#2,975. A Boy and his Dog (1975) - Nuclear Wasteland Film Festival

 

“World War IV lasted five days. Politicians had finally solved the problem of urban blight”.

It is 2024 A.D., several years after nuclear war has transformed the world into a desert wasteland. Eighteen-year-old Vic (Don Johnson) has managed to survive thanks to his dog, Blood, who, voiced by Tim McIntire, advises him every step of the way.

Vic is the only one who can communicate with Blood, and the two have a tempestuous relationship. Blood relies on Vic to find the food, and Vic expects Blood to repay him by helping him get laid, tracking down eligible females in what seems to be a mostly-male society.

Vic steals some food from a band of traveling brigands, at which point Blood points him in the direction of Quilla June Holmes (Susanne Barton). But before Vic can force himself on her at gunpoint, they are surrounded by several dozen travelers, a nasty bunch that Blood assumes is also interested in the pretty Quilla June.

To Vic’s surprise, his intended conquest helps him fend off the invaders, and before long – and against the advice of Blood – Vic falls in love with Quilla June, who suggests that Vic follow her to the “Down Under”, where they can live happily ever after.

Though reluctant at first, Vic says goodbye to Blood and follows Quilla June into what proves to be an underground society of several thousand people, who have fashioned their world to resemble early 20th century Topeka, Kansas!

Co-written and directed by L.Q. Jones, A Boy and His Dog is a wild, sexy, funny look at nuclear devastation, and the special relationship that exists between its two main characters. Vic is the brawn, brave and not afraid to fight. Blood, who communicates via telepathy, is the brains of the duo, and does what he can to keep Vic out of trouble. Blood often insults Vic, who isn’t very bright, and Vic is resentful of the shoddy treatment. Their exchanges are, at times, hilarious (during an argument, Blood calls Vic a putz. “A putz?”, Vic shoots back, “What’s a putz? It’s somethin’ bad, isn’t it? You better take it back or I’m gonna kick your fuzzy butt!”).

Johnson is solid as the hot-headed Vic, and McIntire brings a real humanity to Blood. Watching them rely on one another time and again, always a bit annoyed that they must do so yet absolutely trusting each other, keeps the laughs coming. Also good in support are Benton as the pretty but conniving Quilla June and Jason Robards as one of the leaders of the underground society, who, along with the others on the “council”, have built a utopia that demands total subservience. Questioning the council’s authority, or even having a “bad attitude”, usually results in a sentence of death.

Director Jones and his team create two convincing worlds in A Boy and His Dog: the barren desert up above (which reminded me a little of George Miller’s The Road Warrior), and the farming community down below (think The Music Man without the tunes). But it’s Vic and Blood you will remember. They can have you howling with laughter one minute and in tears the next.
Rating: 9 out of 10