Movie Review: Thor
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Thor
Monitored: Outstanding “No Animals Were Harmed”®
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After being cast out of his realm, Thor the warrior must learn to live on Earth with the humans.
Featured Animal Action
All grounds were inspected for hazards, and sets were closed off and secured. Cast and crew members were introduced to the animals and instructed on their proper handling. All of the costumes that the horses wore were comfortable and lightweight. The weapons used were props made of rubber.
All horseback riders were stunt riders or experienced actors who were skilled at riding, mounting and dismounting. All running/galloping scenes were well-choreographed, and actors used caution while on and near animals. For the scene where Odin (Anthony Hopkins) is seen riding a horse, an off-screen trainer brought the horse on stage, which had thick rubber mats leading up to a sand-covered area that was made comfortable for the horse to work in. The off-screen trainer cued the horse to rear, and a light would go off in the background to reflect against the horse and look as if lightning had struck nearby. Explosions and fireballs were special effects created by computer-generated imaging (CGI). For all other scenes where horses are shown galloping on the bridge, the action was shot on a beach. The sand on the beach was firm and packed, and the horses wore specially made shoes that helped them easily maneuver through the sand. Traffic cones and sandbags were also used to help mark the pathway for the horses. With the help of special effects added later in post-production, the beach became the rainbow bridge that led the actors from one realm into the other.
For the pet store scene, the animals were placed in their cages right before filming began. All cages were inspected for the animal’s safety and were disinfected prior to placing the animals inside. The animals were only in their cages for a brief moment, and were retrieved after filming.
American Humane Association also monitored action involving ravens, which was cut from the theatrical release.
American Humane Association’s On-Set Oversight
