Dog of God

Dog of God
International release poster
Directed byLauris Ābele
Raitis Ābele
Written byLauris Ābele
Raitis Ābele
Ivo Briedis
Harijs Grundmanis
Produced byKristele Pudane
Giovanni Labadessa
StarringRegnārs Vaivars
Einars Repše
Kristians Kareļins
CinematographyMārcis Ābele
Edited byLauris Ābele
Raitis Ābele
Music byLauris Ābele
Production
companies
Tritone Studio
Lumiere Lab
Distributed byMedia Move
Release dates
  • June 6, 2025 (2025-06-06) (Tribeca)
  • September 2, 2025 (2025-09-02) (Latvia)
Running time
92 minutes
CountriesLatvia
United States
LanguagesLatvian
German
Budget€720,000[1]

Dog of God (Latvian: Dieva suns) is a 2025 adult animated comedy horror film[2] co-written, edited and directed by Lauris and Raitis Ābele.[3] Based on the true story of Thiess of Kaltenbrun, a man convicted of heresy who calls himself a werewolf,[4] the film is a joint Latvian-American co-production[5] starring Regnārs Vaivars, Einars Repše and Kristians Kareļins.[6][7]

Dog of God had its world premiere at the 24th Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2025, in the Escape from Tribeca section.[8] It was selected as the Latvian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[9]

Synopsis

In the 17th-century Livonian village of Zaube, the shepherd sends the maid to trial for witchcraft. There, a man named Thiess proclaims himself a werewolf, one with roots in Latvian folklore, close to a demented shaman. The moment this tension reaches its peak will forever change the village and its surviving inhabitants.[10]

Cast

The actors participating in this film are:[11]

  • Regnārs Vaivars as Buchholtz
  • Einars Repše as Thiess
  • Jurģis Spulenieks as Klibis
  • Agate Krista as Neze
  • Kristians Kareļins
  • Armands Berģis

Production

Principal photography took place between 2022 and 2023 at the Riga School of Media and Arts studio in Latvia.[1]

Release

Dog of God had its world premiere on June 6, 2025, at the 24th Tribeca Film Festival in the Escape from Tribeca section,[12] then screened on July 21, 2025, at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival,[13] on August 7, 2025, at the Octopus Film Festival,[14] and on August 22, 2025, at the FrightFest.[15] ESC Films acquired the French theatrical rights.[16]

The film had a limited theatrical release on September 2, 2025, in Latvian theaters through Cinamon,[17] before expanding nationwide on October 16.[18]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 22 critics' reviews are positive.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gabelia, Alexander. "PRODUCTION: Latvian Directors Raitis and Lauris Ābele in Postproduction with Latvian/American Dog of God". Film New Europe. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  2. ↑ Scary, Girl Thats (June 12, 2025). "'Dog of God' Review: A Surreal Piece Of Horror Animation [Tribeca 2025]". Dread Central. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  3. ↑ Ciliberto, Kristin (June 20, 2025). "Tribeca 2025: Dog of God | Interview with Lauris Abele & Raitis Abele". Film Fest Report. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Kino var būt viss, arī sapnis. Saruna par pieaugušo pasakas «Dieva suns» tapšanu". Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs (in Latvian). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ Požarska, Līga (April 29, 2024). "Lauris and Raitis Ābele's upcoming Dog of God to take part in Cannes' Fantastic 7". Cineuropa. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Brāļu Ābeļu filma "Dieva suns" pasaules pirmizrādi piedzīvos prestižā festivālā Ņujorkā". Delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Vilkači no Latvijas un filma, kurā piedalījās "puse" Rīgas. Kas gaidāms Kannu kinofestivālā". Delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (April 16, 2025). "Tribeca Festival's Film Lineup Includes Miley Cyrus' Visual Album Premiere and Films Starring Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney". Variety. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Latvia's submission for the "Best International Feature Oscar" - feature animation "Dog of God"". National Film Center of Latvia.
  10. ↑ "Dog of God". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  11. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (June 3, 2025). "Animated Werewolf Movie 'Dog of God' Debuts Wild Trailer With Hitler Look-Alike Getting Tortured (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  12. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (April 16, 2025). "Tribeca Festival Program Spotlights Three Animated Features". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Dog of God". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  14. ↑ Festiwal, Octopus Film. "Octopus Film Festiwal". Octopus Film Festiwal (in Polish). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  15. ↑ Mitchell, Oliver (August 15, 2025). "Werewolf Trial Sparks Hellbound Chaos in 'Dog of God' UK Premiere". Love Horror. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  16. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 16, 2025). "Tribeca Title 'Dog of God' Acquired For France As Media Move Launches Sales – Cannes Market". Deadline. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Dieva suns". Cinamon Liepaja BALLE (in Latvian). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Balstīta patiesos notikumos: animācijas filma "Dieva suns" pirmizrādi Latvijā piedzīvos 16. oktobrī". TV3 (in Latvian). July 18, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Dog of God". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
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