Dog’s Dinner

Director Statement

I have always adored murder mysteries and especially have long been curious about creating one with no detective. Instead the truth of the murder is revealed through a mosaic of conflicting, overlapping testimonies. The film’s influences are The Social Network for the cross-cutting of witness statements, Rashomon for the conflicting and contradictory nature of truth, and Knives Out for the sheer fun of a modern-take on the murder mystery..

This idea of a contemporary take on a classic genre guided the process. With the music, the composer fused a curious solo piano with electronic pulses to make a playful, fusion sound. With the location, it had to be claustrophobic, and distinctive. The blue dining room we chose had a nice evocative flair of being where a young professional could feasibly live, but the panelling, paintings, and the bold colour felt of the high design world of the genre. With the editing and cinematography, we balanced the quick cutting of the overlapping testimonies and a more classic approach in the dinner scenes with extended takes built and fluid camera movements.

Our hope is that its a new spin on the classic genre which feels fresh yet also reminds people why we all love murder mysteries so much!