f64154c0_ties_in_Malick_s_Films__Part_I__Badlands
[Image] ANIMALS: Dogs [Days of Heaven] Dogs are shown swimming with people in the pond near the Farmer's house. There's a dog running by a farm worker in one scene. A dog follows the Farmer and Abby as they leave in a car for their honeymoon. A dog plays in the snow with Abby and Linda. A dog runs beside the Farmer in a scene during the locust invasion. Bill says at one point to Linda: "I saved your life today. I killed a shit-eatin' dog." [The Thin Red Line] When the American patrol boat first appears (prompting AWOL soldiers Witt and Hoke to run away), Melanesian children are seen running along the beach with a dog. A dog, possibly a mastiff, accompanies the American soldiers while the company is having their break off the line. Dogs can be seen eating the bodies of dead Japanese soldiers in one scene. A character says in voice over,"War don't enoble men; it turns them into dogs." [Badlands] 
The film opens with shot of Holly sitting on bed with her dog. A dead dog lies by a trash can near the beginning of the film (and Kit tells Cato, "I'll give you a dollar to eat this Collie"). Kit throws a ball to another dog he sees on his garbage route. Holly's dad shoots her dog. The man at the junkyard where Kit throws his keys in the barrel of oil tells Kit, "I've got my dog" when Kit threatens to fight him. Holly sees a dog while she's out walking in the rich man's yard.
Similarities in Malick's Films, Part I
Badlands