"Stray Dogs," a 1985 short film directed by Richard Kern, is a visceral and unsettling piece of experimental cinema that forms part of Kern's anthology "Manhattan Love Suicides." The film follows an obsessive fan, portrayed by artist and AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz, who stalks an indifferent artist (William Rice) through the gritty streets of New York City. Desperate for recognition, the fan resorts to extreme measures, literally tearing himself apart in a grotesque display of devotion, only to finally capture the artist's attention as he begins sketching the dying figure. Shot in stark black-and-white, the film embodies Kern's punk-infused, transgressive style, blending raw performances with a minimalist narrative. Though less reliant on the explicit shock tactics of Kern’s other works, "Stray Dogs" explores themes of obsession, identity, and the destructive lengths one will go to for validation, making it a hauntingly grounded entry in his provocative filmography. Featuring a score by J.G. Thirlwell, the short is a scrappy yet poignant snapshot of 1980s underground cinema.