Mean Creek Movie Review

Mean Creek (2004)

Rent Mean Creek on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Jacob Estes
Directed by: Jacob Estes
Starring: Rory Culkin, Ryan Kelley, Scott Mechlowicz, Josh Peck
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
When a teen is bullied, his brother and friends lure the bully into the woods to seek revenge.

Verdict
There is nothing happy about this movie. It does a great job of creating a mood as we see kids from dysfunctional families. What initially seems like a bully getting his comeuppance shifts. We realize this bully lacks confidence and handles it poorly. This does a great job of  changing your opinion on what should happen, and then making you reconsider again. You figure things won't work out, but this movie stays in that uneasy space. You'll be left wanting something better or happier for these kids.
Watch It.

Review
Everything starts when Sam (Rory Culkin) gets attacked by the school bully George (Josh Peck). Sam plots revenge, but doesn't want to physically hurt George as that would be just as bad. Sam just wants to embarrass him. Sam's old brother and his brother's friends aid in this plan. This isn't a comedy or a light hearted revenge tale. This movie is dark.

Rory Culkin, Trevor Morgan play Sam, Rocky

When George gets Sam an awesome water gun, the audience and Sam begin to reconsider this plan. It's clear George lacks self esteem and is socially awkward. That leads to George trying very hard to impress Sam's older brother and the older kids. That endeavor often leads to George lashing out. It's a defense mechanism, but it doesn't make it easy to like him.

Marty (Scott Mechlowicz) is the only one in the group that doesn't want to back out of the plan. We've seen enough backstory on Marty to know why he wants to follow through. Marty is bullied by his brother, and now he's taking out his frustration on someone else. It doesn't matter to him who it is. George is trying hard to be one of the cool kids, but Marty can be ruthless. When Marty can't coax George into falling for the revenge plan, Marty tells him the truth. George flips out and verbally attacks everyone.

Josh Peck, Carly Schroeder, Scott Mechlowicz Rory Culkin, Ryan Kelley, Trevor Morgan play George, Millie, Marty, Sam, Clyde, Rocky

This movie is solemn from the start. Most of these kids are dealing with some kind of abuse or neglect. We know exactly why they decided on this plan for George, and you wonder what's going to happen. It's likely their plan will be upended, but for what reason? Will they back out or will someone lose control? What might George do?

This movie leaves you in this mindset as you digest it. It's easy to defend and criticize the reasons for this plan, but this movie has been uncomfortable from the start. We're given reasons to dislike George, and then given reasons why he isn't that bad. It's not easy. Nothing about this movie is easy. We want this movie to resolve, but it does a great job of really making you feel the emotions of what's going on with these kids.