Home › What We Do › Certify Humane Treatment › No Animals Were Harmed™ › Certified Productions › Thumbsucker
Thumbsucker (2005)
Based on Walter Kirn’s novel of the same name, 17-year-old Justin Cobb has the “King Kong of oral obsessions”: thumb sucking. Aided by his extremely dysfunctional family and a New Age orthodontist played by Keanu Reeves, Justin tries several substitutes that eliminate the superficial problem but fail to deal with his inner anxieties. Though they all strive desperately to be “normal”, the Cobb family eventually realizes that Justin’s idiosyncrasy is what makes them deeply human.
Animal actors in this production were monitored through American Humane Society’s No Animals Were Harmed™ program.
Thumbsucker
Detailed Animal Action Report
As Dr. Perry Lyman begins to hypnotize Justin, an image appears of a deer nibbling grass in the woods. Crew members erected a three-foot-high plastic fence around the filming area and the trainer placed the deer on its mark inside. After scattering some deer food around, the trainer stood just out of frame while the cameras rolled. The Safety Representative on the set reminded all crew to stay very quiet during this scene to avoid distracting the deer. The deer had come from a petting zoo and was not afraid of people or noise.
Share
Release Date: September 16, 2005
Certification: Modified Certification
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Recently Certified Productions
We watch over animals in all types of productions – from independent films to streaming series to international blockbusters that bring millions of people to theaters. Explore our complete directory of Certified Productions
We make a difference in the lives of all animals.
American Humane Society rescues, cares for and protects animals in need.
