That barking dogs don’t bite is disproved by these two shocking social satires. Told from the perspective of the titular character via an emotionless voice-over, Baxter follows the bizarre journey of a murderous bull terrier searching for the perfect owner. This technique turns the dog into a tragic hero, eliciting both sympathy and horror. Baxter poses existential questions about his canine life, revealing a dogmatic, frustrated, and disillusioned personality that, in pursuit of happiness, takes a destructive path. The debut film of French director Jérôme Boivin, co-written with Jacques Audiard, caused a sensation upon release. Subversive and unsettling, it offers a cautionary glimpse of humanity through the fractured psyche of a dog. The result is a chilling parable about submission to fascism that is ripe for rediscovery.

A young woman who was assaulted at night decides to get a guard dog, joining a trend in her neighborhood actively promoted by a charismatic dog trainer. His animals seem trained to attack anyone who doesn’t conform to the established norms of the community, whether migrants, minorities, or troublesome teenagers. Writer-director Alain Jessua delivers Les Chiens, a chilling dissection of the fears of modern society that still hits like a sledgehammer today.