Parents' Guide to Tyrannosaur

Parents need to know that Tyrannosaur is a powerful but brutal British drama with adult themes around alcoholism, domestic abuse, animal cruelty, and grief. At the heart of the movie are two strangers, Joseph (Peter Mullan) and Hannah (Olivia Colman), who form a friendship that helps give them some escape from their traumatic lives. Joseph is capable of horrible behavior. In the opening scene, he kicks his dog to death. But through the compassionate Hannah, who is patient and understanding, he shows a kinder side. Hannah is in an abusive marriage to James (Eddie Marsan). There is a distressing rape scene between the two -- which Hannah later describes in graphic detail -- and another scene where James urinates on a sleeping Hannah. A second dog is also killed -- its decapitated head is seen on the killer's bloody lap. The language is strong and frequent, with several uses of "c--t" and "f--k," as well as the racist slur "Paki." A number of characters, including Joseph, are living with alcoholism. As such there is much drinking throughout the film. But it's never glorified with the film examining the illness in a striking, authentic way that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the disease.

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