Tyrannosaur (2011)

Beneath us, each and every one, is the massive fossil of a Tyrannosaur. But it is not made of stone or bone, rather something beyond the elemental chart: rage.

Tyrannosaur analyzes the cycle of rage through a range of manifestations seen across our three main characters: Joseph, Hannah and James. Joseph lives listlessly and violently and is seen killing his own dog less than two minutes into the film. Hannah is a battered spouse whose trauma causes anger to grow in her like a cancer. James, the abuser, alternates between supposed ideal behaviour and disgusting treatment of Hannah. James’ actions are extreme, threatening her, assaulting her, and finding ways to defile her on multiple occasions.

Each follows the same pattern of experiencing a lack of control, lashing out, and then seeking atonement. Hannah finds her atonement in religion, James through appealing to Hannah as a source of forgiveness, whereas Joseph experiences periods of brief pensiveness marked by facial expressions of regret. In all cases, most strongly Joseph and James, the rage is highly recurrent.

But further truth is revealed when it is Hannah, not Joseph, who seeks violent resolution to her situation. It is the height of her rage and the result of years of various forms of abuse, which she enumerates with uncomfortable detail.

Joseph, too, reaches a breaking point. After one of Joseph's only friends, a young neighborhood boy, is bitten in the face by a vicious pitbull, Joseph proceeds to kill and behead the dog.

But the rage and violence aren’t entirely senseless or aimless. Joseph throughout the film is working to better himself, and these efforts continue at the film's conclusion as he lessens his drinking and leaves flowers at his wife's grave. Hope is available for Hannah as well, as she is seen still wearing her crucifix at the end of the film.

Offering heavy material and some truly fascinating observations about the cycle of rage, Tyrannosaur is a top-notch drama and a worthy watch.