Often the death of a dog comes at the end of the film, once the audience is given the chance to associate the animal with something profound or beautiful. This is not the case with Paddy Considine's brilliant British drama, Tyrannosaur. In the film's very first scene our protagonist, Joseph (Peter Mullan), exits a building after losing a bet and proceeds to take his anger out on his dog. Joseph kicks the poor animal with such force that he has to carry it home, where soon after it dies. It's a scene which deliberately exploits the intrinsic innocence of the dog, but that doesn't make it any easier to stomach. The death sets the tone for the film, but it also plays a key role in the characterisation of Joseph. He's a character that's driven by anger, yet he is by no means remorseless a sense of regret, compassion and sadness pervades Joseph's brutish exterior. It's an incredibly cold moment that immediately unsettles the viewer; the sombre tone it creates can be felt long after the credits have rolled.
