It's a very specific trope but it's one I remember seeing in a few horror and/or comedy movies.

A 'rich bimbo woman' type character will be walking their dog and it will always be like a little yappy dog. Like a chihuahua or a pomeranian. The dog will always have a super girly name like Precious or Froofroo. The dUmB WoMaN character will be talking on their phone or something similar and will be too distracted to notice their dog is yapping at a monster or killer etc.

When the woman finally pays attention to the dog all that's left on the end of her leash is the (pink and glittery!) collar or dog tag. The woman proceeds to shreik obnoxiously and it's always portrayed as dark humour.

I'm thinking way too hard about something no one cares about, but I do find it interesting that the only time a dogs death is not the ultimate tragedy in a film is when it's a dog society perceives as girly.

I like Pomeranians. Pomeranians are dope ass little balls of good vibes. :egg-dog:

  • PrincessMagnificent [they/them, any]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I have a theory about how to create a moral panic in movies similar to what it was like in the 80's when people thought horror movies would corrupt the youth. It seems that it's impossible to shock audiences now, that we're too jaded, but there is a way.

    The solution is simple: A suburban slasher movie, your basic Halloween, except the serial killer only kills dogs. You start the movie with six dogs or something, and over the course of the movie they're stalked by Jason Vorhees and killed until only the Final Dog survives.

  • Awoo [she/her]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    It's not really helped by the fact that people don't train their small dogs much if at all because it's literally impossible for a toy yorkie or whatever that's smaller than a cat to do any damage to a human being. I have to cut up food for ours because it literally can't or won't chew its own food properly. I genuinely don't think it could bite in any harmful way.

    Fucking hates the postman though and acts like it can bite and that shit is hilarious because it absolutely wouldn't and couldn't if it ever caught them.

    But yeah we're guilty of contributing to the annoying yappy smol dog reputation I guess.

    • Ram_The_Manparts [he/him]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      It’s not really helped by the fact that people don’t train their small dogs

      So true, this is way too common. It's a dog, so raise it like a dog for fucks sake. It's an animal, not a fashion accessory.

  • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I recall in one of the Kingsman movies...

    :::One of the plot points is that a good guy refuses to kill his dog as part of some initiation into the secret organization, but later goes on and does a bunch of imperialism.:::

    Tell me you value the lives of PoC less than dogs without telling me...

      • ChestRockwell [comrade/them, any]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Then flash'd the living Lightnings from her Eyes, And Screams of Horror rend th' affrighted Skies. Not louder Shrieks to pitying Heav'n are cast, When Husbands or when Lap-dogs breath their last

        From The Rape of the Lock

  • RonaldMcReagan [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    I had a Pomeranian and he was dope as hell; old lad left this mortal plain at 16

  • Ram_The_Manparts [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    A friend of mine has a couple of "girly dogs", and I love those little dumbasses.

  • Goadstool [he/him, comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Animal cruelty as a punchline in comedies makes me cringe 100% of the time, and generates a personal disgust towards the writers.

  • NKpop [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I love tiny yappy dogs :meow-tankie: I wish I could own several and train them to maul cops :no-dogs-no-masters:

  • Evilsandwichman [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    It doesn't always work; personally I hate dogs (just pets in general) and the attempt at tragedy just gets a lol and a cheer from me.

  • UmbraVivi [he/him, she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Throwback to Angel in Rent getting paid to kill a dog. The same Angel (who I'm not entirely sure whether they're supposed to be trans or a drag queen or a crossdresser idk) who is framed as the most wholesome and loving out of the entire cast. "Today 4 You" is entirely about that incident.

    Rent is a mess.