Hounds (film)

Hounds
Theatrical release poster
French	Les meutes
Directed by	Kamal Lazraq
Written by	Kamal Lazraq
Produced by	Saïd Hamich Benlarbi
Starring	Ayoub Elaïd Abdellatif Masstouri
Cinematography	Amine Berrada
Edited by	Héloïse Pelloquet Stéphane Myczkowski
Music by	P.R2B
Production companies	Barney Production Mont Fleuri Production Beluga Tree
Distributed by	Ad Vitam
Release dates	19 May 2023 (2023-05-19) (Cannes) 19 July 2023 (2023-07-19) (France)
Running time	94 minutes
Countries	Morocco France Belgium
Language	Moroccan Arabic
Box office	$160,478[1]

Hounds (French: Les meutes), is a 2023 Moroccan crime drama film written and directed by Kamal Lazraq. Taking place over one night in Casablanca, it follows Hassan and Issam, an impoverished father-son duo, as they attempt to dispose of a body after a botched kidnapping. The film explores themes of survival, familial conflict, and moral quandaries against the backdrop of urban Morocco.

The film features non-professional actors, including Abdellatif Masstouri as Hassan and Ayoub Elaïd as Issam, chosen for their authentic portrayal of characters reflecting the underworld milieu. Production took place in Casablanca, utilizing improvised dialogue and a documentary-style approach.

Hounds premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it received the Jury Prize. Critics praised the film for its atmospheric storytelling and authentic performances, though some noted critiques regarding narrative coherence and pacing. Beyond accolades at Cannes, it garnered nominations and awards at international film festivals such as the Stockholm International Film Festival and the Brussels International Film Festival.