An American Crime (2007)
I don’t really remember why I watched An American Crime, since nothing about it interested or intrigued me. I don’t usually like True Crime stories, I’m not a Catherine Keener fan, I don’t like excessive violent, and I don’t seek out movies about children. I can only imagine that many years ago, fresh off her Juno fame, I wanted to see more of what Ellen Page had to offer. Thankfully, I was able to fast-forward much of this movie so I wasn’t scarred for life. If you’re coming across this movie for the same reason I did, and no other, rent something else this weekend.
Ellen Page and her handicapped sister, Hayley McFarland, are carted off to Catherine Keener’s house when their parents don’t have the time and resources to raise them. Catherine’s house is full of children, so it seems like Ellen and Hayley will be well taken care of, but given the title of the movie, you can guess that’s not the case. Soon, Catherine turns into a monster and tortures Ellen in the basement. There are some very disturbing scenes that will probably turn your stomach, especially if you are sensitive about children. Personally, I don’t like movies that glorify disturbing crimes in order to “teach a lesson” to the audience. Normal people would never dream of torturing a child as this movie portrays, and trying to scare them with the “this could happen right next door” argument seems a bit extreme. I don’t think a movie like this should have been made, and the parents of the young child actors shouldn’t have let their sons and daughters contribute to it.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to graphic violence and upsetting scenes involving children, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More James Franco movies here!
Ellen Page and her handicapped sister, Hayley McFarland, are carted off to Catherine Keener’s house when their parents don’t have the time and resources to raise them. Catherine’s house is full of children, so it seems like Ellen and Hayley will be well taken care of, but given the title of the movie, you can guess that’s not the case. Soon, Catherine turns into a monster and tortures Ellen in the basement. There are some very disturbing scenes that will probably turn your stomach, especially if you are sensitive about children. Personally, I don’t like movies that glorify disturbing crimes in order to “teach a lesson” to the audience. Normal people would never dream of torturing a child as this movie portrays, and trying to scare them with the “this could happen right next door” argument seems a bit extreme. I don’t think a movie like this should have been made, and the parents of the young child actors shouldn’t have let their sons and daughters contribute to it.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to graphic violence and upsetting scenes involving children, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More James Franco movies here!