Mean Creek
Photo courtesy of IMDb.com
March 3, 2015
George (Josh Peck) is a schoolyard bully. He beats up fellow classmate Sam (Rory Culkin) after Sam touches his precious camera. Sam's brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan) finds out and mentions it to his friends Clyde (Ryan Kelley) and Marty (Scott Mechlowicz). From there, the three devise a plan to get their revenge on George by inviting the unstable middle schooler on a relaxing ride down the river.
What turns out to be just a simple prank turns out to be something much more in this 2004 indie cult classic, Mean Creek.
Writer-Director Jacob Aaron Estes tells the tale of kids who meant to toe the line with revenge and ultimately crossed it to the point of no return. The drama focuses on the lack of family structure or the unique family relationships for all the kids involved, which can help describe why certain characters do what they do and say what they say.
George (Josh Peck) is a schoolyard bully. He beats up fellow classmate Sam (Rory Culkin) after Sam touches his precious camera. Sam's brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan) finds out and mentions it to his friends Clyde (Ryan Kelley) and Marty (Scott Mechlowicz). From there, the three devise a plan to get their revenge on George by inviting the unstable middle schooler on a relaxing ride down the river.
What turns out to be just a simple prank turns out to be something much more in this 2004 indie cult classic, Mean Creek.
Writer-Director Jacob Aaron Estes tells the tale of kids who meant to toe the line with revenge and ultimately crossed it to the point of no return. The drama focuses on the lack of family structure or the unique family relationships for all the kids involved, which can help describe why certain characters do what they do and say what they say.
Peck, known for his role on Drake and Josh, plays an agitating bully who, throughout the film, the viewer can have mixed reactions towards. One minute, he is a callous, cold-hearted teenager and in the other, he is a misunderstood and mentally/emotionally unstable child looking for acceptance. His stellar performance elevates everyone else's roles in the film and creates an all-too-real feel while watching the film.
Personally speaking, Mechlowicz steals the film. He plays Marty, a hardened older teenager who lives with his brother after his father's suicide. Marty is the alpha-male and there is no questioning that as he leads the crew on the river trip and the aftermath of the incident on the creek. His presence on screen is something to behold and gives one of the better performances I have seen in a long, long time.
Mean Creek is set in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon to be more specific. The beautiful landscape plays a key role in this film, with the lush forests, small town atmosphere, and of course, the creek. The way the film transitions from day to night is a solid touch and is paced well throughout.
The film is not one that should be watched by children of the same age of the characters. In simple terms, this is an adult film. There is coarse language, sexual references, and again, language that should not be spoken by young teenagers, but given their circumstances, it does fit the film.
Mean Creek is dark. It is gritty. It is emotional. The film is an excellent portrait of what happens when one thing goes wrong. The choices these children have to make will affect the rest of their lives, for better or for worse.
The film can be streamed on Netflix and purchased on Amazon, along with many other retailers.
Rating: 9/10
Personally speaking, Mechlowicz steals the film. He plays Marty, a hardened older teenager who lives with his brother after his father's suicide. Marty is the alpha-male and there is no questioning that as he leads the crew on the river trip and the aftermath of the incident on the creek. His presence on screen is something to behold and gives one of the better performances I have seen in a long, long time.
Mean Creek is set in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon to be more specific. The beautiful landscape plays a key role in this film, with the lush forests, small town atmosphere, and of course, the creek. The way the film transitions from day to night is a solid touch and is paced well throughout.
The film is not one that should be watched by children of the same age of the characters. In simple terms, this is an adult film. There is coarse language, sexual references, and again, language that should not be spoken by young teenagers, but given their circumstances, it does fit the film.
Mean Creek is dark. It is gritty. It is emotional. The film is an excellent portrait of what happens when one thing goes wrong. The choices these children have to make will affect the rest of their lives, for better or for worse.
The film can be streamed on Netflix and purchased on Amazon, along with many other retailers.
Rating: 9/10
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