Dogtooth (2009)
A family's unsettling vocabulary and bizarre rituals create a darkly comic, surreal, and intimate world.
Three teenagers are confined to an isolated country estate that could very well be on another planet. The trio spend their days listening to endless homemade tapes that teach them a whole new vocabulary. Any word that comes from beyond their family abode is instantly assigned a new meaning. Hence 'the sea' refers to a large armchair and 'zombies' are little yellow flowers. Having invented a brother whom they claim to have ostracized for his disobedience, the uber-controlling parents terrorize their offspring into submission.
How intense is Dogtooth?
Dogtooth is mildly scary, with no gore and some violence. Emotionally it is devastating. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch. The humor runs dark and absurdist.
What Dogtooth feels like
- Tone
- bleaksurrealdarkly comicintimate
- Pace
- Measured
- Humor
- dark and satirical, absurdist
- Best for
- Full attention
Where to stream Dogtooth
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 15, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Dogtooth for you?
Is Dogtooth scary?
Only a little. Dogtooth has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is Dogtooth gory or violent?
No gore (0 of 3) and some violence (1 of 3). Squeamish viewers are fine here.
Is Dogtooth sad or heavy?
Yes. Emotional weight 3 of 3. It hits hard; do not plan anything light after.
How long is Dogtooth?
Dogtooth runs 1h 38m.
Where can I stream Dogtooth?
Dogtooth is streaming on Kanopy.
Does Dogtooth have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
It leaves the ending open to interpretation.
Cast and crew
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