In a working-class part of the city of Leeds in northern England, a man in the grip of an alcoholic rage beats a dog to death. This is just one of many harrowing moments in "Tyrannosaur."
Directed by British actor turned filmmaker Paddy Considine, "Tyrannosaur" is a feature debut that crash-lands into the senses and burns up with a vengeance. Watching this tale of three people locked in violence and misery, you find yourself gasping for a bit of air, a little respite, anything to get away. One thing's for sure: This relentless, riveting movie certainly catches the attention.
The Japanese title, "Shishyuki," refers to life's autumn period, when middle-agers are prone to experience anxiety and confusion without fully knowing why. This doesn't come remotely close to describing the black, poisonous emotions plaguing the adults in "Tyrannosaur." There is, perhaps, the thinnest sliver of a lining among the slate-gray clouds — but it takes a lot of looking to find it.