A few weeks ago I
reviewed a horror classic, 1979’s “The Omen.” I was upset when I found it fell
short from the memories I had of the much praised film. Though the film didn’t
quite hold up to today’s standards I praised it for the story. If you missed
that column here’s the nutshell premise of “The Omen”: A couple is shocked to
discover their child is none other than the son of Satan himself. Chaos ensues.
This week I found a more
modern take on a similar story in 2011’s “We need to talk about Kevin.” Though
any supernatural trappings are absent from this film what is presented on
screen is a far more horrific and terrifying manifestation of what can only
considered evil in the form of a young child.
“We need to talk about
Kevin” stars Tilda Swinton as Eva, the wife of John C. Reilly’s Franklin and
mother of Kevin (portrayed by three actors varying from toddler to teen; Rock
Duer, Jasper Newell, and Ezra Miller.)
From Kevin’s birth we see
Eva stricken with a bout of post partum depression. As her son grows we see
there is a strange gap of love between mother and son. Eva blames herself for
this inadequacy of motherhood but soon it becomes clear Kevin is not very
loveable at all in the first place.
Kevin’s faults are
harmless at first. His late or reluctance in potty training is clearly not the
mark of a bad seed. But as the story progresses we see Kevin is not just a
stubborn child but a maliciously manipulative child. Husband Franklin sees none
of this behavior as Kevin reserves his heinous acts for his mother alone.
Eventually, as Kevin
ages, his attitude and vile boils to new levels. The child’s acts of rebellion
become violent and treacherous. This is all exacerbated by the introduction of
a new child between Eva and Franklin, Celia (Ashley Gerasimovich).
The story is told through
Eva’s point of view and it’s told in a jarring non-chronological way. The film
begins near the end and colorful yet confusing flashbacks stutter-step us
through the story. I found the film almost too distracting in its curious
narration to complete until about a third of the way in. Thankfully the story
began to progress more logically with only the occasional flash-forwards to
modern day as the meat of the tale unfolded.
Tilda Swinton held the
role well, however and cleverly kept me wondering what had happened in her life
that had reduced her to the state we first see her in at the film’s opening. As
the movie settled down and the truth of the story began in a more traditional
manner she was believable as a mother in an impossible situation.
Of the children cast as
Kevin the teenaged Ezra Miller gets the most grit out of the role. He does what
he’s supposed to do and he does it terrifyingly well. Miller is a modern-day
Eddie Hascall to his father and a super-charged sadistic child when alone with
his mother. Only Eva knows the depths of his depravity.
I understand director
Lynne Ramsay’s goal to assemble the film in such a twisted mix-mash way. Much
more tension is generated by the mystery presented at the film’s beginning than
if the story had just progressed from beginning, middle to the tragic end.
However it was rather uncomfortable to watch. The story and the acting do pay
off and it’s worth it to stick with the film through to the end.
The film strikes a
peculiar place in that it ranks up amongst the must-see films of the day,
however due to it’s peculiar filmmaking or perhaps the subject matter itself, I
feel I don’t need to see this movie ever again. Nonetheless, as a member of the
horrible children genre of horror movies “Kevin” out scares “The Omen” and is
certainly more bad than “The Bad Seed.” As the Halloween scare season comes to
a close I recommend the film. Young Kevin is certainly a child to talk about.
We Need to Talk About
Kevin (2011)
 |
| 3 out of 5 Ominous sounding sprinklers |
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Tilda Swinton,
John C. Reilly and Ezra Miller
Rated R for disturbing
violence and behavior, some sexuality and language.
Runtime: 112 Minutes
No comments:
Post a Comment