Review of Mean Creek (2004) by Yasmin U — 30 Sep 2007

Directed by: Jacob Aaron Estes.

Starring: Rory Culkin, Scott Mechlowicz, Ryan Kelley, Trevor Morgan, Josh Peck, Carly Schroeder.

"And speaking of dead....fathers, I just remembered why bonehead white-trash fucking donkey-dick Marty got so fucking freaked when I started talking about his "daddy". His Neanderthal, drunk dad, put a gun in his mouth and splattered his brains all over the wall. You know, I almost forgot that my mom told me that. She said, "His daddy splattered his brains all over the wall." I thought it was sad at first. But now....I like it....His daddy splattered his brains all over the wall....His daddy splattered his brains all over the wall....".

Mean Creek is a revelation and a complete change from the crap we are fed in films today and it just shows that we can always depend on independent films. I can't compare the films to others, but from what I have read, it certainly echoes films like Deliverance and Stand by Me. It rises in so many areas that other 'teenager dramas' fall, instead of being completely derivative, out of focus and underdeveloped, Mean Creek is so unexpectedly suspenseful, thoughtful and very well developed. You would think with the first hour being a build up to the certain event, but Jacob Aaron Estes focuses and builds on his characters, he makes them more than cliché as you would probably expect in a film with such a topic, he makes them whole, human and likable. He touches upon many true themes of teenage life, from bullying to moral decisions and he never lets up on making us feel for every one of these characters. A big surprise was acting, who would have thought that a film where its main characters average an age of around 17, could actually deliver very strong performances by every one of its young stars who all show major potential as brilliant actors/actresses in 10 years. I do have one slight problem with the film though, as soon as the suspense lets, we are introduced to the final act and everything seems very rushed and although I would have liked to have seen where things led, the sudden ending certainly fits the mood of the film.

Like I mentioned, although the film seems to rush the final 10 minutes and end so suddenly, the first 80 are surprisingly suspenseful and thoughtful and we are introduced to some brilliant little actors and some familiar faces. If Hollywood ever turns to complete shit, as least we know that we can believe in independent cinema and its brilliance. An Independent Gem.