MovieChat Forums > Tenebre (1984) Discussion > The dog scene always takes me out of the...

The dog scene always takes me out of the movie

posted 14 years ago by LatinoNoir
22 replies | jump to latest

I know everyone who likes this movie loves that scene but everytime I've watched the movie to give it a chance to win me over, that scene always takes a sting out of the whole thing for me. Without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it, it just felt way out of place with the rest of the film. It felt as if it came from another film where that scene was somehow spliced into the Tenebre reel. The movie could've done without that scene, in my opinion. Ok, maybe have the dog be some kind of obstacle but to make it into some kind of SUPERDOG was just way too absurd and unintentionally funny for me. And believe me, I love the absurd but only if it fits with the rest of the film and this scene just didn't fit for me. Thoughts? I should note that I respect most of the film and loved the cinematography.

[–] dalesanix69 14 years ago

Just see it as a reference to some kind of "hell" hound (just after "va all'inferno !" shouted by the girl in the previous scene) or a nod to Conan Doyle and "Hound of the Baskervilles" both explicitly mentioned in the movie. But I can understand your feeling... I worship Argento and yet I don't see his filmmaking as purely flawless, and I myself can be badly distracted from the movie's plot/atmosphere/feel by those strangely gratuitous and almost "out-of-place" somewhat too long "digressions". But imo they are also part of what makes Argento's charm...

[–] PoppyTransfusion 13 years ago

Just see it as a reference to some kind of "hell" hound (just after "va all'inferno !" shouted by the girl in the previous scene) or a nod to Conan Doyle and "Hound of the Baskervilles" both explicitly mentioned in the movie.

Good point. I like the idea of this. Argento's homage to Sir Conan Doyle!

I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl

[–] Jellybrother 14 years ago

I found it pretty scary. Then again, I *hate* dobermans (It was one right? Anyway it was a dog breed I can't stand). Was totally terrified of them as a child and although I'm not really afraid of them anymore, there's still some of the childish fear left in the back of my mind. So that scene worked to great effect for me!

[–] LatinoNoir 14 years ago

Jellybrother, you may have enjoyed that scene but do you think it fits in with the rest of the film? That's my point.

[–] Jellybrother 14 years ago

Since I enjoyed it, it fits in the movie for me. If it would've taken me out of the movie, I wouldn't have enjoyed it.

Is it good writing? No, certainly not. But then again, the whole movie isn't particularly well written in the first place. It entirely relies on suspense and atmosphere and the dog scene delivers both.

[–] Jerv23325-1 14 years ago

Hmm I gotta disagree. I found the film very slow and boring up until that scene and from that point on the movie never lost my interest and it just became amazing. I always think of that scene when I think of the film because for me that's when the film went from being slow to fast paced and it didn't stop until the credits rolled.

[–] muttley79 13 years ago

SPOILERS!

I think this scene fit into the movie because it provides us the first instance where the killer might be discovered. The girl discovered the pictures of the murder victims in the basement study, took them, and was about to call the police, when the homeowner came in. The dog chase leads us to the one in a million chance that the girl picks THIS house to get away from the dog, which leads to her doom. Talk about irony.

To stupid people everywhere: Thank you for brightening my day!

[–] scndsky 9 years ago

I thought it was the killer his dog, meaning to lead her into his house.

[–] Godfather_Corleone2 14 years ago

Best scene in the movie was the dog chase, to me the stupid slasher scenes Argento does in every film make it forgettable not to mention the cliche ending. The dog scene actually felt fresh and added something outside of black gloves/shiny blade horror.

Edit: By stupid slasher scenes I really meant in this movie and his other recent ones, I love most of his 70s work.

[–] signoraomicidi 13 years ago

I saw the scene many years before I saw the film, so while I knew about "some crazy Argento movie with a dog that climbs fences", I had no idea it was in Tenebre until it popped up. I love the scene itself, but I'd like it better if it was in another one of his films.

Tenebre still is my favorite film of his. While not his best by any means, I never tire of it, and I love the ending.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 13 years ago

The dog didn't especially work as unlike other Argento's there was no supernatural possession of the animal that would make it so crazy. Maybe it was rabid! It worked as a plot device to push one of the victims in the house, which the audience get a good view that helps later as the film progresses, but more than that - no. It brought one of those 'why go into a basement where the key has conveniently been left in the door' moments like when someone walks into a dark house where you know a killer is waiting. In fact that girl deserved to be killed, she was so stupid.

I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl

[–] campbellgrg4 13 years ago

The dog scene was immense! But, as soon as it happens you're like what the beep! It did kind of take me out of the film's premise but I loved it so much it was a welcome slice of craziness. Then, as someone else said, it lets us get inside the killer's evil lair. Just wonderin if there could have been a spin-off, cause that dog must cause some serious damage in the town! It'd take a mighty neighbourhood watch to keep that at bay.

'To God there is no zero'

[–] franzkabuki 13 years ago

The close-ups in the scenes where that chick was supposedly "fighting" the beast, looked quite hilarious.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] xalen 12 years ago

It was a bit of a plot device to get the girl in the house. I think it would have been more believable if Christian had actually got the prostitute he was stalking and taken her back to his place. Then the girl could have heard screaming and gone to investigate. Same result.

[–] NewYorkRipper 12 years ago

I will probably get some disagreement here, but if you look carefully at the cutaway scenes between when the dog is growling and biting and she is fighting it off, it looks almost that the dog is actually just being playful rather than is being really vicious and trying to attack her. Think it was obviously a piece of very clever editing and sound effects to make it seem more vicious than it actually was during shooting.

[–] asiamatron 10 years ago

That scene seems to be part of a recurring theme in the film: earlier in the movie, Elsa is also randomly chased by an attacker (a man instead of a dog.) In both scenes it is random chance that helps steer the course of events. Both scenes are also plot devices which put the characters where they need to be for the plot to progress.

Elsa flees to her apartment after being chased by the hobo and the killer is waiting for her. The other girl is chased by a dog which leads her to the killer's home and her death. The first killer (Berti) is surprised by this intrusion and even his best laid plans can be ruined by chance or random events.

IIRC, at the end of the film Peter Neal is also killed in a fairly random and unpredictable manner: falling onto that sculpture was a lucky accident for Anne and unplanned.

[–] xalen 10 years ago

That scene seems to be part of a recurring theme in the film: earlier in the movie, Elsa is also randomly chased by an attacker (a man instead of a dog.) In both scenes it is random chance that helps steer the course of events. Both scenes are also plot devices which put the characters where they need to be for the plot to progress.

Elsa flees to her apartment after being chased by the hobo and the killer is waiting for her. The other girl is chased by a dog which leads her to the killer's home and her death. The first killer (Berti) is surprised by this intrusion and even his best laid plans can be ruined by chance or random events.

Hmmm, never thought of it that way. Good point.

You know what I always wonder about? What was the argument Maria had right before getting off the bike? All we hear is "I told you I don't give a damn!!!" Not a vital point but just a curiosity.

[–] asiamatron 10 years ago

^ Yeah, I've often wondered what Maria and the bike rider were arguing about.

[–] DesperateHouseboy 10 years ago

The dog scene is random as hell, but I like it. I do wanna know how she outran that dog though lol.



[–] shred-com 9 years ago

I thought the dog scene was the best scene lol. I actually kinda consider it one portion of a very long chase scene featuring that particular girl.