Captivating. WOW

Rating: 10/10 (18 May 2020)

American History X had me gripped from the opening credits to the very end and is so strong for so many reasons. I actually found it hard for my brain to switch off when I went to bed afterwards, as it made such an impact I couldn't stop thinking about it.
All of the black and white flashback scenes are completely captivating and are perfectly balanced with the present day story. The neo-nazi beliefs that the Vinyard brothers share are not just simply portrayed - they are explored in such a way that we discover seeds and roots and how the two characters have sunk to having such ideologies.
The writers, along with Edward Norton and his incredible portrayal of Derek, the eldest brother, did a remarkable job of making you truly believe that the characters were capable of redemption, something they started building on early on, which carried the film the whole way through.
Every character no matter how small provided interesting roles and thought provoking interactions and every single scene felt integral to the story.
This is such an emotional, enjoyable and harrowing watch and I think everyone should see this!!