MovieChat Forums > Bernie (2012) Discussion > Head on collision

Head on collision

posted 11 years ago by popzeus78
19 replies | jump to latest

What was up with that car accident scene with the high school students? That scene just seemed a little too strange and surreal compared to the rest of the film. I wasn't quite sure if it was supposed to be something that really happened or if it was a staged "performance" by the school to teach the kids about safe driving.

First off, if it were real would they really let the students stand around the horrible scene like that? And would Bernie and his fellow morticians be the ones to remove the bodies from the scene instead of proper authority figures? But the oddest thing was the grim reaper walking around in the background. The whole thing just seemed a little too absurd compared to the rest of the film. And don't get me wrong, I don't mind absurdity or surrealism in film. It just seemed a bit out of place here.

Great movie, though. I highly enjoyed it. Especially Jack Black's performance.

[–] junebug212 11 years ago

It was a dark comedy. We all got to have some fun making it. Yes it was a staged scene showing how Bernie volunteered in the community. If u notice Richard Linklater was even in that scene running.

[–] popzeus78 11 years ago

Thanks for the reply. I must have missed them saying it was staged, that makes a lot of sense. Yes, it was a very dark comedy, my favorite kind.

So, you were involved in making the film? Cool!

[–] KMPINTJ 10 years ago

Staged--The real clue was the "grim reaper" who walks past in the background :)

At first, I thought it was real, but then as it went on, I saw the reaper and remembered hearing that lots of schools do this kind of thing to "teach a lesson" to the kids, and was waiting for something to happen like that boy who got picked up off the ground start laughing.

[–] ann_outsider 11 years ago

Didn't you catch the Grim Reaper walking around?

[–] apriz1971 11 years ago

This was a staged performance, going for a "scared straight" effect. When I was in high school (80s), in our driver's ed classes, we were shown gory films featuring teens "dying" in horrible crashes with the intent of making us more careful drivers.

[–] H-e-L-L-i-F-i-E-D 11 years ago

We can hear Bernie tell the kid on the stretcher to stop smiling. He was showing teeth if you go back and watch.

[–] jachandler333 11 years ago

That was to show that is is dangerous to drink and drive. They do that around here, right before Prom and Homecoming and times that teens might be drinking. It's kind of like those Halloween horror houses....you show the awful effects of drinking and driving. It's like a little morality play. The kids come out and see their friends "dead", and they hopefully don't drink and drive. The scene was to show that Bernie was always willing to do whatever he needed to do to help the town of Carthage. In this case, he participated in this little "play" to help keep teens from drinking and driving.

Be careful who you hate, it could be someone you love.

[–] Whiskyfeet 8 years ago

They still do these types of things in 2016? I would have assumed that would be a big "no no" because it could potentially traumatize kids or some bullsh_t.

2016 is truly the worst.

[–] HeatherPS 11 years ago

They did something similar to that at my high school. It's to show teens what could happen if you drink and drive.

[–] fluffchop 10 years ago

You can't drink till 21 in America. Anyway the problem isn't underage drinking, it's that the driving age is too low. Again from the perspective of another country it's so clearly the case.

---
Scientologists love Narnia, there's plenty of closet space.

[–] Thought_Criminal_J62377 10 years ago

You can't drink till 21 in America. Anyway the problem isn't underage drinking, it's that the driving age is too low. Again from the perspective of another country it's so clearly the case.

You can drink at any age in the U.S., just not legally. I'm not sure what your point is, but there are plenty of ways for kids to acquire alcohol, so it's sensible to show kids the dangers of drinking and driving. Are you from another country where you can clearly see what America's problem is in reference to driving and accidents?

Yea, Tho I Walk Thru The Valley Of The Shadow Of Political Correctness...🇺🇸

[–] lightkeeper-1 9 years ago

"Texting" while driving is equally a leading cause of death. "Texting" while driving is equally a leading cause of death.

[–] gingerpeach0614 9 years ago

They did this in my high school before dances and stuff so we'd be afraid to drink & drive.

[–] lvince-33387 9 years ago

I thought that scene was strange too, until I realized it was "staged" to teach the kids the reality of what can happen as a result to drinking/texting and reckless driving. I missed the grim reaper the first time I saw it.

One of the funniest parts was the interview with the lady who said " anyone in town would have killed Marjorie for $5.00 ". 

I read in the Longview newspaper on Oct 27 that there would be a new sentencing trial for Bernie in Jan. and they have moved the trial to Henderson this time. There has been a claim that suppressed memories of childhood sexual molestation prompted the outburst under which he shot Mrs. Nugent.
He has served 15 years of a life sentence but has been out for about a year, living in a garage apartment behind the home of director Richard Linklater.

It will be interesting to see what the outcome of the new trial is. Jack Black did such a great job portraying Bernie in the movie.

[–] ronnoco28 9 years ago

It was a great scene, both funny and authentic. It totally captured the mood of these staged high school safe-driving assemblies, which take place just before the prom in many high schools around America. They are meant to impress the schoolkids with a message promoting safe driving, but sometimes they're also kind of melodramatic and unintentionally funny.

As the "dead" teenager is loaded into the ambulance, Bernie delivers his monologue about his dying "way too young", and the kid tries to suppress a laugh........ Nice scene. Very much like these Spring school outdoor assemblies actually are.

[–] lvince-33387 9 years ago

You know teens that age laugh at anything. Even though it was a serious subject, some of them were having fun with it. I'm glad the schools present those safe driving assemblies. Kids need to be reminded OFTEN about the dangers of drinking/texting/wreckless driving. Three teens in this area were killed last night because of that very thing. It could have so easily been avoided. It's tragic.
As for Jack Black in the movie, I think he was the perfect actor to play that part.