7 Dogs REVIEW: Ahmed Ezz, Karim Abdel Aziz, Salman Khan And Sanjay Dutt Saudi Thriller Has Action But Lacks The Thrill

Film:
7 Dogs

Director: Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah

Writer: Mohamed El-Dabbah

Cast: Ahmed Ezz, Karim Abdel Aziz, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Monica Bellucci, Nasser Al Qasabi, Sayed Ragab, Tara Emad

Platform: In Theatres

Runtime: 2 hour 3 minutes

7 Dogs Review

Saudi action thriller 7 Dogs brings together Egyptian stars Ahmed Ezz and Karim Abdel Aziz with Bollywood heavyweights Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt in a high-stakes international crime story. Directed with the ambition of creating a slick global action spectacle, the film has scale, star power and some impressive set pieces. However, its familiar storyline and uneven execution prevent it from becoming the adrenaline-fuelled thriller it aims to be.

The story follows Interpol officer Khalid Al-Azzazi (Ahmed Ezz), who captures Ghali Abu Dawood (Karim Abdel Aziz), a senior member of the criminal syndicate known as 7 Dogs. When the organisation gets involved in trafficking a synthetic drug called Pink Lady, Khalid is forced to join hands with his former adversary to bring down the powerful network.

Their mission takes them across a dangerous world of organised crime, international drug trafficking and shifting loyalties. As they move closer to the heart of the syndicate, they encounter several influential figures, including European distributor Giulia Leone (Monica Bellucci).

What Works

The biggest strength of 7 Dogs is its scale. The film clearly wants to operate on an international canvas, and its locations, action sequences and production design help create that impression. The combination of Egyptian and Indian stars also gives the film a distinctly cross-border appeal.

Ahmed Ezz and Karim Abdel Aziz share a convincing chemistry as adversaries forced to work together. Their characters bring enough tension to keep the central partnership engaging.

The action sequences are another positive. While not particularly revolutionary, several set pieces are mounted with energy and visual ambition. The film also benefits from its fast-moving narrative, which ensures that there is rarely a dull stretch for too long.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ❤️𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒄 𝑼𝒕𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒉❤ (@beingsalmankhan_fan_utkarsh)

What Does Not Work

Unfortunately, 7 Dogs struggles to offer anything particularly fresh in its crime narrative. The undercover operations, drug syndicate, betrayals and uneasy alliances feel familiar, making the story predictable in several places.

The screenplay also tries to juggle too many characters and international connections. As a result, some supporting characters feel underdeveloped, while certain plot developments seem designed more to move the action forward than to strengthen the story.

The film’s biggest disappointment is perhaps its inability to fully utilise its star power. With Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Monica Bellucci in the cast, expectations are naturally high. Yet their appearances, particularly the Bollywood stars’, feel more like high-profile additions than fully integrated parts of the narrative.

Technical Analysis

Technically, 7 Dogs delivers a polished action-thriller experience. The cinematography captures the scale of the locations well, while the production design gives the criminal underworld a suitably slick appearance.

The action choreography is competent and occasionally impressive, although it rarely feels groundbreaking. The background score complements the film’s intensity but does not leave a lasting impression.

The editing keeps the proceedings moving, though the screenplay could have benefited from greater clarity and tighter character development. The film looks expensive, but the visual polish cannot completely compensate for its formulaic storytelling.

Star Performances

Ahmed Ezz as Khalid Al-Azzazi carries much of the film on his shoulders. He brings intensity and physicality to the role and makes Khalid’s determination believable.

Karim Abdel Aziz as Ghali Abu Dawood is one of the film’s stronger performers. He brings charisma and restraint to Ghali, making his transformation from criminal to reluctant ally interesting.

Salman Khan as Johar makes his presence felt whenever he appears. His trademark screen charisma adds star value, although the character does not get enough material to make a substantial impact on the overall story.

Sanjay Dutt as Ranjit fits naturally into the action-heavy world of 7 Dogs. He ace his role like a pro and is so perfect when it comes to action sequences.

Monica Bellucci as Giulia Leone adds sophistication to the international crime setting. However, her character remains relatively underwritten.

Nasser Al Qasabi as General Nasser brings authority to his role and provides a dependable supporting performance.

Sayed Ragab as General Sabri adds gravitas to the proceedings and makes the most of his limited screen time.

Tara Emad as an Interpol operative fits well into the film’s international setting and delivers a sincere performance. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Karim Abdel Aziz (@karimabdelazizofficial)

Conclusion

7 Dogs has all the ingredients of a big international action thriller, an impressive ensemble, global locations, crime syndicates, drug trafficking and plenty of action. But despite its scale and star power, the film is held back by a predictable narrative, uneven character development and the underutilisation of some of its biggest names.

Ahmed Ezz and Karim Abdel Aziz provide the film with its strongest dramatic core, while Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt add plenty of star appeal. Yet 7 Dogs ultimately feels more like a decent action spectacle than a memorable crime thriller.

Watch the trailer of 7 Dogs here:

Also Read: Batwara 1947 REVIEW: Sunny Deol Leads An Impactful Tale Of Partition And Humanity