Sheepdog is a 2024 American drama film directed, produced, and written by Steven Grayhm. The film's story follows a United States Army combat veteran Calvin Cole who is court ordered into treatment and into the care of a VA trauma therapist in-training, and things spiral out of control when Calvin's father-in-law and retired Vietnam Veteran steps in, having been released from prison
The film had its world premiere at the Boston Film Festival on September 20, 2024, before releasing in the United States in limited release on December 17, 2025, before a wide expansion on January 16, 2026.
Cast
Rose Mallick as Isabella 'Izzy' Cole
Production Steven Grayhm started work on the film as early as 2011. Virginia Madsen, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Lilli Cooper, Dominic Fumusa, and Matt Dallas were added to the cast in February 2023, with principal photography beginning that month, taking place at Western Massachusetts, including in Turners Falls, Montague, and Greenfield, lasting for 18 days. Grayhm decided to shoot the film here when he and Dallas had lunch together at his wife’s mother’s restaurant in Turners, and as they headed to Texas stepping out of the restaurant, he looked up and down Avenue A, in 2013.
Release The film had its world premiere at the Boston Film Festival on September 20, 2024. Allen Media Group released the film theatrically in the United States in limited release on December 17, 2025, before a wide expansion on January 16, 2026.
Reception Nagier Chambers of Big Gold Belt Media called the film "compelling and eye-opening". Jordon Searle of Loud and Clear Reviews awarded film two-and-a-half stars, praising the direction and performances, but criticized the screenplay.
References
External links
Official website