Violence to Animals in Film: June 2017

Heads Up, Ears Down

This blog accurately identifies depictions of violence and cruelty toward animals in films. The purpose is to provide viewers with a reliable guide so that such depictions do not come as unwelcome surprises. Films will be accurately notated, providing a time cue for each incident along with a concise description of the scene and perhaps relevant context surrounding the incident. In order to serve as a useful reference tool, films having no depictions of violence to animals will be included, with an indication that there are no such scenes. This is confirmation that the films have been watched with the stated purpose in mind.

Note that the word depictions figures prominently in the objective. It is a travesty that discussions about cruelty in film usually are derailed by the largely unrelated assertion that no animals really were hurt (true only in some films, dependent upon many factors), and that all this concern is just over a simulation. Not the point, whether true or false. We do not smugly dismiss depictions of five-year-olds being raped because those scenes are only simulations. No, we are appalled that such images are even staged, and we are appropriately horrified that the notion now has been planted into the minds of the weak and cruel.

Depictions of violence or harm to animals are assessed in keeping with our dominant culture, with physical abuse, harmful neglect, and similar mistreatment serving as a base line. This blog does not address extended issues of animal welfare, and as such does not identify scenes of people eating meat or mules pulling plows. The goal is to itemize images that might cause a disturbance in a compassionate household.

These notes provide a heads-up but do not necessarily discourage watching a film because of depicted cruelty. Consuming a piece of art does not make you a supporter of the ideas presented. Your ethical self is created by your public rhetoric and your private actions, not by your willingness to sit through a filmed act of violence.

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole. John Cameron Mitchell, 2010.

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Edition screened: Lionsgate DVD, released 2011. English language. Runtime approximately 92 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Rage of Honor

Rage of Honor. Gordon Hessler, 1987.

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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 98 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Rainbow Thief

The Rainbow Thief. Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1990.

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Edition screened: Included on AscotElite Blu-ray, released 2009. English language. Runtime approximately 87 minutes.

Summary: A chicken is held by its feet and plucked, 23:32-24:45.

Rainy Dog

Rainy Dog (Gokudô kuroshakai). Takashi Miike, 1997.

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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray set The Black Society Trilogy, released 2017. Japanese and other languages with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 95 minutes.

Summary: The first few minutes of Rainy Dog show pig carcasses being transported in a truck and carried into a butchering facility. Lots of flesh, but nothing intentionally gruesome or bloody.

The Rambling Guitarist

The Rambling Guitarist (Guitar o motta wataridori). Buichi Saito, 1959.

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Edition screened: Included on Arrow Blu-ray Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Volume 1, released 2016. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 77 minutes.

Summary: Bird shooting.

Details: Jô Shishido shoots two seagulls and they are shown falling from the sky, 42:34-42:48.

Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan

Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan. Gilles Penso, 2011.

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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

Summary: Claymation and similar animated attacks on monsters and fantasy animals.

Red Pier

Red Pier (Akai hatoba). Toshio Masuda, 1958.

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Edition screened: Included on Arrow Blu-ray Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Volume 1, released 2016. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Red Queen Kills Seven Times

The Red Queen Kills Seven Times (La dama rossa uccide sette volte). Emilio P. Miraglia, 1972.

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Edition screened: Included in Arrow Blu-ray box set, Killer Dames: Two Gothic Chillers by Emilio P. Miraglia released 2016. English language with optional original Italian dub. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Red Violin

The Red Violin (Le violon rouge). François Girard, 1998.

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Edition screened: Lionsgate DVD, released 2008. English language. Runtime approximately 130 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Redemption

Redemption. Miguel Gomes, 2013.

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Edition screened: Included on Kino Lorber Arabian Nights Blu-ray, released 2016. Portuguese language with English subtitles. Cumulative runtime approximately 26 minutes.

Summary: The film begins with the graphic spectacle of a calf being born, but there are no depictions of violence or harm to animals.

ReGoregitated Sacrifice

ReGoregitated Sacrifice. Lucifer Valentine, 2008.

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Edition screened: Included in MVD/Unearthed Films 4-DVD set The Vomit Gore Trilogy, released 2012. English language. Runtime approximately 65 minutes.

Summary: Desecration of animal bodies.

Details:

1) A live tarantula is used in a perverse torture and murder scene, 48:35-49:00. The implication is that the spider is killed, although we do not see it harmed.

2) A dead octopus is used first as a costume then later as a prop in this long not good scene, 53:32-57:12.

Return of the Killer Tomatoes

Return of the Killer Tomatoes. John De Bello, 1988.

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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 98 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

I am equally surprised and glad that I gave this film a chance. It is the only film from the Killer Tomatoes franchise I have seen, and not what I was expecting at all. I was consistently entertained, occasionally charmed, never repulsed, and found Ro/tKT to have some style and concept notes not so dissimilar from Bruce Robinson and Terry Gilliam films of the same era.

Return of the War Room

Return of the War Room. Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, 2008.

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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #602 The War Room, released 2012. English language. Runtime approximately 82 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Return to Life

Return to Life. John Krish, 1960.

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Edition screened: Included in the BFI 4-DVD set Shadows of Progress: Documentary Film in Post-War Britain 1951-1977, released 2013. English language. Runtime approximately 29 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

A public service documentary focusing on a refugee family taking shelter in London. Well intended, but boring and off-putting except for a short section at the beginning about the history of refugees coming to England over the centuries.

Reunion

Reunion. Leonard Kirtman (as Jay West), 1976.

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Edition screened: Included on Vinegar Syndrome DVD #161 Peekarama: Sherlick Holmes/Reunion, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 69 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals. 2.5/5❤

Road to Saint Tropez

Road to Saint Tropez. Michael Sarne, 1966.

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Edition screened: Included on BFI ‘Flipside’ Blu-ray #16 Joanna, released 2011. English language. Runtime approximately 31 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

An enjoyable tour of the Riviera with Udo Kier.

The Road Warrior

The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2). George Miller, 1981.

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Edition screened: Included Warner Mad Max Trilogy 3-Blu-ray set, released 2013. English language. Runtime approximately 95 minutes.

Summary: Murdered animals.

Details:

1) Dead kangaroo lying along the road, 7:29-7:31.

2) Rabbit shot with an arrow, just to be mean, 31:48-31:50.

3) Pet dog shot off screen. We see the shooter and hear the cry, 1:07:26-1:07:27.

The Rolling Stones: Havana Moon

The Rolling Stones: Havana Moon. Paul Dugdale, 2016.

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Edition screened: Eagle vision Blu-ray, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 116 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Rossellini’s History Films: Renaissance and Enlightenment

Rossellini’s History Films: Renaissance and Enlightenment. Roberto Rossellini, 1972-1974.

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Edition screened: Criterion Eclipse Series #14 DVD set, released 2008. Italian language with English subtitles. Collective runtime approximately 546 minutes.

This 14th volume in Criterion’s Eclipse Series includes the following films. Click individual titles for details as they are posted.

The Age of the Medici (1973)

Cartesius (1974)

Blaise Pascal (1972)

Saw VI

Saw VI. Kevin Greutert, 2009.

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Edition screened: Included in Lionsgate Blu-ray set Saw: The Complete Movie Collection, released 2014. English language. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Saw VII

Saw VII (Saw 3D/Saw: The Final Chapter). Kevin Greutert, 2010.

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Edition screened: Included in Lionsgate Blu-ray set Saw: The Complete Movie Collection, released 2014. English language. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

A Scandal in Paris

A Scandal in Paris. Douglas Sirk, 1946.

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Edition screened: Included along with Lured on Cohen Blu-ray “Two Films from Director Douglas Sirk” released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 99 minutes.

Summary: Unnecessary snake beating.

Details: George Sanders clubs a snake on a tree limb as he rides by on horseback, 27:46-27:48.

What a ridiculous movie, nothing like the smoldering sophistication of Sirk’s later better films. I don’t know who is to blame, but the script is stupid, the costumes are hilariously dopey, the acting is hammy, and there is hardly a single prop in the film that is historically correct. Well, maybe the 19th-century criminal eating popcorn out of a red-and-white striped paper bag from a fireman’s carnival. And George Sanders’ felt leprechaun hat from the Hallmark Store. Those seem ok, but almost everything else is ridiculous.

The Scar

The Scar (Blizna). Krzysztof Kieślowski, 1976.

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Edition screened: Included in the Kino DVD box set The Krzysztof Kieślowski Collection, released 2005. Polish language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 102 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Kino DVD also includes the short film Concert of Requests (1967).

Schramm

Schramm. Jörg Buttgereit, 1993.

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Edition screened: Included in the Cult Epic 4-Blu-ray set Sex Murder Art: The Films of Jörg Buttgereit, released 2016. German language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 65 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Schramm BD also includes early short films by Buttgereit, click on each for details:

Horror Heaven (1984)

Blutige Exzesse im Führerbunker (1982)

Mein Papi (1981-1995)

Scoop

Scoop. Woody Allen, 2006.

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Edition screened: Focus DVD, released 2006. English language. Runtime approximately 96 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Sea in Their Blood

The Sea in Their Blood. Peter Greenaway, 1983.

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Edition screened: Included on BFI Blu-ray A Zed & Two Noughts, released 2010. English language. Runtime approximately 28 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

A very good documentary about the people, aquatic animals, landscape, and architecture of seaside England.

Seconds

Seconds. John Frankenheimer, 1966.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray, released 2013. English language. Runtime approximately 107 minutes.

Summary: Scene in a meat packing plant.

Details: Our main character is sent to a mysterious rendezvous at a meat packing plant where many dry-looking sides of beef are hanging from conveyor chains. There is no butchering, blood, or anything more gory that seeing cuts of beef at the grocery store. The scene (16:43-18:00) is easily skipped without consequence, as it is just another curious step in the protagonist getting to his real destination.

This is a wonderfully entertaining film, with or without the packing plant scene.

Secret Honor

Secret Honor. Robert Altman, 1984.

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Edition screened: Criterion DVD #257, released 2004. English language. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Secrets & Lies

Secrets & Lies. Mike Leigh, 1996.

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Edition screened: 20th Century Fox DVD, released 2004. English language. Runtime approximately 142 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Seduced and Abandoned

Seduced and Abandoned (Sedotta e abbandonata). Pietro Germi, 1964.

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Edition screened: Criterion DVD #350, released 2006. Italian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 117 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Sensual Encounters of Every Kind

Sensual Encounters of Every Kind. Richard Kanter, 1978.

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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome DVD #106, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 76 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals. 3/5❤

September

September. Woody Allen, 1987.

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Edition screened: MGM DVD, released 2001. English language. Runtime approximately 83 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The September Issue

The September Issue. R.J. Cutler, 2009.

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Edition screened: Roadside Attractions DVD, released 2009. English language. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

Summary: A lot of fur, but no depiction or acknowledgement of the inherent torture.

A Serbian Film

A Serbian Film (Srpski film). Srdjan Spasojevic, 2010.

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Edition screened: Contra DVD, released 2011. Serbian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 104 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

A Serious Man

A Serious Man. Ethan & Joen Coen, 2010.

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Edition screened: Focus/Universal DVD, released 2010. English language. Runtime approximately 96 minutes.

Summary: Display of killed deer.

Details: A one-minute conversation begins at 35:17 with the socially and mentally deficient next-door neighbor who has a dead deer strapped to the top of his car. That’s what they do.

The Serpent’s Egg

The Serpent’s Egg. Ingmar Bergman, 1977.

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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray set Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema, released 2018. English language. Runtime approximately 120 minutes.

Summary: Butchering of a horse.

Details:

1) Brief narration of torturing a cat to death, 23:57-24:17.

2) At 1:29:30 through a:29:57 David Carradine comes across two men who are slicing flank meat off of a carriage horse that apparently has just died (or has been killed for food) on the cobblestone street. The camera dwells a bit on the horse’s head and the blood that spreads from it. At 1:38:30-1:38:41 we briefly return to the now fleshless and frost-covered carcass. The context of this food-gathering is the poverty and oppression of Berlin between the wars.

The Serpent’s Egg and The Touch share disc #21 of 30 in Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema (part of ‘Centerpiece 2’). Greg Carson’s Away from Home, a short 2004 interview program about The Serpent’s Egg, also is included on the disc.

Seven

Seven (Se7en). David Fincher, 1995.

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Edition screened: New Line DVD, released 1997. English language. Runtime approximately 127 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

Seven Samurai

Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samuria). Akira Kurosawa, 1954.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #2, released 2010. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 207 minutes.

Summary: Fishing violence.

Details:

1) Toshirô Mifune catches a small fish in his bare hands at 1:06:32. He impales the live fish on a pole and holds it over a fire, 1:06:42-1:06:51.

2) Combat scenes have mild stunt work with horses. There is no indication of harm to the animals.

The Criterion Blu-ray also contains Marty Gross’s 2006 documentary Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences, free of animal violence.

The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet). Ingmar Bergman, 1957.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #11, included in Criterion Blu-ray set Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema, released 2018. Swedish language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 97 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Seventh Seal is on disc #16 of 30 in Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema (part of ‘Centerpiece 2’), and is accompanied by a 2003 introduction by Bergman with Marie Nyreröd, Nyreröd’s 2006 documentary Bergman Island, a brief 1998 tribute by Woody Allen, Peter Cowie’s 2009 video essay Bergman 101 (35 minutes), and an 11-minute “afterward” video by Cowie.

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror. John Rawlins, 1942.

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Edition screened: Included in MPI Blu-ray set The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection, released 2011. English language. Runtime approximately 66 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.