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.