Waldo the Dog
Directed by: Kris Canonizado
Written by: Kris Canonizado
Starring: Rook Kelly, Jaquelyn Xavier, Dave Mora
Released: 2010
Reviewed by: Char Hardin

Waldo the Dog is unlike anything I have ever seen! There wasn’t any description or synopsis on the DVD’s back cover, just the name. Had it not been for Philip Carrer (Producer of If a Tree Falls) urging me to watch Waldo, I probably would have missed this unique film.

After watching the film, I went to IMDB.com to do a little research. Two words kept coming up Guerrilla filmmaking. Interest peaked… I did a search on the term. Found page after page explaining guerrilla filmmaking and the filmmakers. Guerrilla filmmaking is a No Fear type of filmmaking. Kind of like having a story that needs to be told and filmmaker, who will utilize any and all means available to get their story on film and in the DVD players of movie goers everywhere,. The writer and director Kris Canonizado and producer Shane Ryan and cast have done just that.

From the first seconds of Waldo, I was paralyzed until the end. Opening scene a tall white male in black dog mask knocks on door and when guy answers, he puts pistol in dude’s face and pulls the trigger…SPLAT! Then he is running after some guy and shoots him in alley and goes off on a killing spree. What we the viewer learns is that Waldo has a fixation on a young woman, he met on the Internet. He fancies himself in love with this woman and sets out to make her his by stalking her. The viewer is shown the copies of the police reports the woman Jaquelyn has filed and asked for a restraining order.

Waldo rapes the woman and the movie jumps to 3 years later where Waldo is wearing the Dog head mask and is homeless. This movie goes from one extreme to the next. And there really isn’t any time, to stop and ponder “Why the hell, am I sitting through this movie?!” That is because the filmmakers don’t give you the time to ponder. It is happening and moving right along. The viewer gets caught up in the moment and the only thing that matters is finding out what happens next to Waldo.

Waldo is a complex character with very real issues. He is living with the guilt of what he did in raping the woman he had pinned his heart on and has placed himself in a form of self exile. A kindness is bestowed upon Waldo and he signs up at a Wrestling school. Waldo the Dog wants to be a wrestler. He finds the woman he raped 3 years ago and his life starts to have new meaning and just like real life…something or someone comes along and fucks it up…LIFE and or Karma takes a bite out of his ass and leads to a moment of clarity and a life decision. I don’t want to spoil the outcome of this movie. I will say it was the best independent movie I have ever seen. It’s funny, weird, brutal, poignant and bittersweet and when it was over…I was exhausted with the range of emotions Waldo channeled from me. One word came to mind and I can’t stop saying it…WOW! Perfection 10 out of 10! Congratulations Team Waldo on your achievement.

Watch it for only .99  by clicking here.