Review of Mean Creek (2004) by Shawn W — 20 Sep 2009

Teen life isn't One Tree Hill. There's always something deeper occasionally sinister beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary kids. Some lash out, some keep it in and let it eat them alive. George is a fat kid with learning difficulties who eats alone in the cafeteria and aggressively bullies every other kid around him, especially Sam (Rory Culkin).

When enough is enough Sam gets help from his older brother's pal to set George up for a prank that will teach him a lesson. They go on a mock birthday boating trip with the intention of humiliating him. Trouble is, when George has people being nice to him he's very, very nice and quiet back to them. He has no clue of what their planning. Sam and his brother want to back down but the leader Marty won't leave it alone.

George is like the spawn of Satan and the son of God. His unpredictable manner throw the gang into a state of confusion over what to do with him. But he pushes his luck to far and ends up dead. Did he deserve it or not? It's entirely up to you.

Mean Creek is a sombre morality play that is as gritty and realistic as anything you'll witness in real life. Director Jacob Aaron Estes draws faultless performances out of his young cast, so much so that even when they are not speaking you can read what they are thinking in their eyes. He atmospherically captures the Pacific-Northwest countryside and pulls you into a engaging story without making it seem overbearing.

It's ironic that a realistic teen movie would be rated R instead of PG-13 but if you're a concerned parent worried whether or not this is suitable for younger kids then I would suggest you give it a shot. There's nothing suggestive about it and it might actually help your kids understand bullies rather than hating them. Either way, this is a great film for anyone who enjoys good acting and an involving story.