If I’m being utterly sincere, I’ve at all times been extra of a cat particular person than a canine particular person.
That mentioned, I don’t know why, however I’ve been consuming nothing however dog-centric tales as of late (Possibly the universe is making an attempt to inform me one thing). I simply completed studying The place the Crimson Fern Grows, and I lately watched the film, The Plague Canine. However, if you recognize something about both of those, you’ll know that they’re NOT blissful canine tales.
In actual fact, The Plague Canine, which is about two canine being hunted within the wilderness, might be the saddest film I’ve ever seen. Based mostly on the Richard Adams novel of the identical identify, this 1982 film, which may be watched on Pluto TV, introduced tears to my eyes. Right here’s why.
First Off, It is A Film About Animal Cruelty, Which Is Such A Unhappy Topic Matter
I as soon as wrote an article about animated motion pictures that I couldn’t imagine weren’t made by Disney, however belief me, I’d by no means imagine that Disney made The Plague Canine. Its central plot issues animal analysis, and never in a cute, musical means, however in an, “Oh, God. What are they doing to these animals?!” kind of means.
Beginning off in an English lab, our two protagonists are a labrador-mix named Rowf, and a fox terrier named Snitter. Rowf will get drowned over and over, after which resuscitated to see the results, and Snitter has his head all bandaged up since docs are experimenting on his mind. Like, jeez. Is that unhappy, or what?
However, it’s not simply canine being experimented on, as we see monkeys writhing in ache, rabbits chained as much as their necks, and all method of different terrible experimentation.
Not solely that, however keep in mind how all of us thought that incinerator scene in Toy Story 3 was extremely darkish for a Disney film? You recognize, the scene the place we puzzled if the toys on this universe might truly die? Properly, The Plague Canine is all like, “maintain my beer,” as our heroes escape the ability by getting out of an incinerator, but it surely’s one by which lifeless canine are thrown within it as in the event that they’re nothing.
I imply, might you get any extra distressing? And, that is just the start of the film! I haven’t even gotten to what it’s like as soon as our heroes lastly escape the ability.
As soon as The Canine Get Free, Their Troubles Get Even Worse
I’ve learn that this was meant to be an journey story, because it’s the story of two canine who get chased by their captors as soon as they escape captivity. Nevertheless, I don’t view this film in the identical vein that I view one thing like Mad Max: Fury Highway, and that’s as a result of The Plague Canine will not be about people chasing people. It’s about people chasing canine – canine that didn’t do something mistaken in any way.
The explanation Rowf and Snitter are being pursued within the first place is as a result of it’s believed that they carry the bubonic plague (therefore the title) and have to be put down earlier than they infect the populace. However, whereas they’re being trailed by individuals, they have to survive within the wilderness, which is an issue in itself since they aren’t used to fending for his or her lives.
They arrive upon a fox who exhibits them survive, however, like most foxes (Ouch. I sound like I realized nothing from Zootopia), he isn’t to be trusted, they usually go their separate methods for some time. On this interval, our heroes come to the brink of hunger.
However, as if the film itself is shaking its head at me, the fox ultimately involves the rescue, and does a noble deed. That mentioned, all of that is fairly harrowing, and you’ll assume that the canine would get a break, however no. Their “journey” will get so unhealthy that it’s virtually insufferable to observe.
In a number of tales, the characters begin off in a kind of unusual world, the place issues go effectively for them, however then some horrible incident happens, which sends the hero off on their journey. However, right here, the “unusual world” (the analysis facility) is a spot worse than dying, they usually escape it, solely to finish up in a spot that’s surprisingly even WORSE than the ability (cruel nature). Critically, there isn’t any time on this film the place you truly really feel like issues are going to be okay, which is extremely draining, to say the very least.
Each Canine Are Likeable, However Their Cynicism Makes It Arduous To Really feel Any Sense Of Hope
One in all my favourite books is The Grapes of Wrath. In it, the Joad household undergo all method of horrible ordeals, and by the top of it, you’re type of left with an ambiguous ending. Is it hopeful? Is it defeatist? I nonetheless give it some thought, even in the present day.
That mentioned, the ending of the John Ford film couldn’t be any extra totally different. On the finish of all of it, “Ma” Joad (Jane Darwell) offers a rousing speech about how individuals like them will proceed to dwell on, it doesn’t matter what hardships they face. The novel leaves you with a questionable feeling on the finish, whereas the film leaves you with an upbeat feeling.
I deliver all of this up for the reason that means characters reply to adversity can actually change the entire tone of a narrative. However, I’m sorry, our protagonists in The Plague Canine are simply so cynical that after some time I had a tough time feeling any sense of hope in any way. As I mentioned earlier, this story is simply so draining!
Of the 2 canine, Snitter is the one who begins off with essentially the most hopeful outlook as soon as they escape. However, after a grisly accident (which I’ll get into quickly), he turns into distraught, and shortly brings down the entire journey. Not that it was ever pleasing to observe, however his hopelessness carries all through the remainder of the film.
I imply, I am the largest pessimist on this planet, however even I would like some hope in my movies. This film, sadly, doesn’t present it.
The People Are Simply Horrible Folks. And Plausible
There aren’t any good people on this story. Not a one. From the scientists experimenting on the animals, to those searching down our heroes, each human on this story is terrible, and I hate each single one in every of them.
There’s one scene specifically the place a man will get shot proper within the face by a shotgun, as he’s making an attempt to coax Snitter to return to him, just for the canine to by accident step on the set off and presumably kill him. And, to make issues worse, that is the incident that leads Snitter to really lose hope as soon as he realizes what he is carried out.
It is truthfully arduous to see such coldness in an animated function. That is like what a cartoon from Stanley Kubrick may appear to be. You’d assume that there may be at the very least one human character who may attempt to assist the canine, however no. That might be too humane.
The people are a relentless supply of distress for our protagonists, which is made all of the extra heartbreaking as a result of Snitter as soon as had an proprietor, and he needs to have one other one. To reference Toy Story 3 once more, it type of jogs my memory of Lotso. Nevertheless, not like that story, the place Lotso grew bitter due to people, Snitter grows disconsolate, which is in some way even worse.
For actual, although, screw the people on this film. They’re all terrible.
And That Ending!
Boy. I’m not going to spoil the ending right here, however when you assume I’d been introduced by way of the ringer earlier than, simply think about how I felt by the top of this film, which, spoiler alert, will not be a contented one!
I’ll paint you an image. Snitter and Rowf find yourself trapped at a water’s edge, and Rowf, who was once drowned for experimentation, doesn’t wish to go close to it. That mentioned, Snitter believes he sees an island within the distance, they usually each threat their luck.
And…effectively, I’ll simply go away it there. However, I’ll say that the e-book ending could be very totally different. Sure, the canine find yourself within the water, however additionally they find yourself getting rescued, and cleared of being believed that they’ve the plague. The film, although?
Once more, I received’t spoil it, but it surely’s the ending that really broke me. I simply don’t perceive why the film’s ending needs to be so harsh when the remainder of the movie is so brutal.
Truthfully, though this animated movie got here out earlier than I used to be born, it nonetheless hits me more durable than any animated movie that I’ve ever seen since being alive (Sure, greater than the enduring Studio Ghibli film, Grave of the Fireflies), and that’s saying one thing.
Have you ever ever seen The Plague Canine? I’d love to listen to your ideas when you’ve got.