Baxter

Baxter is a dark and compelling French psychological horror drama film directed by Jérôme Boivin and released in 1989. The enigmatic film, which stars Lise Delamare, Jean Mercure, and Jacques Spiesser, has been widely recognized for its narrative approach and profound themes. Set against the picturesque imagery of French suburbs, Baxter unfolds a chilling tale that challenges traditional notions of anthropomorphism and navigates the multidimensional roles of animals in human society.

In this movie, the main protagonist is surprisingly not a human, but a sociopathic bull terrier named Baxter. Displaying a distinct taste in innovative storytelling, Boivin gives voice to the four-legged main character, hence providing an extraordinary glimpse into the dog's psyche. The film opens a provocative dialogue with its audiences by presenting the thought processes, instincts, and desires of Baxter, whose obsessive quest for a perfect master takes a sinister turn.

The film explores Baxter's interactions with his various owners. These include an elderly woman Madame Deville played by Lise Delamare, a bland middle-aged couple, and a sociopathic adolescent. Each owner leaves enduring imprints on Baxter's canine psyche, thereby indirectly contributing to the trajectory his life takes. Delamare’s portrayal of the aging Madame Deville is both compelling and authentic, lending a sense of grim reality to a plot construed from a dog’s perspective.

Jean Mercure and Jacques Spiesser also fair notably with their performances, masterfully embodying the diverse personas that Baxter gravitates to and dreads. Baxter's deadliest fascination is with the quiet and reclusive school-boy Charles, who conceals within him a chilling fascination for Adolf Hitler. The boy’s growing obsession with reenacting World War II intersects unexpectedly with Baxter’s life, leading to a sinister, multi-layered narrative.

As the plot unfolds, audiences are led deeper into a world where primal fear and domesticity clash, where monotony and unpredictability rest on a knife-edge, and where man's best friend conjures an impassive facade, beneath which harbors a bestial force driven by instincts and desires. Baxter's voice-over, with its cold observation and pragmatic approach to life, the absence of affection, and the brutally honest quest for survival, create an unnerving effect that is both haunting and riveting.

Director Jérôme Boivin's use of thematic subtleties is one of the highlights of Baxter. The film fleshes out its narrative through a meticulously constructed backdrop of French suburban domesticity, which, coupled with the dog's eerie voice-over, creates an uncanny ambience. Boivin’s portrayal of the nuances of the dog-human relationship is laden with raw realism, subtly exposing the dominance, ignorance, and callousness that often underpin these associations.

Baxter is not a movie following standard norms or predictable trajectories. It has a unique storytelling approach that uses the perspective of a dog to question societal constructs and human behaviors. The film's narrative strength is further boosted by nuanced performances, a consistent script, and intriguing dialogues. Baxter is not a movie merely about a dog; it is rather a movie about society, as seen through the eyes of a dog who, perhaps unlike most dogs, relentlessly yearns to assert control over his own life.

The cinematography, while not overtly flamboyant, perfectly complements the narrative's gloomy overtones with its straightforward visual representation. The film's score, though understated, effectively amplifies the tension and eeriness of the story.

In summary, despite its canine-led narrative, Baxter goes beyond being an animal genre movie. It is a psychological horror drama that masterfully blends the innocent façade of suburban life with the chilling realities lurking beneath. It's thoughtful, haunting, whimsical, and provocative. Baxter is an exemplary piece of cinematic literature that challenges viewers' philosophies about the significance of power, control, and the primal instinct towards survival. It's a film that leaves an indelible mark on viewers, inviting them to ponder long after the closing credits roll.