Runt is a dog movie for the ages and could well be the next Australian classic.

Review by Carla Caruso

Craig Silvey is the envy of many a writer.

Aged just 42, he’s twice been named one of the Best Young Australian Novelists by the Sydney Morning Herald – and now he’s had his second novel, Runt, turned into a feature-length film.

His other book-turned-movie was Jasper Jones, starring Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving. (You might also know Silvey from writing the critically acclaimed story, Honeybee, about a transgender teen.)

Runt deals in lighter fare, with the movie having echoes of classic, stylised Aussie films like Babe and Strictly Ballroom. The cast is also littered with stars, including Celeste Barber, Matt Day, Deborah Mailman, and Jack Thompson.

Then there’s all the animals. Think donkeys, sheep, peacocks, chickens, turkeys, geese, cows, horses, a bob-tailed lizard, sows, and more than 100 dogs! (Like the pooch the movie’s named after, the lead canine is a real-life rescue – the production’s animal department cast and rescued her.)

The soundtrack’s provided by The Angels, The Divinyls, Regurgitator, and Paul Kelly (who wrote an original song for the closing credits). 

Shot largely in WA’s Wheatbelt region, Runt follows the story of eleven-year-old Annie Shearer (Lily LaTorre) and her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt. Together, the pair try to save the Shearer family farm in the country town of Upson Downs. (‘Ups and downs’, get it?)

Runt’s speed and acrobatics are perfect for herding sheep, but Annie discovers a more ambitious use for his talents – the Agility Course Championships at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London. (The Dog Show scenes in the movie were actually shot in Perth.)

Many obstacles stand in the duo’s way, however. There’s Fergus Fink (Matt Day), a villainous, sequin-loving, hip-swivelling dog handler. Earl Robert-Barren (Jack Thompson), a greedy land-owner intent on acquiring the Shearer property. And a strange quirk: Runt will only obey Annie’s commands when nobody else is watching.

To overcome these hurdles, Annie has to enlist the help of her mum Susie (Celeste Barber) – the nation’s worst baker, her father Bryan (Jai Courtney) who harbours a secret passion, her daredevil brother Max (Jack LaTorre), her widow grandmother Dolly (Genevieve Lemon), and Bernadette Box (Deborah Mailman) a mysterious retired champion.

With all eyes on them, Annie and Runt have to try to beat the odds in this heartwarming tale of kindness, friendship, tunnels, see-saws, slaloms, and living your truth. Expect to get a little teary-eyed and some feel-good tingles. 

Runt opens in cinemas 19 September 2024. Rated PG (not suitable for those under eight; parental guidance to age 10 due to language).

Fun fact: Silvey released his book, Runt, in 2022, writing a draft of the screenplay at the same time, helping to accelerate the movie’s release.

For more information, please visit the Runt website.

All photos supplied by Picture This! Marketing.

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As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).

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