Southern Comfort (1981)

The following AHA film review was compiled from archival information and documentation and may not reflect AHA’s current criteria for animal action review and rating procedures.

Southern Comfort features local Cajun residents in Louisiana killing wild boars. The locals slaughtered the pigs on a daily basis in order to feed their families and the production chose to film this act for their movie. AHA contacted a representative from the Louisiana Film Commission who was present during the filming of the scene in question. She stated that the animals were killed “humanely:” they were first shot in the head and then their throats are slit for bleeding.

Although no laws were violated and no animal trainers were involved in the making of this film, AHA objected to the pigs’ slaughter in the film and rated it Unacceptable.

The ongoing expansion of the AHA Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media has raised the standard of care for animal actors worldwide. In addition, technological advancements have created safe alternatives to risky action, enabling filmmakers to maintain their creative vision without compromising the welfare of animal actors. AHA continues to be a vigilant watchdog for animals in film and television and acknowledges the groundbreaking history of this program while expanding and refining procedures to reflect increased knowledge and new challenges.