[Amy Jade]

I can literally watch any horror going and laugh at some dumb bitch getting stabbed to death but if an animal dies I get that weird dry throat thing and I feel really sad

[Ammi]

..I don't know that I feel more sad when an animal dies because I also feel sad when some humans die in movies.../I think just anything that I can imagine relating to is something that makes me feel sad..

[Ammi]

...Bambi's mum's death.....

[kirklancaster]

A successful film has us 'suspending our disbelief', for example, we KNOW that the film is fictionary, but if we 'lose' ourselves in the film we suspend our disbelief and emotionally react to every plot point in the exact manner in which the writers wanted us to; laughing at the funny bits, falling in love with the protaganist, hating on the antagonist, and becoming teary at the sad bits.

So it is natural that the 'animal lovers' among us will be moved then by an animal's 'on screen' death or trauma - despite the rider that 'No animals were hurt or injured during the making of this film' etc.

I have a suspect personality, because I often cannot contain my joy whenever the 'baddie' gets it, but cry when an animal suffers.

Ammi's 'Bambi's Mum' example is a killer.

[Dominic]

If they're a major character and if they're cute and sweet, usually yeah

[Ammi]

..I think also that animals are maybe what many of us most closely relate to a child in terms of innocence and complete trust, so their deaths in movies are much harder for us to rationalise, which makes them feel more sad...


...with things like family pets in movies, as in real life as well...we know how much that animal has been a part of that family, how they have given them so much love and positive things and asked for very little in return..they have been so unconditional, other than basic things like food etc and yet some will protect with their own lives.../so we totally relate to the loss that movie family feels in a death of their animal family member...

[Ashley.]

I feel bad for the owner if a dog dies.

[joeysteele]

Yes for me, not just films however,it is also why despite it being nature and survival,I cannot really watch programmes about predators and prey either.
Really cuts me up.

[Niamh.]

You can't compare a death in a horror film to a sad death in a more emotional film though. I don't feel sad when someone in a horror film dies but if it's a serious film and the death of a person is more emotional or based on a true story I would probably feel more sad than if an animal died in a film. Although, I have to say the first time I ever cried during a film was in Project X (not the new one, the one from 80's) where chimps were being tested on, there was one scene with an orang-utan that was so sad

[Jamie89]

I can't really think of any off the top my head

I think perhaps its more shocking though just because you don't see it too often, whereas people die all the time on TV and in film

So it doesn't really mean anything, like you care about animals more than people lol, it's just more of a surprise when it happens?

[LeatherTrumpet]

I tend to turn off before this happens

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

You can't compare a death in a horror film to a sad death in a more emotional film though. I don't feel sad when someone in a horror film dies but if it's a serious film and the death of a person is more emotional or based on a true story I would probably feel more sad than if an animal died in a film. Although, I have to say the first time I ever cried during a film was in Project X (not the new one, the one from 80's) where chimps were being tested on, there was one scene with an orang-utan that was so sad

That's true. Horror films and seriously plotted dramas are vastly different. I cry at most films but I don't think I ever have at any horror film.

[Marsh.]

When Glenn Close boils the bunny.

[Shaun]

No I obviously feel great

[Kate!]

Marley and Me

[Lostie!]

Yeah, it's heartbreaking.

If I'm watching a film or series with a rising body count and an animal shows up, I'll automatically be most worried for the animal.

[Natalie.]

No,not that I remember anyways

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Lostie!

Yeah, it's heartbreaking.

If I'm watching a film or series with a rising body count and an animal shows up, I'll automatically be most worried for the animal.

Yeah, like if it's a war type film and there's some battle on horse back I'd kind of over look all the soldiers getting killed but I hate when they cut the horse they're on with a sword or whatever. It's different for different types of films though

[Jason.]

Not really tbh. It's just a film - it's not real. Same way when humans die in films. I don't feel sorry for them.

In real is a different matter ofc.

[Dollface]

Yeah I can't take it when animals get killed in films it kinda ruins the movie for me

[Livia]

I can watch war, horror, unspeakable violence and all the time I know it's just a film. If an animal gets hurt though, I can't watch. I couldn't watch War Horse because I knew I'd end up sobbing till my throat hurt.

[Amy Jade]

Originally Posted by Jason.

Not really tbh. It's just a film - it's not real. Same way when humans die in films. I don't feel sorry for them.

In real is a different matter ofc.

Well yeah I'm not special I know it's not real I just seem to care more for animals than humans.

[Amy Jade]

Originally Posted by Livia

I can watch war, horror, unspeakable violence and all the time I know it's just a film. If an animal gets hurt though, I can't watch. I couldn't watch War Horse because I knew I'd end up sobbing till my throat hurt.

That's exactly how I am. I can deal with pretty much anything but if it's an animal I hate it

[Josy]

I don't feel sad it really annoys me.

As soon as you see a dog or cat in a horror movie you just know they will 99% of the time die.