MovieChat Forums > Empire Falls (2005) Discussion > John Voss's dog?

John Voss's dog?

posted 12 years ago by SirenX
10 replies | jump to latest

Was John abusing that dog he had tied up outside his grandmother's house? I was wondering this because in that one scene after he got out of Tick's ex-boyfriend's car you see Voss go up to the dog, the dog flinches back like he's scared, and then the camera goes back to the view of the front of the house but we can hear the dog yelp. I've seen this movie 100 times but never noticed it before until I rewatched the film last night. And then I thought I heard at the end when the cops were searching his house that they found a bunch of dead dogs buried in the yard. It just kind of seemed like maybe he was taking his anger out on the dogs maybe. Anyone know what was going on?

[–] melissa_bizz 12 years ago

Yes, he was taking his anger out on the dogs.

"I can't sit down. These aren't my pants."

[–] gaelmarconi12 12 years ago

I am watching this movie now and that scene disturbed me as I love dogs and animals. Later when the cops show up, you overhear (with subtitles) a cop say "there are three dogs buried over here."

So the John charachter is very disturbed. I wanted to kill him for hurting that poor dog tied up in the yard all day. I HATE it when Hollywood shows this crap...it gives the wrong message to society about animals.

[–] ckarinab 11 years ago

Intersting that you hate John Voss but not the bullies that tortured him ( a human being).

~To read makes our speaking English good.~

[–] gaelmarconi12 11 years ago

It was completely wrong of people to bully John Voss. Do not misconstrue me. I have been bullied myself as a kid many times. DO NOT PREACH TO ME ABOUT BULLYING.

But, here is the difference between humans and dogs--which is a no brainer. Humans can defend themselves and have the power to change, domestic animals do not have this option. I advocate for animal rights and if I ever come across ignorant types that refuse to understand the "torture", physical abuse and killings of dogs and cats go through, I will give them information.

If you still don't beelive me, check the dogmeat trade in China and South Korea on Youtube...check also "gas chambers" on Youtube for animals..DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTED!!!

Yeah John Voss was a human,, this tells me you put humans above animals.I hope your'e not one of those bible thumbers because if you are, I will rip you a new ***hole.

[–] synd05 11 years ago

I am agnostic AND A bully victim as well. I am sure ckarina is not saying the dogs deserved what happened by any means but the entire town failed that kid. Especially the teachers. That scene where that kid is alone in the woods and crying breaks my heart as a woman and as a mother because all I wanted to do at that point was crawl into the TV and hug that poor kid. I love animals even the ones no one think are cute but for me the real issue was that kid and the fact that he had no one. No one. I only got through my high school years because I had my mom to hug me when I got home. SO DON'T GET ME STARTED. LOL that was funny.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ckarinab 11 years ago

gaelmarconi calm down. I get it you like dogs. I like people and animals. I also love movies like this that make you think about people and their psychology.
I'm not saying what John did was right by any means and I am not excusing any of the wrong he did. He was a weak minded child but a child nonetheless, who as synd05 said had no one. I am not trying to change your views I am simply giving you my opinion and nothing you say or show me will make me favor animals over human beings.
I could type and argue every single point you make but I won't Like the fact that yes there were three dogs that they found but again that kid had no family left to go to. I rescued three dogs that live with me and my family but if you give me a choice to rescue my dogs or my son from a burnign house I'm sorry but i choose my kid.
Maybe you should go to youtube RIGHT NOW and type people being gassed. You see what I mean?I could make a million different arguments to my cause as can you. It's not about who is right or wrong This movie is about making you think. The author of this book wrote that this disturbed boy tortured and murdered these animals because something is wrong in our society. We put value on things rather than people. I don't subscribe to any religion, never have but I do know that nothing is ever black and white.

and Synd that was exactly what I meant I kept thinking that this poor kid needed help and no one noticed. It's sad and depressing.

Gael- my son was picked on for years at his grammer school by not only his peers but by his teachers as well but I pulled him out of that school and placed him at a differnt school where he became confidant with himself and again John Voss didn't have that.

[–] gaelmarconi12 11 years ago

ckarinab,

The correct answer to saving which one from a burning building is 'both'. You save both the kid and the animal.

I don't need to go to YouTube and look at people being gassed. I already know full well about the Holocaust.

The very fact that you told me you will never place animals over people..well, you gave yourself away there.

[–] synd05 11 years ago

I am not sticking up for ckarina.
I bet you are one of those vegetarians but we are carnivores we as human beings kill in order to survive.

I thought this thread was about why he killed the dogs not about attacking other peoples opinions. Live long and prosper my friend.

~There are none so blind as those who will not see~

[–] brussels_sprout13 11 years ago

The scene was the writer's clue to what was to come. It is widely known that most serial killers and murderers have a history of animal abuse long before they kill.

"You shot me... I can't believe you just shot me!" -- Meg Masters