“Dogs Barking”: AI Short Film Sparks Clash of Viewpoints, Triggers Debate Over ‘Dog Lovers’ vs ‘Dog Attacks’

Local AI filmmaker Farid Zul recently released the AI short film MENYALAK 犬吠, which garnered over 200,000 views and more than 2,000 shares within just three days, sparking considerable discussion online.

The short film begins with a disturbing scene: just before dawn, a boy is walking alone to school when he is surrounded and attacked by a pack of dogs. His screams shatter the silence, waking nearby residents. When people rush out of their homes, what they see is a tragic scene caused by the struggle for survival and self-defense.

However, Dogs Barking aims to address more than just “dog attacks.”

Recently, stray dogs, dog management, and dog attack incidents have in Malaysia society repeatedly sparked controversy. On one side, people focus on human safety: when children, elderly, or ordinary pedestrians face aggressive dog packs, who will guarantee their safe return home?

On the other side, the focus is on animal life and rights: is the problem really with the dogs themselves, or is it with abandonment, breeding, management systems, and the fact that humans have long failed to properly address the issue of stray animals?

The two sides sound like they're in fierce opposition, but in fact, both are speaking out for values that matter to them.

Farid Zul chose to use AI imaging to merge these different perspectives into one story. He also joked that the film was not intended to highlight racism; many people, after all, experienced being chased by dogs as children.

And perhaps the real question left at the end of the film is:

When we speak from our own standpoint, could we also try to understand the fears and convictions of the other side?

The dog issue doesn’t have to be reduced to a confrontation between “dog lovers” and “those afraid of dogs.”

In a pluralistic society, what we really need to discuss is perhaps how to find a balance between public safety, animal rights, and mutual respect that everyone can accept.

MENYALAK 犬吠 may not offer a standard answer, but at least it lets people with different stances see—once again—why each side thinks the way they do.