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.

This Is Spïnal Tap

This Is Spïnal Tap. Rob Reiner, 1984.
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Edition screened: Studiocanal ‘30th Anniversary’ Blu-ray, released 2014. English language. Runtime approximately 83 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The StudioCanal release includes enjoyable extras such as complete takes of  music videos, and a 2007 performance at the Live Earth benefit concert. The 1992 follow-up The Return of Spïnal Tap also is included.
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This Stuff’ll Kill Ya!

This Stuff’ll Kill Ya! Herschell Gordon Lewis, 1971.
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Edition screened: Included with The Gore Gore Girls in Arrow box set The Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 99 minutes.

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


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Throat: 12 Years After

Throat: 12 Years After. Gerard Damiano, 1984.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray #181, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 84 minutes.

Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film. 4/5❤
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Taboo IV

Taboo IV. Kirdy Stevens, 1985.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray #152, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 106 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals. 2/5❤

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Thundercrack!

Thundercrack! Curt McDowell, 1975.
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Edition screened: Synapse Blu-ray, released 2015. English language. Runtime approximately 160 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals. Bestiality is mentioned, but the act is comedically play acted by someone dressed in a gorilla suit. 3.5/5❤


The Synapse release also includes a DVD of bonus material including the excellent feature documentary It Came from Kuchar and five short films by McDowell, all free of animal violence:

Confessions (1972)
Loads (1985)
Boggy Depot (1973)
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Too Late Blues

Too Late Blues. John Cassavetes, 1961.
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Edition screened: Eureka! Masters of Cinema Blu-ray #85, released 2012. English language. Runtime approximately 102 minutes.

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

1960 Williams Nags in bar as 26:00. 

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Torture Garden (Francis)

Torture Garden. Freddie Francis, 1967.
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Edition screened: Included on Mill Creek Blu-ray Psycho Circus Triple Feature, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The four short horror stories told in Torture Garden are strung together by a thin unifying narrative, a format we all know and approach with a nervous wince. But Torture Garden is one of the better I’ve seen. The tales are uneven, but taken en masse are far superior to the hammy stupidity of Creepshow-style writing, feeling more like Bava’s Black Sabbath.

The first story “Enoch,” about a gypsy fortune and accompanying curse, is only so-so but features an excellent performance by a fat tortie.

The second story “Terror Over Hollywood,” is excellent, rooted in celebrity treachery and the quest for immortality. The stage set of “Danny’s Bar” is not to be missed: a fabulously-decorated swinging lounge with John Coltrane wallpaper and pretty girls in a life-size snow globe.

The third film “Mr. Steinway” stars a haunted piano. It is rather stupid but short, and there are some good interiors.

The final story “The Man Who Collected Poe” is pretty good, and pits Jack Palance against Peter Cushing as two wealthy collectors who dare to confront the supernatural.



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A Touch of Genie

A Touch of Genie. Joseph W. Sarno (as Karl Andersson), 1974.
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Edition screened: Included on Film Movement’s Sarno Retrospect Series Vol. 3 Blu-ray, released 2018. English language. Runtime approximately 86 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals. 2.5/5❤






















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A Touch of Zen

A Touch of Zen (Xia nü). King Hu, 1970.
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Edition screened: Eureka! Masters of Cinema Blu-ray #130, released 2016. Mandarin language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 180 minutes.


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

Touki Bouki (The Journey of the Hyena). Djibril Diop Mambéty, 1973.
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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #685 in box set #684 Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project No. 1, released 2013. Wolof language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 89 minutes.

Summary: Slaughterhouse porn.

Details:
1) Graphic slaughter house scene, 3:00-4:20.
2) Graphic murder of a small goat and butchering of a large goat, cut in with other scenes, 17:22-20:51.
3) Back to the slaughterhouse, intercut with other scenes from 1:17:57 through 1:22:20.

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Trances

Trances (Transes). Ahmed El Maanouni, 1981.
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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #689 in box set #684 Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project No. 1, released 2013. Arabic language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

Summary: Murder of a ram.

Details: We see a sacrificed ram lying on the pavement with his throat slit, convulsing. 45:52-45:56.

The dying ram is quick, irrelevant, and easily skipped. Otherwise, I found Trances an enjoyable and educational profile of Nass El Ghiwane, a band that performs Moroccan folk ballads.

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A Trip on the Metropolitan Railway

A Trip on the Metropolitan Railway. Unknown director, 1910.
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Edition screened: Included in BFI Blu-ray/DVD set Underground, released 2013. Scored, with English intertitles, no dialogue track. Runtime approximately 13 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

A peaceful ride through farmland and small villages, filmed from the moving train.
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The Trip to Spain

The Trip to Spain. Michael Winterbottom, 2017.
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Edition screened: Shout! Factory DVD, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 115 minutes.

Summary: For a foodie movie, comparatively little emphasis on butchering and kitchen prep. No explicit depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Trip with the Teacher

Trip with the Teacher. Earl Barton, 1974.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray #187, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.


Summary: No animals or references to animals in the film.
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Tropic of Desire

Tropic of Desire. Bob Chinn, 1979.
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Edition screened: Included in Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray set #234, 5 Films • 5 Years Vol 3: Golden Age Erotica, released 2018 Previously released as VS 046. English language. Runtime approximately 81 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals. 4/5❤


















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Twenty Questions

Twenty Questions. Gorman Bechard, 1987.
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Edition screened: Included on Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray #199 Disconnected, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 57 minutes.

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





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Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series

Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series (Twin Peaks: Season 3). 2017, David Lynch.
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Edition screened: Paramount Blu-ray box set, released 2017. English language. Runtime approximately 810 minutes.

Summary: A few unspecific depictions of dead animals.

Details:
1) Episode 2: Grace Zabriskie smokes and drinks and watches a television show in which a pack of lions methodically bring down and kill a water buffalo, 45:05-45:17.  
2)Episode 4: Evidence in an FBI investigation includes a severed dog leg in a zip-lock bag, 45:05-45:17.
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Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight

Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight. Robert Downey, Sr., 1975.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Eclipse Series 33: Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr. 2-DVD set, released 2012. English language. Runtime approximately 56 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Two: Creeley/McClure

Two: Creeley/McClure. Stan Brakhage, 1965.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set #518 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volumes One and Two, released 2010. Silent. Runtime 3 minutes, 11 seconds.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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Unconscious London Strata

Unconscious London Strata. Stan Brakhage, 1982.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set #518 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volumes One and Two, released 2010. Silent. Runtime 22 minutes, 15 seconds.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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Under Night Streets

Under Night Streets. Ralph Keene, 1958.
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Edition screened: Included in BFI Blu-ray/DVD set Underground, released 2013. English language. Runtime approximately 20 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

A documentary about the crews who toil every night keeping the Underground tracks in good repair. Interesting documentation with amusing narration of a typical mid-century British sort.
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Under the Sun of Satan

Under the Sun of Satan (Sous le soleil de Satan). Maurice Pialat, 1987.
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Edition screened: Cohen Blu-ray, released 2016. French language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 98 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.
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Underground (Asquith)

Underground. Anthony Asquith, 1928.
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Edition screened: BFI Blu-ray/DVD set, released 2013. Scored with English intertitles, no dialogue track. Runtime approximately 93 minutes.

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

An excellent drama from the silent era. Good acting and direction, with some truly exciting and suspenseful moments.

Several short films about early days of the London Underground, all free of animal cruelty, are included with this BFI release:

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Underground (Kusturica)

Underground. Emir Kusturica, 1995.
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Edition screened: Included on BFI Underground Blu-ray/DVD set, released 2016. Serbian language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 170 minutes.

Summary: Dead and injured animals.

Details: Mortally wounded animals including a tiger, water fowl, and a mother chimpanzee after a zoo is bombed, 8:18-9:42. Slight return 14:10-14:45.

Underground is the Palme d’Or-winning film-length version of the TV mini-series Once Upon a Time There Was a Country.

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The Underneath

The Underneath. Steven Soderbergh, 1995.
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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #698 King of the Hill, released 2014. English language. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


I found The Underneath very entertaining, and was impressed by thoughtful set design and meticulous shot composition.

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The Undertaker

The Undertaker. Franco De Steffanino, 1988.
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Edition screened: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray #146, released 2016. English language. Runtime approximately 88 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

The Undertaker does not deserve its bad reputation. There are some overly-long scenes and several performances are not particularly good, but Joe Spinell is consistently engaging and the film as a whole is curiously captivating. Most significantly, The Undertaker is not suffocated by obnoxious characters making stupid jokes, an attribute that seems to be preferred by many viewers of 1980’s horror.

A booklet included in the Vinegar Syndrome release explains that Franco De Steffanino (spelled various ways across the internet) is an alias for the combined efforts of several people who worked on The Undertaker, including actor/writer William James Kennedy and producer Steve Bono.


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Untitled (For Marilyn)

Untitled (For Marilyn). Stan Brakhage, 1992.
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Edition screened: Included in Criterion Blu-ray box set #518 By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volumes One and Two, released 2010. Silent. Runtime 10 minutes, 27 seconds.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

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Usher

Usher. Curtis Harrington, 2002.
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Edition screened: Included on Flicker Alley Blu-ray The Curtis Harrington Short Film Collection, released 2013. English language. Runtime approximately 38 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


















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