interesting and accurate insight into effects of childhood trauma

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 2004)

Having seen some other peoples reviews I feel it necessary to put a "deeper" viewpoint across..... It is sad that alot of the point of this film is lost on those looking for a state of the art typical thriller. This film is actually a very good depiction of the effects of childhood sexual abuse by fathers. It starts with Evan as a 7yr old boy who experiences what the movie calls "blackouts" for the sake of the general public understanding it. What these actually are are "spinning out" episodes where the mind shuts off an event that is too traumatic for a child to cope with. It is a classic defense mechanism with childrens brains to protect them. Evan is a classic because he blocks completely. Kayleigh (the daughter of the father abusing) becomes withdrawn and unable to feel anything. Tommy (the son of the father abusing) is shown to be watching but later on it comes out he was also being abused, becomes angry and violent with sadistic tendencies. All these effects are the young brain dealing with high trauma caused by an individual they trusted. The film then goes on to show the three in their roles and the effect it has on their friend (unabused) by his witnessing the horror of the "angry" effect in Tommy. When Evan is alot older the memories start to return to him (again classic as blocked memories resurface when the brain is "adult" and can therefore cope with it better). Having remembered the sexual abuse he goes to see Kayleigh to ask her if it really happened. She has blocked out this memory and is still withdrawn. When reminded of this she gets angry as all the feelings of worthlessness come flooding back and kills herself. Evan is distraught and goes back to the memory and alters it by telling the father before the abuse starts that he will kill him if he touches Kayleigh. Then Evan is in a "new life" and suddenly he is with a happy and loving unscarred Kayleigh. This is a true reflection of the difference between those abused and those not. She has the ability to feel. This film scenario goes on to depict an even more sadistic Tommy and it is discovered that by him changing the past and stopping her sexual abuse, that therefore Tommy was abused even more as he was the fathers only target. I could go on and on about the merits of the rest of this film but there is no space. I will sum it up to say the reactions in each different "life" were real-life reactions of those abused as children. Evan - Blackouts, repressed memories coming out, wishing to change the past, wishing to have said no Kayleigh - Withdrawn, Suicide, Prostitution&drugs Tommy - angry, violent, sadistic Lenny (the friend of theirs) - shock, mentally scarred, mental breakdown and therefore institutionalised due to trauma of witnessing Tommys sadism
Anyone who says this film is rubbish obviously lacks both depth and ability to psychologically analyse. This film is FAR from dull, in fact is the the most disturbingly accurate film I have ever seen and would suggest that if you have suffered any kind of trauma like this or fear you may have (even if it is just a feeling) then see this film with someone you trust as you may very well "spin out" due to the reality of this film and memories and feelings may return. A MUST WATCH FOR THE INTELLIGENT AND/OR "BEEN THERE" PEOPLE!