MovieChat Forums > Frailty (2002) Discussion > For those who say this movie shouldn't b...

For those who say this movie shouldn't be considered offensive

posted 10 years ago by Flabulous
5 replies | jump to latest

First, the story in once sentence:

Intelligent drama about a boy trapped and powerless as a murder-accessory to his mentally ill, devil-believing, murderous father then morphs into absurd thriller about hunting and killing 'real' demons, implying that the boy's bloodthirsty father is a hero, not a mentally-deranged serial killer.

Ew.

This wouldn't be a problem if it was about vampires or zombies, because these character don't belong to a larger belief system that suggest these characters could be real. Instead, millions of Americans believe in some or all parts of Christian theology, which includes the devil and his demons.

To be clear, I'm not offended by this movie. I'm British and as a far less pious country, we don't have this problem politically. As you can see in public debates, devil-believers are laughed at and mocked. Thank godness. But the justification for claiming offense - using the rationale I suggest above - is entirely appropriate for the American public. Fact and fiction, where blurred in the eyes of the public, must be delicately handled. This film fails to factor that.

[–] robble-1 9 years ago

I think there can be different interpretations of the movie. I am a Christian and I am not offended but do find the premise of demon hunters ridiculous. It's not that I don't believe in a spirit world, but there is a verse in the Bible that clearly says that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood. But theology aside, theories my sister and I discussed about the world within this movie:
1) Face value: dad was right and he was killing demons. I think this kind of cheapens the story but I guess it could be considered a twist.
2) our favorite crazy theory: dad was right but HE was demonic and a crazy murderer. It was the son later played by Matthew McConaughey who could actually see demons and rightly ended his dad's reign of terror.
3) reality: dad is psychotic and his son inherited his father's madness either from genetics or environment.

[–] dceuera 8 years ago

We don't wrestle against flesh and blood lmao wtf shut up fool.

[–] denise1234 9 years ago

Flabulous^

2011 UK National Census: 60% self-identified as Christian.

If, as you say 'devil believers' (whatever that means: is that supposed to mean 'Christians' or 'Satanists' or the Buddhist 'Mara' or the Iblis? or what?) are openly 'laughed at and mocked' in 'public debates' in the UK, does that public mockery and ridicule include all religions that include a 'devil' in their doctrines?

And, how is 'the justification for claiming offense' ya da ya da, somehow 'entirely appropriate for the American public'?

That is quite the overgeneralization ~

BTW: I was not 'offended' by this movie.

While a person may be able to 'offend' me, a movie that I watch cannot. There could be themes or scenes I might find offensive, but I personally won't BE offended.

Although I wouldn't rate this movie as great, I enjoyed the story and the performances.

Peace Out ~

"Much communication in a motion, without conversation or a notion"

[–] dceuera 8 years ago

imo as a non believer i cant understand how you can pick or choose what to believe, you are either all in or you're out.

[–] Flabulous 8 years ago

It's probably because you are familiar with logical reasoning. Cherry picking is all part of the confirmation bias, which means to reason backwards - starting with the conclusion (that, say, the devil is real) and finding scriptural reasons to support it.