The Year of the Dog

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The Year of the Dog

PG-13

Released Feb 24, 2023

1h 35m

Drama

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4 Reviews

82%

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50+ Ratings

Matt, a loner alcoholic at rock bottom, struggles to maintain sobriety for 30 days so he can honor his mother's dying wish, to visit her in hospice, sober. His book-thumping AA sponsor, Fred, offers him refuge at his farm, where Matt finds Yup'ik, a stray Husky with a unique talent. The man and dog relationship is precarious at first, but with the help of a close-knit Montana community, the two strays find a connection and discover what it takes to pull through to the finish line.

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Rick Bentley

KGET-TV (Bakersfield, CA)

What elevates the production is the addition of a strong second storyline. Despite his lack of directing experience, Grabow shows a very seasoned hand in mixing these two elements together.

Rated: B

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

Stephanie Malone

Morbidly Beautiful

The Year of the Dog has a lot going for it, including a moving score, stunning cinematography, and stellar performances. It’s a love letter to people who feel isolated and unseen, giving them hope and reminding them that there are people who care.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 1, 2023

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Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

A story about pulling through that’s as heartwarming as it is uplifting. The weight-pulling storyline gives a whole new meaning to the word underdog.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 10, 2023

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

A triumph! It's a warm, wise and genuinely heartfelt journey well worth taking.

Mar 10, 2023

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AE J

Stellar. And not because I love dogs, although I certainly do, but because it was perfectly executed. Beautifully written, beautifully performed, beautifully directed. Honest, humble and hopeful. Tip of the cap to Grabow, lovely film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

Michael P

The racialized nonsense. The self righteousness of the Indian roommate. The over acting and complete disregard for what it is to actually be a sponsor and supportive of somebody struggling with addiction. The movie is written by somebody that has absolutely no clue about the material they're putting on screen.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/24

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T L S

The story, the pacing, the acting, the music and the directing were all top tier! I loved this movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

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Meg F

DEEEE-PRESSING. Geeeez.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/12/23

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Koi P

I enjoyed the relationship between the characters. The dog is beautiful. The movie is not really about the dog. I don't agree that one dog should pull an immense amount of weight. That ruined it for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

Full Review

Dee F

The story line idea is beautiful,the acting and directing lacked the luster.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

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Rob Grabow

Director

Andrew McGinn

Director

Michael Peterson

Director

Rob Grabow

Matt

Michael Spears

Fred

Jon Proudstar

Greg

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The Year of the Dog: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Matt, a loner alcoholic at rock bottom, struggles to maintain sobriety for 30 days so he can honor his mother's dying wish, to visit her in hospice, sober. His book-thumping AA sponsor, Fred, offers him refuge at his farm, where Matt finds Yup'ik, a stray Husky with a unique talent. The man and dog relationship is precarious at first, but with the help of a close-knit Montana community, the two strays find a connection and discover what it takes to pull through to the finish line.

Director: Rob Grabow, Andrew McGinn, Michael Peterson
Producer: Rob Grabow, Heather Hanley
Screenwriter: Rob Grabow
Distributor: Nova Vento Entertainment
Production Co: The Year of the Dog
Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 24, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 7, 2023
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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