DOG (2022)

 

Jackson Briggs is a former U.S. Army Ranger suffering from PTSD. He is currently working at a deli but is trying to apply for a rotation in Pakistan, but, because of his conditions, he is deemed unfit for service. He attempts to call in favors but is unsuccessful.

Briggs is notified that his former squadmate, Riley Rodriguez, has been killed. Subsequently, during drinks with his fellow Rangers, he is refused a recommendation for the rotation.

Briggs is later called into Fort Lewis to escort Riley’s dog, Lulu, a Belgian Malinois military working dog, to attend his funeral in Nogales, Arizona, after which Briggs is to bring Lulu to a base where she will be euthanized, as Lulu has a history of aggressive behavior with other handlers, and nobody else is willing to take her in. In return, Briggs's former captain will recommend him for an overseas tour. When Briggs attempts to take her in, Lulu pounces on him because he touched her ears, where she is sensitive.

On the road to Arizona, Briggs visits a shooting range and removes Lulu’s muzzle. She breaks out of her cage and destroys the fabric on Briggs’ car seats. He then buys a sausage and stuffs it with sedatives so Lulu can fall asleep. As she drifts off, Briggs drives to Oregon and stops at a bar where he tries to hit on multiple women, but, both his and the women's behavior and demeanor repel each other.

As Briggs prepares to continue driving, he checks on Lulu and is spotted by two friends, Bella and Zoe, who are accompanied by dogs of their own. They admire Lulu and invite Briggs back to their place, where they begin to engage in a threesome. Lulu stays in the car and barks loudly, prompting a neighbor to inspect Briggs' vehicle and believe that Lulu is being held there as a means of abuse. Briggs checks on Lulu and sees the man throwing a rock at the back windshield to get Lulu out, but, she runs out and attacks the man until Briggs pulls Lulu off. Bella and Zoe are mortified and don’t let Briggs stay with them.

Back on the road, Briggs talks to Lulu and reminisces about how she used to be gentle when Riley was alive. Lulu starts climbing out of the back of the car, causing Briggs to swerve off-road. He chases Lulu, who ends up running into a house. When Briggs follows her in, he is shot with a tranquilizer by the house’s owner, Gus. Thinking Briggs is some kind of intruder, he keeps him tied up. Briggs breaks himself free and prepares to attack Gus until he sees Gus’ wife Tamara taking care of Lulu, as she has an injured foot. She gives Briggs an edible while she tends to Lulu. Briggs and Gus talk over the misunderstanding and look over a booklet that Briggs carries with info about Lulu, including images of her time in the Middle East. After Lulu is treated, Tamara gives Briggs ayahuasca, and their discussion reveals that Briggs has a 3-year-old daughter named Sam that he hasn’t seen in some time.

Briggs returns to the road and stops at a hotel, where he pretends to be a blind veteran with Lulu as his seeing-eye dog, and he gets a free room. He takes the time to give Lulu a bath even though she hates it. On his way to the lobby, Briggs flirts with the woman at the check-in desk, but Lulu spots a Middle Eastern man, Dr. Al-Farid, and she runs to attack him while Briggs runs after her; Lulu is detained and he is arrested. At the station, he deals with an officer who makes racist comments about Al-Farid and thinks Briggs got off on having Lulu attack him. Briggs is put in a lineup but explains himself to Al-Farid, apologizing to him for what Lulu did, but notes that Lulu just let her instincts take over because she was unfortunately trained to attack men who look like Al-Farid. He forgives Briggs and agrees not to press charges (although he urges Briggs to seek proper mental health treatment), allowing Briggs and Lulu to go free.

Briggs bonds with Lulu and makes a few stops on the road to enjoy the sun. At one point, Briggs makes an attempt to see Sam and her mother Niki. He enters with a doll for her, but leaves after barely a minute with the doll, indicating that Niki doesn’t want Briggs in their daughter’s life. Briggs then drives to see the owner of Lulu’s twin brother Nuke, a man named Noah. He remembers Lulu and has an easier time getting Lulu to be gentle with him and give him a “Lulu hug”. After preparing to leave, Briggs discovers that someone broke into his car and stole his and Lulu’s belongings, as well as Riley’s uniform. Briggs and Noah use Lulu and Nuke to track down the thieves and are brought to a pier full of homeless drug addicts. The guys find the man who stole Briggs’ belongings, and he pulls Riley’s jacket off him and gets most of their stuff back, minus Briggs’ medications.

After saying farewell to Noah, Briggs’ car breaks down on the road as it starts pouring rain. He brings Lulu into an unoccupied barn, but Lulu starts behaving roughly again and annoys Briggs, who yells at her to "go after him". She calms down and lays on a couch. After Briggs relaxes, he sets up a TV to watch the program, Grey’s Anatomy, a favorite of hers and Riley's.

The next morning, it is the day of the funeral. With no car and only hours to get there, Briggs and Lulu hitch a ride and are dropped off at the service. Lulu proceeds to lay by the picture of Riley. Briggs stays with her and helps her relax as the other soldiers perform a traditional rifle salute. Briggs gives Riley’s belongings to his parents.

Briggs gets his car fixed and starts to drive toward the base. He stops at a motel for the night, where he suffers a panic attack in the middle of the night. He struggles to get up in the bathroom, and Lulu goes to be by his side to help him calm down, supporting him even after he inadvertently touches her ears, signifying the turn in their relationship.

Briggs makes it to the base and also learns that his status on the rotation is now being considered. He says goodbye to Lulu and applies her muzzle. However, when he starts to drive away, he sees her struggling in fear. Briggs returns and decides to take Lulu with him.

During a montage, a voiceover from Briggs speaks to Lulu. He is making preparations to legally adopt Lulu, and he also goes back to visit Noah and Nuke, as well as spend more time with Niki and Sam. Briggs ends his message by telling Lulu that she saved him.