Togo (2019)

Score: 9 / 10
Category: Movie
Platform: Netflix

One-line verdict

An emotionally powerful, beautifully shot true story that earns every tear without resorting to cheap sentiment.

What worked

• The setting is stunning. Alaska looks incredible, and the landscapes alone pull you in. It instantly reminded me why it’s on my bucket list.
• Dogs are my favourite animals, and this movie leans into that honestly, not manipulatively.
• The story is compelling by default. A sled dog leading a team through brutal conditions to deliver medicine during a diphtheria outbreak in the 1920s is already powerful.
• The focus stays on how Togo became a legend, not just on the mission itself.
• Willem Dafoe is excellent, as expected. His presence adds weight and credibility to the story.

What broke

• Honestly, very little.
• This isn’t a movie you watch to pick apart logic or structure. It knows exactly what story it’s telling and stays focused.
• If you dislike emotional, sentimental films, this will absolutely wreck you. But that’s not a flaw of the movie.

What others are saying

• Widely praised for its emotional impact and performances.
• Often singled out as one of the strongest dog-centric films in recent years.
• Many viewers were surprised by how restrained and respectful the storytelling is.

Why this worked for me

I usually avoid dog movies because I know exactly what they do to me. I hate crying, and I know I’ll cry like a baby. I only made an exception for Togo because I was asked to review it.

I expected the worst emotionally, especially assuming Togo would die after completing the mission. Instead, the movie surprised me. He survived, lived another four years, and sired many pups.

One small detail that made this even better: the dog that played Togo is a direct descendant of the real Togo, from the Seppala Siberian Sleddog line. That alone feels poetic.

This earns a 9 for me. It’s sincere, beautifully made, and emotionally devastating in the best possible way. A genuine legend of a film.