dog”. This is a 1984 film that I remember renting just because it had Alice Cooper in it.
I’m going to reveal my hand early and go ahead and put my biases about Alice Cooper on the table. I’m a diehard Alice fan, and have loved him ever since I saw him do “Welcome to my Nightmare” on the Muppet Show. He’s a consummate showman, and a master of how important stunning and shocking visuals are to any rock show experience. I saw him in 2011, and he hasn’t lost a thing. So I say that just so I can say this, a strange little horror anomaly like this is perfect to showcase what’s great about him. I’m going to do my best to point out what I wish this would have or could have been.
Alice Cooper plays Vince Raven, a famous rock star that parallels Cooper’s own persona. The opening scene is for a video for the song “Identity Crisis” where Vince role plays as James Bond, Jack the Ripper, Billy the Kid and Sherlock Holmes. This is one of two songs written by Cooper himself that are featured in the film. Vince wants to up the ante and create a masterpiece of gothic horror for his next video. There’s no better place than his boyhood home, which is a haggard, former shell of a bastion for stately, old money living . I’m not really sure where this is set. It’s filmed in Spain and looks pretty exotic. I don’t think it’s supposed to be California, but it appears that they drive the whole way in a van that looks like it was customized at the same dealership where the “Friday the 13th part 3” van came from.
Vince encounters some of the locals that he grew up with that includes the local law. They warn him and his entourage that there have been some fatalities involving a roving pack of wild dogs. Speaking of the entourage, it’s pretty streamlined with a couple of AV guys, the starlet that is going to be in the video, and Vince’s girlfriend. They get to the house and find that the “Alfred” of the house is missing. Vince’s father was murdered years ago by an angry mob of townies. There was a town legend about a werewolf that ironically was believed to be Vince’s father, and there’s a creepy painting on the wall of Vince’s father that adds more believability to that theory.
That bad mojo doesn’t stand in the way of making some potential MTV gold, and everyone begins setting up for the video. What does throw a wrench into the works is a blood soaked old man that warns them that all will die a horrible death. The video shoot is great with Vince is black leather, and the starlet in a flowing dress, kind of like the Meat Loaf video for “Anything for Love” before everyone hated Michael Bay. Who’s who finally plays out, and I’m a little disappointed even though it wasn’t predictable. It did leave some loose ends.
The most ambiguous thing about the plot is whether Vince had any idea that things would go down the way they did. Did he plan it, and did he know his destiny. His dark side reveals itself when some crazy cowboys come calling trying to be proactive to avert another werewolf problem. I highly recommend “Monster Dog” even though I always want it to be more than it is. The title could be better, and it’s very distracting that Alice Cooper doesn’t sound like Alice Cooper. This is a Spanish film, and he did not return to dub his lines into English. Any horror fan should check it out because it does fall into the hallowed halls of strange film choices. It’s half Fulci-esque, half 80’s music video, and all Cooper sounding like somebody else. I know that doesn’t add up, but most anomalies don’t.
SOURCE: More Horror – Read entire story here.