Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs (1977)

Runtime: 104 minutes

Directed by: Roger Donaldson

Starring: Sam Neill (RIP), Ian Mune, Ian Watkin, Davina Whitehouse, Warren Oates

From: Several New Zealand companies

RIP Sam Neill

I can echo the thoughts of everyone who was saddened upon hearing this recent news, especially after remembering that just months before, a cancer remission was announced. Of course, as someone born in ’81 I’ll remember him best as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise; that was the first film I saw him in. Only later on did I check out the likes of The Hunt for Red October, Possession, and In the Mouth of Madness. Even in lousy movies I never had a problem with his performance and off-screen, I found it fascinating he ran a winery in New Zealand & cared about Aboriginal causes both in NZ and Australia.

Choosing a film not watched yet was a priority; this was selected for several reasons. It’s on Arrow’s streaming platform, was the first New Zealand movie that made international waves, was the first feature film from the country shot in 35mm from a fully national crew w/o foreign involvement (!), was Neill’s first featuring film starring role, and was the feature film debut of director Roger Donaldson.

No comment on why, but the concept of the movie made me laugh sheepishly more than once. After all, a fascist government in NZ has began a police state and started martial law after there’s turmoil related to oil in the Middle East… then later in the film, the United States Army becomes involved in an attempt to squash The Resistance. Neill is on a remote island by choice-his wife cheated so he wanted to peace out & be alone. It’s farcical then that due to circumstances, he’s arrested then unwittingly becomes a face of The Resistance.

I use the term “farcical” yet Sleeping Dogs was a downbeat 70’s movie which had some light moments but our lead Smith’s world becomes a nightmare that only becomes more frightening by the day as the fascist government increases their pressure as the vice grip tightens, Smith’s freedom diminishing. More than a few deaths are shown—my downbeat comments were not an exaggeration. At least the score was interesting, as was the decision to include… 70’s New Zealand country music?! They were good tunes, at least.

Those interested in discovering that even in the nascent portion of his great career, Sam Neill had the goods and could deliver quality performances… that plus the significance this had for New Zealand film makes this curio worth a shot. In addition, the presence of the U.S. Army allowed for the inclusion of one then-known actor in the cast: Warren Oates. While not a lengthy role in terms of the few scenes he was in, he of course delivered another nice performance. There definitely are Neill movies to be viewed in the future that probably should have been tackled long ago, I was glad to have selected this.