List by Ross Maclean
THE DOG BITES IT
*SPOILERS*
The dog always makes it, right? WRONG.
Upon realising that two of my top ten films of 2011 featured dying doggies it got me thinking about how common it was that man's best friend isn't always treated as such by filmmakers.
This is by no means an exhaustive list but I'll add more as they spring to mind, or as I encounter them.
The terrible De Niro comedy What Just Happened has an extended subplot about whether or not a dog should die in a movie De Niro's character has produced. In the end – SPOILARZ – it does.
Don't know whether that actually counts or not (even within the film, it's a fictional dog) but there you go.
This is a tough. Gettin' all philosophical on me.
My rules of thumb were:
1. That the dog dies on screen
2. The passing of a previously established dog in the film is alluded to during the course of the narrative.
I relaxed that slightly to include:
3. The sight of an already-dead dog (who hasn't been seen in the film before they show up dead).
I've overthought this but not sure I can include of a metafictional mutt, unless the death is shown. Is it?
Regardless, keep the suggestions coming.
ROSS.
Can I make a list of films where cats die as a companion piece?
Hey Claire!
I would totally say yes but I think Robbie (above) has beaten you to it:
letterboxd.com/robbiereviews/list/destroy-all-moggies/
Dammit.
Doesn't matter how hard I search to see if they've been done before, I always fucking miss them!
I think a dog dies in I Wish. Well, it's either a dog or a cat. I'm pretty sure it's a dog though.
That's useful, isn't it.
OK, you did ask: the fictional dog is shown dying on screen (within-a-screen) at the premiere of the film-within-a-film that De Niro's character has produced. Still not sure if it counts or not
Blue Valentine
@Ethan
Of course. Thanks.
Badlands