MovieChat Forums > Jack the Bear (1993) Discussion > The Dexter character

The Dexter character

posted 12 years ago by indiewastelander
3 replies | jump to latest

I am aware he is not the main focus of the movie, but no one on this board has really talked about him. What an incredibly tragic character this was. His world was torn apart and his life circumstances were devastating. We have all known a boy like this. The haunting scene near the middle of the film where he comes to Jack's house for Halloween dressed in a Nazi uniform has always stayed with me. He takes to someone like Norman because he desperately wanted someone to pay attention to him, even if it was from someone that evil. The very last shot we see of him is especially heartbreaking. We see the little boy smoking a cigarette, and we know his life is headed in a very dark direction. It's very sad and disturbing.

[–] carpediemalready 10 years ago

I know. I felt very sad for Dexter. Poor little guy- emotionally and physically abused by his grandfather, abandoned by his mother and emotionally abandoned by his drug-addicted grandmother. I feel for him.

"We all go a little mad sometimes." - Norman Bates

[–] brightwhitehorses 9 years ago

It takes someone with a good heart to point that out. A lot of people gloss over or look the other way when a child needs help or starts down the wrong path. That's how many people like the Norman character start I believe.

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 9 years ago

The very last shot we see of him is especially heartbreaking. We see the little boy smoking a cigarette, and we know his life is headed in a very dark direction. It's very sad and disturbing.

I’ll have to watch for this scene as it escapes me.

Well-written and thought-provoking post, by the way. Makes me wonder how many people who go on to do terrible things were once children who simply wanted someone to pay attention to them.