Violence to Animals in Film: September 2021

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.

Train (Raff)

Train. Gideon Raff, 2008.

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Edition screened: Lionsgate DVD, released 2009. English language. Runtime approximately 94 minutes.

Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.

The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch

The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch (Hebi musume to hakuhatsuma). Noriaki Yuasa, 1968.

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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray, released 2021. Japanese language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 82 minutes.

Summary: Depicted killing of reptiles and amphibians.

Details: The Snake Girl handles a lot of plastic snakes and a large toad, with occasional superimposed stock footage of real snakes. The two most graphic examples are:

1) A large fake toad is held by his back legs and ripped in two, 36:00-36:06.

2) A plastic snake is suspended by clips in a vat of acid, 53:25-53:32. We return to see a snake skeleton on the clips.

We also see several snakes used as melee weapons, using similar film techniques: Snake Girl picks up an obviously rubber snake and hurls it at someone’s face . . . cut to image of a real snake crawling away from the body. I was interested to learn that a snake could be thrown with such force as to deck someone.

The House That Jack Built

The House That Jack Built. Lars von Trier, 2018

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Edition screened: Scream Factory Blu-ray, released 2020. English language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 153 minutes.

Summary: Depicted torturing of a duckling and brief displays of dead animals.

Details:

1) Young Jack scoops a duckling from the water and cuts off one of its legs with shears (45:25-45:35). We then see the duckling struggling somewhat in the water.

2) Panning shot of dead and slightly bloody chickens, the result of a predator in the hen house (50:57-51:02).

3) Narration about traditional techniques, strategies, and weapons used in hunting, intercut with vintage footage including:

• A man shooting an elk (58:53-58:59)

• Same man shooting a rhinoceros (59:24-59:28)

• Historical images of “trophy parades” in which large quantities of dead animals are victoriously brought back, followed by the ensuing “hunting trophy” in which the animals are arranged for display and photography (1:00:47-1:00:58)

• Quick historical image of a wild boar being shot (1:02:10).

These four 1930’s-looking clips are not particularly gruesome, and the explanation of hunting trophies sets the stage for . . .

4) Aerial view of Jack’s hunting trophy that includes a long line of dead crows (1:10:54-1:11:28).

Game Night

Game Night. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, 2018.

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Edition screened: Warner Blu-ray, released 2018. English language. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.

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

The El Duce Tapes

The El Duce Tapes. David Lawrence and Rodney Ascher, 2019.

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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray, released 2021. English language. Runtime approximately 104 minutes.

Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.

This documentary about Mentors drummer and frontman Eldon Hoke (El Duce), is made from early 1990s interviews with El Duce himself, his sister, his best friend and bass guitarist Steve Broy, members of GWAR, and a few other associates. Intercut with these interviews are videotaped glimpses of the band performing in filthy Hollywood dives.

I found the film to be more entertaining than expected, due largely to the calm normalcy of Steve Broy who provides stable ground while idiocy swirls all around. I was left comfortably uncertain to what degree El Duce was making a statement, making a joke, or was the joke. As such, I believe our directors were successful in their portrayal of this sad madman.

The Dinner (De Matteo)

The Dinner (I nostri ragazzi). Ivano De Matteo, 2014.

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Edition screened: Included on film Movement DVD, released 2015. Italian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 92 minutes.

Summary: A live lobster is dropped into a pot of boiling water, 39:03-39:04.

Bitter Moon

Bitter Moon. Roman Polanski, 1992.

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Edition screened: Kino Lorber Blu-ray, released 2015. English language. Runtime approximately 139 minutes.

Summary: Inconsiderate handling of a dog.

Details: While having sex, a man has one hand on the shoulders of a poodle who has jumped onto the bed, trying to keep the dog from interfering. We hear a short squeal and see the dog held awkwardly by the leg, 1:11:40.

Like the rest of the film, this incident really is a big nothing and I think the squeal was added post production. But there is a presentation of a dog made to cry out.

Not a particularly good Polanski.

Violence to Animals in Film