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.

J titles



click Title for details Animal Violence Immaculate Corpse
Jabberwocky Minimal The expansive middle
Jack in the Fox Clean The elusive top
Jack Frost Clean The expansive middle
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris Clean The expansive middle
Jacquot de Nantes Clean The expansive middle
Jailhouse 41 (Female Prisoner Scorpion) Substantial The expansive middle
James Bond: Ultimate Collector's Set Substantial The expansive middle
Jane B. for Agnès V. Clean The expansive middle
Játék Clean The expansive middle
The Jazz Singer (Crossland) Clean The expansive middle
Je t'aime, Je t'aime Clean The expansive middle
Je, tu, il, elle Clean The expansive middle
Jean-Claude Drouot Returns to Fontenay-aux-Roses Clean The expansive middle
Jean Cocteau: Autobiography of an Unknown Clean The expansive middle
Jean de Florette Substantial The expansive middle
Jean Epstein (Potemkine box set) Clean The elusive top
Jean Grémillon During the Occupation (Eclipse 34) Clean The expansive middle
Jean-Luc Godard + Jean-Pierre Gorin: Five Films, 1968-1971 Clean The expansive middle
Jean Vigo (Gondry) Clean The expansive middle
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles Clean The elusive top
Jeepers Creepers Clean The expansive middle
Jeepers Creepers 2 Clean The smeary bottom
Jeff Keen Films (Williams) Clean The expansive middle
Jefferson in Paris Minimal The expansive middle
Jennifer’s Body Clean The expansive middle
Jericho Clean The expansive middle
The Jerk Substantial The expansive middle
A Jester's Tale Clean The expansive middle
La Jetée Clean The elusive top
Jewel of the Nile Clean The expansive middle
Jigoku Clean The expansive middle
Jimi Plays Monterey Clean The expansive middle
Joachim's Dictionary Clean The expansive middle
Joanna Clean The expansive middle
Joe Frisco in 'The Happy Hottentots' Clean The smeary bottom
John Cassavetes: Five Films Clean The expansive middle
John Dies at the End Clean The expansive middle
John Lennon: Sweet Toronto Clean The expansive middle
John Wick Substantial The expansive middle
John Wick: Chapter 2 Clean The expansive middle
The Joke Clean The expansive middle
Joker Clean The expansive middle
Jonathan Livingston Seagull Minimal The smeary bottom serenity now
Joop Clean The expansive middle
Joop Strikes Again Clean The expansive middle
Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series Volume 1 Clean The expansive middle
Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series Volume 2 Clean The expansive middle
Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series Volume 3 Clean The expansive middle
Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series Volume 4 Clean The expansive middle
Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series Volume 5 Clean The expansive middle
Joshua Oppenheimer: Early Works Extreme The expansive middle
Journey Through Setomaa Clean The expansive middle
Journey to Italy Clean The elusive top
Joy Thru Film Clean The expansive middle
Joyce at 34 Clean The expansive middle
Jubilee Clean The expansive middle
Judex Minimal The expansive middle
Judy! Clean The expansive middle
Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge Clean The expansive middle
Junebug Clean The expansive middle
The Junk Shop Clean The expansive middle
Jurassic Park Heavy The expansive middle
Jurassic Park III Substantial The expansive middle
Jurassic World Heavy The expansive middle
Just Ancient Loops Clean The expansive middle
Just for the Hell of It Clean The smeary bottom
Just Listen Clean The expansive middle
Just Two Hot Clean The expansive middle
Justine: A Matter of Innocence Clean The expansive middle
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