MovieChat Forums > Frailty (2002) Discussion > Multiple Clues to Fenton (spoilers)

Multiple Clues to Fenton (spoilers)

posted 11 years ago by theseersees
11 replies | jump to latest

Seems a lot are confused by the "unreliable narrator" format of the film.
The voiceover claiming to be Fenton is Aaron guessing at his brother's thoughts and spinning a convincing story for Doyle.

Here are some clues to Fenton always being a demon:
-Refusal to sing "that stupid song", a Christian song.
-utterly emotionless, even guilty reaction to Dad's proclamation, watch his face during that scene
-Adam and Dad both see the visions, Fenton does not.
-lack of emotion during Sheriffs murder.

Ultimately, we know nothing of Fentons true thoughts, only his actions and reactions. Demons are real, and Fenton was always a demon.

Great flick.

[–] AceRoccola 10 years ago

Those aren't so much clues as they are poor excuses.

I know it's just a film and all, but this is the sort of logic that really does lead fanatical believers to dehumanize (or demonize) others for totally innocuous things (such as not wanting to sing a song, or not claiming to be part of some special chosen group that talks to angels and has "visions").

[–] damastro 10 years ago

Those aren't so much clues as they are poor excuses.

Those points aren't reason enough to conclude that Fenton is a demon. They are signs of what we are going to be shown by the end of the movie: Fenton implies that he knows himself to be a demon (which I suppose you could chalk up to delusion induced by his crazy father), and Adam seems to actually be under supernatural protection (the video tape is obscured, and an FBI agent who has met him before looks him in the face and doesn't recognize him).

It is unsettling to think that anyone would use such thin evidence as the OP gave to conclude that an actual person were a demon, but I don't think that argument was made.

I know it's just a film and all, but this is the sort of logic that really does lead fanatical believers to dehumanize (or demonize) others for totally innocuous things (such as not wanting to sing a song, or not claiming to be part of some special chosen group that talks to angels and has "visions").

I can understand you not wanting to get past your distaste, in that this movie does get pretty close to portraying the actual worldview of religious fanatics. If you can emotionally distance a bit, and consider the possibility that the movie doesn't do much to legitimize that kind of thinking, it is quite an interesting movie. We are presented with what appears to be a psychotic man in a realistic world dragging his children into a killing spree, but it turns out the world he lives in is a fanatic's fantasy. A horrifying twist on the "is he crazy or not?" trope.

I think we're stuck with delusional psychotics and religious fanatics who mean to do us harm, and I don't think the movie will make the problem worse. But it's okay if people are disgusted by what the movie is doing.

[–] reko-716-854614 10 years ago

Refusal to sing "that stupid song", a Christian song.

I think a kid who doesn't like a Christian song doesn't mean automatically he is a demon.

-utterly emotionless, even guilty reaction to Dad's proclamation, watch his face during that scene

I don't remember which part of the scene ? and what guilt did Fenton do that it should make him a guilty reaction ?

-Adam and Dad both see the visions, Fenton does not.

I think a kid who doesn't see the visions doesn't make him automatically he is a demon.

-lack of emotion during Sheriffs murder.

Fenton has seen his father do a killing before.

Here are some clues to Fenton always being a demon:
-Refusal to sing "that stupid song", a Christian song.
-utterly emotionless, even guilty reaction to Dad's proclamation, watch his face during that scene
-Adam and Dad both see the visions, Fenton does not.
-lack of emotion during Sheriffs murder.

maybe the movie wants to lead the audience to think like that ?

beautiful fossil coral
http://www.indonesiangems.com/

[–] Chromwagner 10 years ago

These are characteristics of sane people.

[–] king_of_bob 10 years ago

He NEVER says "I love you" despite his father saying it to the brothers multiple times.

The movie is full of subtle clues.

The new home of Welcome to Planet Bob: http://kingofbob.blogspot.ca/

[–] Just-Another-Atheist 10 years ago

Calling a Christian song stupid is not evidence of being a demon.

Emotionless to his dads proclamation? How did you expect him to react?

Adam and his Dad seeing the visions and him not? Ever think that it could be because they MIGHT have been crazy?

"-lack of emotion during Sheriffs murder. "
I believe he yelled" no! "in that scene.

[–] Callahan09 9 years ago

The problem is that the movie explicitly tells us that they're NOT crazy and that Fenton WAS a demon. Remember when Adam is supernaturally protected from being caught? The video cameras are obscured, hiding his identity. Nobody can remember seeing him. Nobody recognizes him when they see him again. The movie is telling us that God is protecting him so he can do God's will. So when we are ultimately shown the visions, we are being told that those are real. When we are told that Fenton was a demon and had to be destroyed, we're being told that as THE TRUTH.

The movie, in its ultimate twist, decided that the dad and Adam were NOT crazy at all, and that Fenton really and all the others that were killed really were demons who God wanted them to destroy.

[–] dceuera 8 years ago

I know in this movie something supernatural is helping out but no where is there proof God has anything to do with it. The father killed an innocent man the sheriff. It could have just as easily been the devil tricking them all maybe he wanted the souls of the sinners who knows.

[–] sierramoon7 9 years ago

Nope. I just rewatched the scene. As the dad kills the sheriff, he is silent and his face is blank. No emotion whatsoever. He slowly backs up until his face is shrouded in darkness.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dceuera 8 years ago

We don't know his actions because like his thoughts they are told by his brother. The film is completely *beep* it seemed that they where calling people who did evil things demons, fenton never did anything evil. The dad killed an innocent man even though he was God's hand. It just doesn't make any sense.