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.

The Leftovers: Seasons 1 -3

The Leftovers: Seasons 1 -3 (American TV program). Various directors, 2014-2017.
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Edition screened: HBO Blu-ray sets, released 2015-2017. English language. Runtime of Season 1 approximately 600 minutes; runtime of Season 2 approximately 443 minutes; runtime of Season 3 approximately 475 minutes.

Summary: Killing of animals.

This excellent series includes an unfortunate amount of sensationalistic animal murder porn. Seasons 1 and 3 includes several scenes of shooting domestic dogs. Season 2 includes phony African-American folklore of burying dead birds alive. Throughout are ritualistic goat slaughters in public places as well as cameo appearances by Guest Star animal abusers.

Animal murders are a legitimate part of the story, but not so pivotal or exacting that the points could not have been made, the motivations could not have been explained, in other ways.

















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