MovieChat Forums > A Monster Calls (2017) Discussion > The Bully

The Bully

posted 8 years ago by vhavnal
7 replies | jump to latest

..was there an unintended gay vibe to him? ..he kept saying that whenever he turned around, Connor would be looking at him and he did not like it, but then, why did he keep turning around? and everytime Connor was near him or he was in the picture, it felt odd.... You know just like 10 year old girls when they like a boy, they punch them or bully them...found it odd..infact during the Canteen scene just before he said that you are invisible to me, it felt like he was leaning in to kiss Connor...I found every scene with the bully odd, maybe it was just me...

 Life is a joke, but atleast its a good one.

[–] ispamforfood 8 years ago

It's really hard to tell, since we don't know any of the bully's back story... But I mean, experiencing bullying first hand, they really do seem "in love" with their victims in a way... They get a sick satisfaction from having control over their prey, and causing them pain... It's "pleasure".... and some might posit that pleasure is innately sexual. I'm not sure if I'd go that far, but it's really up to you to decide... Was the bully secretly gay? who knows? I don't think the director went out of his way to suggest that, however. Though the bully did seem to imply that Conor watching HIM might be some kind of gay crush (which of course is ridiculous... he was merely watching his six. When *I* had a bully chasing after me, I was sure to know where he was and what he was doing as much as I could.) Hard to sneak up on someone who sees you coming ya know. ;-)

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Right now, we are alive... And in this moment, I swear... We are infinite.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 8 years ago

That's my interpretation of Connor as well, but not only was he keeping an eye on the bully, he himself is full of hatred for his tormentor. I can certainly sympathize with that, wanting to hurt back or defend yourself but can't or won't for whatever reason.

[–] KhanadaA 8 years ago

It wasn't just you. I felt exactly the same way. I came to the comments after I finished watching the film to see if anyone commented on it. It felt very overt to me, and yes, creepy. It took me "out" of the film a bit, a distraction that wasn't needed. So, I'm not sure what the Director was aiming for with that nuance.

[–] ziemilija 8 years ago

Yup, definitely noticed that. Kept wondering whether that 'vibe' was intended or is it just my weird imagination.

Don't come too close, you don't wanna see my ghost

[–] Nayr39 8 years ago

I don't usually feel a repressed homosexual fear/attraction in bully scenes but in this film in particular everything with the main bully and Connor had this underlying feeling that this kid was actually attracted to Connor and taking out his repressed homophobia out on him. "Only I can touch him", constantly turning around to stare at him like a kid with his crush. It was really really odd. Especially with how underdeveloped the bullies are.

[–] Semisonic 8 years ago

The moment I saw the subject of this thread, the gay vibe was the first thing that came to mind. So yeah, you're obviously not alone here.

I don't think it's something too odd though. In that age, people still have emotions towards each other often with no regard to each other's gender. So, while I never felt that they'd actually start kissing each other, the platonic love-hate connection between the characters could be sensed.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 8 years ago

Idk but maybe the bully had problems as well back home and was taking it out on Connor.

In many Western films, many times they have a bully tormenting another because their parent is dying or because they're very sick themselves.

I can never understand nor empathize with this cultural trait, almost alien to me, like they're not real people but monsters themselves.