Movies that contain animals as central characters are often for a younger audience. However, that is not always the case, and there are plenty of movies featuring animals that explore a range of different themes and emotions for the adult demographic. In this article, we’re going to take a look at three such movies and the roles of animals within them.
White Elephant (2021)
Elephants have featured prominently in the entertainment industry through the years. Programmes like Animal Planet have looked at how they mate and communicate in the wild. These shows have generated a lot of interest in the creatures, so much so that we can see their influence in other sectors and industries.
For example, these majestic animals have inspired artists and their creative pieces, such as Salvador Dalí and his incorporation of elephants into his famous artwork. Looking back to the entertainment industry, we can find games such as the fluffy favourites slot in the iGaming sector. The slot features elephant wilds that can give gamers free spins and merges the world of gaming and the animal kingdom.
White Elephant details the drama of poachers versus animal conservationists in Thailand. It’s an ongoing struggle that has been documented for years; another such example is the Ivory Game. While elephants often symbolise grace and majesty, the White Elephant presents the animal in a different way. The elephant is at the crux of the story and drives the plot on. The movie tells the tale of good versus evil and brings to light not just the struggles of elephants but also their gentle nature.
The Lobster (2015)
This movie is slightly different in that a lobster doesn’t feature until the later parts of it in what is a dark comedy made in a dystopian reality where people have 45 days to find a partner until they are turned into animals. This idea is threaded throughout the narrative. Colin Farrell is the main character, and it is he who chooses to be a lobster.
In the slightly dark movie, the director uses the plot to examine society’s view on relationships and the pressure that it places on people to find companionship. It is obviously an absurd concept in itself, but being transformed into an animal as punishment is an effective metaphor and makes this movie an interesting watch.
War Horse (2011)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, War Horse follows the journey of Joey, a service horse during World War I. The film explores several themes, including those of loyalty and sacrifice. Joey epitomises these traits in the time of war and is seen as a symbol of hope amongst the chaos and despair. Taking in over $170 million at the box office, the story has returned to stage in Britain. It promises to be a success, as the movie brought great acclaim for its storytelling as well as the portrayal of an animal during wartime, an aspect that is sometimes forgotten.
Source: Unsplash
These movies represent how animals can be the inspiration behind a story. In the case of two, they played a central role, while in the other, the animal was a metaphor for something more. Nevertheless, all three are interesting stories and make an interesting watch for any movie/animal lovers.