Dogbone

Dogbone (2025) is a short graduation film, written and directed by Austen Taylor Pease. It follows Mark (played by Jude Pollitt), a teenager who plays football as a homage to his late father, who was a massive football fan. The abuse by his football coach and the suicide of his teammate Simon cause Mark to spiral, as he is engulfed in grief and the dark reality of his sport.

This film was exceptionally crafted to be deeply emotional and gripping. What seems to be a very uncomplicated script hides many layers and complexities through the multifaceted characters and amazing performances from the cast. I was surprised by the quality of Jude’s performance and his ability to portray such saddening trauma so beautifully.

The story was very powerful and eye-opening, with the film making comment on the terrible side of grassroots football culture in such a cinematic way. The visuals, sound and even the casting were all very professional and to an impeccable standard. Despite the strategically used original music and crisp shots, the performances were not lost at all. The strength of this film comes from its ability to engage audiences in its compelling and sensitive topic.

There are a few moments that stand out in particular. The performance of Mark’s mother (played by Lucy Dixon) as she breaks down and apologises for not being able to protect her son was very touching. The reveal of Mark’s injuries and his anger was a very moving scene also. The end moments where Mark moves through the camcorder-captured memory offer audiences a glimpse at what he and his mother have lost, emphasising their grief and the hard-hitting plot. This was such a heartwarming, yet heartbreaking way to end such a reflective and sombre film.

My only criticism is that I would have liked some more insight into Mark’s relationship with his teammate Simon, who committed suicide. Without taking away from the protagonist’s focus, some flashbacks of them together and to actually see Simon in the film may increase the emotional depth even further.

The aesthetics of the scribbly film title was a nice personal touch; I would have liked to understand the meaning behind the title ‘Dogbone’, however.

Overall, this was a captivating and passionate film, produced to be polished and to look almost high-budget. The performances stood out the most throughout, with the cast’s ability to open themselves up like that to the camera being highly admirable.