independent film   based on novel   farm   great depression   tragedy   killing a dog   animal in title   accidental killing   killing   tragic female character   california   abusive husband   rural setting   nameless character   loneliness   actor director   mercy killing   tragic male character   seductress   title based on poem   mentally impaired   man child   woman's neck broken   character driven   ranch hand   sexually aggressive woman   temptress   country life   directed by an actor   lonely woman   migrant worker   unhappy wife   death of a dog   friendship   dog   tragic event