Review of Hello Herman (2012) by Bryan W — 14 Jan 2013

Hello Herman looks at the disturbing topic of school shootings as seen recently in Connecticut last month and even today at Taft High School in California. The film deals with the issues of youth violence, bullying and gun control.

But the audience sees a different perspective from what that they normally get when they watch such events unfolding on the news: Journalist, Lax Morales, interviews the shooter, Herman Howards, and finds out why he made his fateful decision.

Flashbacks and connections with Lax's past history are effective tools through which the audience gets involved with the characters and feels their emotions. The issues of angry youth, gun control and school shootings are touchy subjects that have repetitively made headlines over the past few years and Hello Herman tries to examine the explosive subject and offer an alternative viewpoint on the matter.

The violence, the massacre and hearing Herman's side of the story during interviews are a little extreme but the film also tries to offer a solution. By hearing Herman's side, the audience sees that Herman is a disturbed boy resulting from bullying and video game violence.

Dealing with these problems can be a solution to some of these violent events but the greater need is to recognize the individual's underlying problems before they erupt into another massacre. Director Michelle Danner does a great job in directing this film and brings a unique take on the subject matter.

In light of current events, Hello Herman is a compelling film that I would recommend for all to see.