A Brutal, Stunning, and Poignant Film

Rating: Null/10 (25 November 2000)

When I first heard of AMERICAN HISTORY X I figured it was just another "hate is bad, love each other" movies, but now I know that it is so much more. It ranks among the most powerful movies I have ever seen. It has a way of haunting you long after you leave the theatre. To this day when I hear of hate crimes on the news I shudder and think of the scene where Edward Norton commits a brutal murder and a chill still runs up my back. Edward Norton was absolutely amazing in this movie. He managed to convey why his character was the way he was, without giving a bias to the audience. This alone is a difficult task, but then, after his reform, he allows the audience to sympathise with him, even though he was once a horrible monster. At the beginning, we are allowed to see Derek's confused views and some may even start to see their side, but slowly their side takes on a hideous insanity and we see the true evil that is hate. This movie is very brutal and violent, but it is a film that should be seen. It will change the way you look at hate and stay with you forever.