MovieChat Forums > Summer of 84 (2018) Discussion > Bad writing at the end

Bad writing at the end

posted 4 years ago by SoCrates (874)
4 replies | jump to latest

**SPOLIERS**

I thought this was pretty good until the end of the movie when the writing went south, IMO.

For the entire movie they establish that the main protagonist, Davey, is a pretty smart kid. He is always careful about spying on the killer, setting up multiple layers of protection with his friends acting as early warning devices. However, when he finally does come up with the evidence and shows it to the police, the writing for him breaks down.

I honestly don't believe that this kid would get caught asleep the way he did. Your serial killer neighbor is still on the loose, and your sleeping like a baby? With the door to your room open? No, I don't think so. Not this kid. If the writing had remained consistent, this kid would behind a locked door and probably sleeping in shifts, with he and his best friend keeping watch. I get that they needed to end the movie, but it seems really out of character.

[–] Obifuntoknowme (1130) 4 years ago

This is a very good point. I enjoyed this film very much but I have to say you are onto something here, the writing did get a bit sloppy towards the end. You’d of thought he’d of been more smart than to fall asleep.

[–] CinemaTreasure (12) 4 years ago

Totally agree!

[–] McGarnagle (29) 3 years ago

I agree, the final part lets it down.

Wouldn't the Armstrongs have had police protection while Mackey was still at large? That he wouldn't have been particularly pleased with Davey at that time and might well, you know, seek revenge or something must have been fairly obvious.

Would they have even gone back to their own home that night at all? - It would surely have been more prudent for the police to keep them in a secure location until Mackey was caught.

Where was Mackey's patrol car (which the police were presumably very eager to locate) while he was hiding in the Armstrong's attic?
It had to have been close by considering that he, apparently, managed to carry two unconscious youths (one of them on the hefty side) out to it one after the other, completely unobserved by anyone in a neighbourhood which must have had at least some police presence, morbidly curious onlookers, neighbours too shocked to sleep, etc, about the place.

[–] ImdbGhost (55) 2 years ago

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