Review of Thumbsucker (2005) by Jackie B — 30 Mar 2010

Another completely delicious story of an eccentric teenager growing up in the ever juicy suburbia. Honestly the hidden sickness of American upper middle class is a source of endless drama, with "Thumbsucker" utilizing the genre's strengts to their fullest.

You can sum this movie up by saying that it's a realistic, non sci-fi version of "Donnie Darko". Don't get me wrong, the two films handle many different themes and are both very unique and stand on their own. But they both analyze the teenaged existence in the same, dead serious and dark way, leaving no room for condescending viewpoints or simplified psychological models. It is a rare instance when a young character's inner layers are exposed this honestly and in a way that feels authentic and doesn't play either the patronizing or the comic relief card.