White Dog (1982 film)

White Dog is a 1982 American psychological horror film directed by Samuel Fuller, based on the 1970 Romain Gary novella of the same name. The film explores themes of racism and the potential for its propagation through conditioned behavior.

The plot centers around Julie Sawyer (played by Kristy McNichol), a young actress who accidentally hits and injures a white German Shepherd with her car. She takes the dog in and attempts to nurse him back to health, but soon discovers that the seemingly gentle animal has been trained to attack only Black people. The film follows Julie's efforts to understand and reverse the dog's ingrained racism, and her interactions with Keys (played by Paul Winfield), a Black animal trainer who works at a studio attempting to deprogram the dog.

White Dog faced significant controversy upon its initial release. Paramount Pictures, fearing backlash and boycotts due to the film's sensitive subject matter and perceived exploitative nature, shelved the film shortly before its scheduled release. While it was released internationally and shown at some film festivals, it was not widely distributed in the United States until years later.

The film is noted for its unflinching portrayal of racism and its exploration of the complexities of prejudice. It uses the "white dog" as a metaphor for the insidious nature of hate and the difficulty in eradicating deeply rooted biases. Fuller's direction is characterized by his signature raw and confrontational style, further amplifying the film's provocative themes. Despite its initial suppression, White Dog has since gained recognition as a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on racial prejudice.