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.

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click Title for details Animal Violence Immaculate Corpse
Sacha Guitry: Four Films 1936-1938 Minimal The expansive middle
The Sacred Spirit Clean The expansive middle
Sadomania Clean The expansive middle
Safety Last! Clean The expansive middle
The Saga of Gösta Berling Clean The elusive top
Salaam Bombay! Heavy The expansive middle
Salesman Clean The expansive middle
Salò, or The 120 Days of Sodom Clean The expansive middle
Salomé Clean The expansive middle
Salon Kitty Extreme The expansive middle
Same Player Shoots Again Clean The expansive middle
Sanders of the River Clean The expansive middle
Sanshiro Sugata Clean The expansive middle
Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two Clean The expansive middle
Sanshô dayû Clean The expansive middle
Santa Claus Clean The expansive middle
Santa Claus vs. Cupid Clean The expansive middle
Santa sangre Extreme The expansive middle
Sapphire Clean The expansive middle
Saraband Clean The expansive middle
The Saragossa Manuscript Minimal The elusive top
Sartana's Here…Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin Substantial The expansive middle
Satan and the Virgin Clean The expansive middle
Satan Exultant Clean The expansive middle
Sartan in High Heels Clean The expansive middle
Satan's Brew Clean The expansive middle
Satan’s Slave Clean The smeary bottom
Sátántangó Substantial The elusive top
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Clean The expansive middle
Savage Beach Substantial The expansive middle
Savage Three Substantial The expansive middle
The Savages Clean The expansive middle
Saving Private Ryan Minimal The expansive middle
Saw Clean The expansive middle
Saw II Clean The expansive middle
Saw III Minimal The expansive middle
Saw IV Clean The expansive middle
Saw V Clean The expansive middle
Saw VI Clean The expansive middle
Saw VII Clean The expansive middle
Sawdust and Tinsel Clean The elusive top
Scandal (Kurosawa) CleanThe expansive middle
A Scandal in Paris Substantial The expansive middle
The Scar Clean The expansive middle
Scared Stiff (Friedman) Clean The expansive middle
Scarface (De Palma) Clean The expansive middle
She Scarlet Claw Clean The expansive middle
The Scarlet Empress Clean The expansive middle
Scenes at Piccadilly Circus & Hyde Park Corner Clean The expansive middle
Scenes from a Marriage: Television version Clean The elusive top
Scenes from a Marriage: Theatrical version Clean The expansive middle
Scenes From Under Childhood, Section One Clean The expansive middle
Scent of a Woman Clean The expansive middle
The Scent of Green Papaya Substantial The expansive middle degenerates
Schalcken the Painter Minimal The expansive middle
Scherzo Infernal Clean The expansive middle
Schlock Clean The expansive middle
Schloss Vogelöd Clean The expansive middle
The School (Borowczyk) Clean The expansive middle
The School for Postmen Clean The expansive middle
A School Story Clean The expansive middle
Schoolgirl’s Reunion Clean The expansive middle
Schramm Clean The expansive middle
The Science of Sleep Clean The expansive middle
Scoop Clean The expansive middle
Score Clean The expansive middle
Scorpio Clean The expansive middle
Scorpio Rising Clean The expansive middle
The Scorpion (Cult of the Scorpion) Clean The smeary bottom
Scouting in Palestine Clean The expansive middle
Scratch This Clean The expansive middle
Scream, Blacula, Scream Heavy The expansive middle
A Scream in the Streets Clean The expansive middle
Scream of the Butterfly Clean The expansive middle
Scum (Clarke) Clean The expansive middle
The Scum of the Earth Clean The expansive middle
Scumrock Clean The expansive middle
The Sea in Their Blood Clean The expansive middle
Sea of Love Clean The expansive middle
The Seafarers Clean The expansive middle
The Sealed Room Clean The expansive middle
The Searchers Substantial The expansive middle
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus Clean The expansive middle
Season of the Witch Clean The elusive top
Seconds Minimal The elusive top
The Secret Cinema Clean The expansive middle
Secret Honor Clean The expansive middle
Secrets & Lies Clean The elusive top
Secrets of Sweet Sixteen CleanThe expansive middle
Secrets of World Industry: The Making of Cinematograph Film Clean The expansive middle
Secta Siniestra Heavy The expansive middle
Seduced and Abandoned Clean The expansive middle
The Seduction of Cindy Clean The expansive middle
The Seduction of Inga Clean The expansive middle
The Seduction of Mimi Clean The expansive middle
Seed Reel #1 Clean The expansive middle
Seeds Clean The expansive middle
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Clean The expansive middle
Seijun Suzuki: The Early Years Vol. 1: Seijun Rising Clean The expansive middle
Seijun Suzuki: The Early Years Vol. 2: Border Crossing Minimal The expansive middle
Self-Contained Clean The expansive middle
Send Me to the 'lectric Chair Clean The expansive middle
The Sense of an Ending Clean The expansive middle
Sensing Bodies Clean The expansive middle
Sensual Encounters of Every Kind Clean The expansive middle
Sensual Fire Clean The expansive middle
The Sensuous Flygirls Clean The expansive middle
Separation Clean The expansive middle
September Clean The expansive middle
The September Issue Clean The expansive middle
A Serbian Film Clean The expansive middle
Serenity Clean The elusive top
Sergei Parajanov: The Rebel Clean The expansive middle
A Serious Man Minimal The expansive middle
The Sermon Clean The expansive middle
The Serpent's Egg Substantial The expansive middle
Sessions of Love Therapy Clean The expansive middle
Seven Clean The expansive middle
Seven Green Bottles Clean The expansive middle
The Seven Minutes Clean The expansive middle
Seven More Stations Clean The expansive middle
Seven Samurai Minimal The expansive middle
Seven Women of Different Ages Clean The expansive middle
Seven Women for Satan Minimal The expansive middle
The Seven Year Itch Clean The expansive middle
The Seventh Continent Substantial The elusive top
The Seventh Seal Clean The elusive top
The Severed Arm Clean The expansive middle
Sex & Astrology Clean The expansive middle
Sex and Lućia Clean The expansive middle
Sex and the City 2 Clean The expansive middle
Sex and the City: The Movie Clean The expansive middle
Sex Before Marriage Clean The smeary bottom
Sex Hunter Clean The expansive middle
Sex in the Comics Clean The expansive middle
Sex Murder Art: The Films of Jörg Buttgereit Clean The expansive middle
The Sex Perils of Paulette Clean The expansive middle
Sex World Clean The expansive middle
The Sexorcist Clean The expansive middle
The Sexploiters Clean The smeary bottom
Sextoons Clean The expansive middle Fugs vs. Residents
Sexual Encounter Group Clean The expansive middle
Sexual Heights Clean The expansive middle
The Shadow of Progress (Williams) Minimal The expansive middle
Shadows Clean The expansive middle
Shadows and Fog Clean The expansive middle
Shadows of Progress: Documentary Film in Post-War Britain Minimal The expansive middle
Shadows on the Mountains Clean The expansive middle
Shake! Otis at Monterey Clean The expansive middle
Shallow Hal Clean The expansive middle
Shame (Bergman) Minimal The elusive top digifury
Shame (Jodrell) CleanThe expansive middle
Shanghai Express Clean The expansive middle
Shaolin Temple Clean The expansive middle
Shanty Tramp Clean The expansive middle
Sharp Objects Minimal The elusive top
Shaun of the Dead CleanThe expansive middle
Shaw & Lee: The Beau Brummels Clean The elusive top
Shawscope: Volume 1 Substantial The expansive middle
She's the One Clean The expansive middle
Sheba, Baby Clean The expansive middle
She-Devils on Wheels Clean The expansive middle
Shell Heavy The elusive top
Shellarama Clean The expansive middle
Shelter (6 Souls) Clean The expansive middle
Sherlick Holmes (Milt/McCoy) Clean The expansive middle
Sherlock Holmes (Ritchie) Substantial The expansive middle kabloom
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon Clean The expansive middle
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror Clean The expansive middle
Sherlock Holmes Collection Clean The expansive middle
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death Clean The expansive middle
Sherlock Holmes in Wasington Clean The expansive middle
She's the One Clean The expansive middle
The Shetland Experience Minimal The expansive middle
Shine a Light Clean The expansive middle
The Shining Clean The elusive top
Shinjuku Triad Society Clean The expansive middle
A Ship to India Clean The expansive middle
The Shipping News Clean The expansive middle
Shivers Clean The expansive middle
Shoah Clean The elusive top
Shoah and 4 Films after Shoah Clean The elusive top
Shock (Beyond the Door II) Clean The expansive middle
Shogun Assassin Clean The expansive middle
Shogun's Joy of Torture Clean The expansive middle
Shoot (from Short Plays) Clean The expansive middle
The Shooting Substantial The expansive middle
Shooting Stars Clean The expansive middle
Short Cuts Minimal The expansive middle
A Short Film About Killing Substantial The expansive middle
A Short Film About Love Clean The expansive middle
Short Films by Werner Herzog Minimal The expansive middle
The Short Films of David Lynch Minimal The expansive middle
Short Working Day Clean The expansive middle
Shot (Brown) Clean The expansive middle
Shot on Location Clean The expansive middle
The Shout Minimal The expansive middle
Show Biz Clean The expansive middle
Showdown Clean The smeary bottom
Showgirls CleanThe expansive middle
The Shrine Minimal The expansive middle
Shutter Island Clean The expansive middle
Shuttle Clean The expansive middle
The Siamese Twin Pinheads Clean The expansive middle
The Sicilian BelleCleanThe expansive middle
Sick of MyselfMinimalThe expansive middle
Sidewalks of New York Clean The expansive middle
Sightseers Substantial The expansive middle
The Sign of Leo Clean The expansive middle
The Signalman Clean The elusive top
Signs Substantial The expansive middle
Signs of Life Substantial The elusive top
The Silence (Bergman) Clean The elusive top
The Silence (Makhmalbaf) Clean The expansive middle
Le Silence de al mer Clean The elusive top
The Silence of the Lambs Minimal The expansive middle
Silent Avant-Garde: 21 Experiments with Silent Film & New Music Clean The expansive middle
Silent House Clean The expansive middle
Silent Light Clean The expansive middle
Silent Madness Clean The expansive middle
Silent Ozu: Three Family Comedies (Eclipse 10) Minimal The expansive middle
Silent Running Clean The expansive middle capitalism
The Silent Village Clean The expansive middle
Silk, Satin, & Sex Clean The expansive middle
Simon of the Desert Clean The expansive middle
Sin City Minimal The expansive middle
Sin in the Suburbs Clean The expansive middle
Sin You Sinners Clean The expansive middle
Sinclair Clean The expansive middle
The Sinful Pleasures of Reverend Star Clean The expansive middle
Singin' in the Rain Clean The elusive top
Sins of the Flesh Clean The expansive middle
Sister Street Fighter Minimal The expansive middle
Sister Street Fighter Collection Minimal The expansive middle
Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist Minimal The expansive middle
Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread Minimal The expansive middle
Sisters Clean The expansive middle
Sisters of the Gion Clean The expansive middle
Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times) Clean The elusive top
Six Moral Tales Clean The expansive middle
The Sixth Side of the Pentagon Clean The expansive middle
Skin Flicks Clean The expansive middle
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow Clean The expansive middle
The Sky Socialist Clean The elusive top
The Sky Socialist: Environs and Outtakes Clean The expansive middle
Skyhook Clean The expansive middle
Skyline Dance Clean The expansive middle
Slacker Clean The expansive middle
Slap Shot Clean The expansive middle
Slaughtered Pigtails Clean The expansive middle
Slaughtered Vomit Dolls Clean The expansive middle
Slaughterhouse Heavy The expansive middle
Slaughterhouse-Five Clean The expansive middle
Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity Clean The expansive middle
Slave of Pleasure Clean The expansive middle
Slaves of New York Clean The expansive middle
The Slayer Minimal The expansive middle
Sleeper Clean The expansive middle
The Sleeping Beast Within Clean The expansive middle
Sleeping Beauty (Leigh) Clean The expansive middle
The Sleeping Beauty (Breillat) Clean The expansive middle
Slide Guitar and Exorcism @ the South Pole Clean The expansive middle
Slogan Clean The expansive middle
SLON Tango Clean The expansive middle
Slow Torture Puke Chamber Minimal The expansive middle
Slugs Heavy The expansive middle
Slumdog Millionaire Clean The expansive middle
Small Deaths Heavy The expansive middle Holy Cow
Small Time Crooks Clean The expansive middle
Smash Cut Clean The expansive middle
Smash His Camera Clean The expansive middle
Smashing the 0-Line Clean The expansive middle
Smashing Time Clean The expansive middle
A Smell of Honey, a Swallow of Brine Clean The expansive middle
Smile (Parker) Substantial The expansive middle
Smile (Ritchie) Clean The expansive middle
Smiles of a Summer Night Clean The expansive middle
Smokey and the Bandit Clean The expansive middle
Smokin' Aces Clean The expansive middle
The Smut Peddler Clean The expansive middle
The Snails Clean The expansive middle
Snake Eyes Clean The expansive middle
The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch Minimal The expansive middle
Snapshot Substantial The expansive middle
Snatched Substantial The expansive middle
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (vintage erotica) Clean The expansive middle
Snows of Grenoble Clean The expansive middle
The So-Called Caryatids Clean The expansive middle
Snuffbox: The Complete Series Substantial The expansive middle
Sobibór, October 14, 1943, 4 PM Clean The expansive middle
Society Clean The expansive middle
Soigne ton gauche Clean The expansive middle
Sol Violinsky: The Eccentric Entertainer Clean The expansive middle
Solar Anus Cinema Clean The expansive middle
Solaris (Tarkovsky) Clean The elusive top
A Soldier's Prayer: The Human Condition III Clean The expansive middle
Some Call It Loving Clean The expansive middle
Some Came Running Substantial The expansive middle
Some Kind of Heaven Clean The expansive middle
Some Like It Hot Clean The expansive middle
Something Different Clean The expansive middle
Something New Clean The expansive middle
Something Weird Clean The expansive middle
Somewhere Clean The expansive middle
The Song of Stone Clean The expansive middle
The Song Remains the Same Clean The expansive middle
Songs from the Second Floor Clean The elusive top
Sooner or Later Clean The expansive middle
Sorcerer (Friedkin) Clean The expansive middle
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Powell) Clean The expansive middle
The Sorceress Clean The expansive middle
Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama Clean The expansive middle
Sorority Sweethearts CleanThe expansive middle
Il Sorpasso Clean The expansive middle
La Soufrière Minimal The expansive middle
Soul Power Clean The expansive middle
South Clean The expansive middle
Southern Comfort Clean The expansive middle
The Soviet Influence: From Turksib to Night Mail Clean The expansive middle
Spacked Out CleanThe expansive middle
Spanky: To the Pier and Back Clean The expansive middle
Spark of Being Clean The expansive middle
Sparrows Clean The elusive top
A Special Day Clean The elusive top
The Speech Clean The expansive middle
Speed Racer Clean The expansive middle
Spellbound Clean The expansive middle
Spend It All Heavy The expansive middle
Spider Clean The expansive middle
Spider Baby Minimal The expansive middle
The Spider Woman Substantial The expansive middle
Spies (Lang) Clean The expansive middle
The Spiral Clean The expansive middle
Spirit of Cheshire Clean The expansive middle
The Spirit of the Beehive Minimal The elusive top
Splatter University Clean The expansive middle
Spoiled Clean The expansive middle
Spontaneous Combustion Clean The expansive middle
Spook Warfare Minimal The expansive middle
Spookies Clean The smeary bottom
Spring Breakers Clean The expansive middle
Spring in a Small Town Clean The elusive top
Sprout Wings and Fly Clean The expansive middle
Spy Game Clean The expansive middle
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Clean The expansive middle
The Spy Who Did It Better Clean The expansive middle
The Spy Who Loved Me Clean The expansive middle
The Square Minimal The expansive middle
SS Hellcamp Clean The expansive middle
St. Christopher Clean The expansive middle
Stage and Spectacle: Three Films by Jean Renoir Clean The expansive middle
Stage Struck (Dwan) Clean The expansive middle
Stagecoach Clean The expansive middle
The Staircase Clean The expansive middle
Stalag 17 Clean The expansive middle
The Stalls of Barchester (Clark) Clean The expansive middle
The Stalls of Barchester (Yule) Clean The expansive middle
Star Garden Clean The expansive middle
A Star Is Born (Cooper) Clean The expansive middle
Star Time Clean The expansive middle
Star Trek (Abrams) Clean The expansive middle
Star Trek: Nemesis Clean The expansive middle
Star Virgin Clean The expansive middle
Stardust Memories Clean The expansive middle
Stargate Minimal The expansive middle
Stargate: The Ark of Truth Clean The expansive middle
Stargate: Continuum Clean The expansive middle
Starlings of the Screen Clean The expansive middle
The Stars Are Beautiful Clean The expansive middle
Stars of the Roller State Disco Clean The expansive middle
Starship Eros Clean The expansive middle
Station Eleven: The Complete Series MinimalThe expansive middle
Steamroller and the Violin Clean The expansive middle
Stellar Clean The expansive middle
Stigma Clean The elusive top
The Sting Clean The expansive middle
Štićenik Clean The expansive middle
The Sting Clean The expansive middle
Sting of Death Clean The smeary bottom
Stolen Kisses Clean The expansive middle
Stoll, Flynn & Company: The 'Jazzmania Quintette' Clean The expansive middle
Stone Substantial The expansive middle
Stone into Steel Clean The expansive middle
Storefront Theatre Collection 1: All Night at the PO-NO Clean The expansive middle
Storefront Theatre 2: All Night at The Bizarre Art Theatre Clean The expansive middle
Storm over Mont Blanc Clean The expansive middle
Stormy Monday Clean The expansive middle
The Story of a Cheat Clean The expansive middle
The Story of a Love Affair Clean The elusive top
Story of a Prostitute Clean The expansive middle
Story of Adele H. Clean The expansive middle
Story of Marie and Julien Clean The expansive middle
Story of My Death Heavy The expansive middle
Story of Sin Clean The expansive middle
The Story of Temple Drake Clean The expansive middle
La Strada Clean The expansive middle
Straight to Hell Returns Clean The expansive middle
Straights of Magellan: Selected Pans Heavy The expansive middle
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne Clean The expansive middle
Strange Circus Clean The expansive middle
Strange Days Clean The expansive middle
Strange Hostel of Naked Pleasures Heavy The expansive middle
The Strange Little Cat Clean The elusive top
The Strange World of Coffin Joe Clean The expansive middle
Stranger Than Fiction Minimal The expansive middle
Stranger Than Paradise Clean The expansive middle
Strangler vs. Strangler MinimalThe expansive middle
Stray Cat Rock (series) Minimal The expansive middle
Stray Dog Minimal The expansive middle
Street of Forgotten Men Clean The expansive middle
Strike Zone Clean The expansive middle
Strip Clean The expansive middle
Strip Nude for Your Killer Clean The expansive middle
Striptease Clean The expansive middle
Stromboli Heavy The expansive middle
Stroszek Minimal The elusive top
Struggle for Israel Clean The expansive middle
Struggle in Italy Clean The expansive middle
Studio 54 (Tyrnauer) Clean The expansive middle
A Study in Choreography for Camera Clean The expansive middle
Study in color and black and white Clean The expansive middle
The Stuff Clean The expansive middle
The Stylist Clean The expansive middle
Submarino Clean The expansive middle
Sucker Punch Substantial The expansive middle
The Suckers Clean The expansive middle
The Suckling Clean The expansive middle
Suckula Clean The expansive middle
Sudden Fury Clean The expansive middle
Sugar Cookies Clean The expansive middle
Suicide Squad Clean The expansive middle
The Suitor Clean The expansive middle
Sukiyaki Western Django Substantial The expansive middle
Sullivan's Travels Clean The expansive middle
A Summer Discord Clean The expansive middle
Summer Hours Clean The expansive middle
Summer Interlude Clean The expansive middle
Summer with Monika Clean The expansive middle
Summertime Blue Clean The expansive middle
Sumurum Minimal The expansive middle
The Sun in a Net Clean The elusive top
The Sun's Gonna Shine Clean The expansive middle
The Sunbeam Clean The expansive middle
Sunday Bloody Sunday Substantial The expansive middle
Sunday by the Sea Clean The elusive top
Sunday in Peking Clean The expansive middle
Sunny Clean The expansive middle
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans Clean The elusive top
Sunset Boulevard Clean The expansive middle
Super 8 Clean The expansive middle
Super Sex Clean The expansive middle
Superman: The Movie Clean The expansive middle
Superman II Minimal The expansive middle
El Sur Clean The elusive top
Surface Tension Clean The elusive top
Surveillance Substantial The expansive middle
Survive Style 5+ Clean The expansive middle
Sushi Girl Minimal The expansive middle
Susperia Clean The expansive middle
Süt Minimal The expansive middle
Suture Clean The expansive middle
Suzanne's Career Clean The expansive middle
Sweeney Todd (Burton) Minimal The expansive middle
The Sweet Hereafter Clean The expansive middle
Sweet Movie Clean The expansive middle
'Sweet Punkin' I Love You Clean The expansive middle
Sweet Smell of Success Clean The elusive top
A Sweet Sickness Clean The expansive middle
Sweet Sugar Substantial The expansive middle
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song Minimal The expansive middle
Sweet Young Foxes Clean The expansive middle
Swept Away (Wertmüller) Substantial The expansive middle
The Swimmer Clean The expansive middle
The Swindle Minimal The expansive middle
Swing Time Clean The expansive middle
The Swinging Cheerleaders Clean The expansive middle
The Switch (Sarno) Clean The smeary bottom
Switchblade Sisters Clean The smeary bottom
Sword of the Samurai Clean The expansive middle
Sword of Vengeance Clean The expansive middle
Swordfish Clean The expansive middle
Swords and Hearts Clean The expansive middle
Sworn to the Drum Clean The expansive middle
Sybil Substantial The expansive middle
Sylvia (A Saint … A Woman … A Devil) Clean The expansive middle
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One Clean The elusive top
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2 1/2 Clean The expansive middle
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Clean The expansive middle
Sympathy for the Devil Clean The expansive middle
Symptoms Substantial The expansive middle
Synapses Clean The expansive middle
Szinbád Clean The elusive top
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