Casting little kids in sick violent movies

[drone on]

I cannot believe this trend of putting small children in movies I would never even let them watch if they were my kids.  Saw a horror film recently with a cute little six year old girl.  They had her enact a murder in which she bludgeons her mother to death with a sledgehammer when the mother is in bed sleeping.  Tonight I saw "Cop Car" with Kevin Bacon, which has gotten glowing reviews.  Am I the only one who thought it sick to cast two little boys who play with loaded guns like they're squirt guns??  I'm outraged at the parents of these actors, the film makers, and the studios that release such films.   :(

[Julio Di Benedetto]

I try to stay away from all movies that are violent for violence sake.  Exceptions being historical & Si Fi movies.  Anything that involves children had better be in the class of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"  still a favorite of mine.  Hollywood and the apparent censorship we have is ridiculous. How is it that we can watch the act of a child bludgeoning her mother to death with a sledgehammer as you describe it drone on but the act of procreation by consenting adults is porn and considered evil.   

[drone on]

Well playing devil's advocate, a lot of porn IS evil.   It's not just procreation, it's violent, misogynistic, garbage.  This is another topic altogether though and I'm not sure exactly how it fits with the topic I raised. 

[petekelly]

I find a lot of movies distasteful because of the violence in them. Hollywood (in particular) seems to be trying to tell us that violence is 'cool and exciting'. I don't understand the appeal of these movies, or violence for that matter. Involving kids in such movies, I just don't get that all.

I grew up seeing more than a fair amount of violence, it's not cool to me, at all.

Yes, porn can be degrading, but extreme violent imagery is (in my view) more insidious, as it de-sensitisizes people to the effects of real violence.

[Altus]

For what it's worth, the process of filmmaking is very different compared to the finished product. The magic of post-production. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but it might help you understand why a parent would let their child work on such a film. What appears violent and gory is anything but while on set. In the case of the film you saw, they'd walk the child through the process numerous times. They would show how everything is fake, including the weapon in their hand (which would be made of hard foam). They would see where the fake blood comes from, and the crewmember who controls it. Doing all this takes away any brutality and realness, turning it sort of into a game instead.

I highly doubt the parents would let their child watch the finished film until they were older.

Out of curiosity, what was the name of the film?

[Julio Di Benedetto]

Well playing devil's advocate, a lot of porn IS evil.   It's not just procreation, it's violent, misogynistic, garbage.  This is another topic altogether though and I'm not sure exactly how it fits with the topic I raised.

It has nothing to do with your topic per se other than to question and wonder how its ok to watch violent death and not sex.  Your post brought this to my mind.  I have heard people say that some extremely violent movies are entertaining yet extreme nudity within a movie is apparently disgusting. Im Simply illustrating a bigger point.  Its not just about kids though that is considerably more messed up.

As Mike explains that much is done to protect a child in such a movie one has to ask the question why....why do people watch, and its because people do watch that these movies continue to be made.  They make money.

Sorry for the side chain but you have brought up a very sensitive topic for me.

[Julio Di Benedetto]

For what it's worth, the process of filmmaking is very different compared to the finished product. The magic of post-production. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but it might help you understand why a parent would let their child work on such a film. What appears violent and gory is anything but while on set. In the case of the film you saw, they'd walk the child through the process numerous times. They would show how everything is fake, including the weapon in their hand (which would be made of hard foam). They would see where the fake blood comes from, and the crewmember who controls it. Doing all this takes away any brutality and realness, turning it sort of into a game instead.

I highly doubt the parents would let their child watch the finished film until they were older.

Out of curiosity, what was the name of the film?

Mike this is a helpful look behind the scenes but the tragedy is as I understand drone on for creating this thread....why are we even in this place that we would pretend that death is a game....a game for a child that has not even had much of a chance to experience the game of Life....Im using your word to illustrate a point, not going after you.  :)

[Altus]

Mike this is a helpful look behind the scenes but the tragedy is as I understand drone on for creating this thread....why are we even in this place that we would pretend that death is a game....a game for a child that has not even had much of a chance to experience the game of Life....Im using your word to illustrate a point, not going after you.  :)

Violent films have an audience, and they certainly aren't for everyone. Is it exploitation to use a child in a film such as Drone described? In a way, yes. The producers did it to provoke an emotional response, and it clearly worked.

Is that wrong? It depends on who you ask. I put myself in the shoes of that child, and I would've jumped at the chance because it sounds like fun. Does that make me a bad person? *shrug*  ;)

[Julio Di Benedetto]

Hi Mike....I definitely dont what to get personal so no need for judgement here.  The topic is the issue and its implications not those of us discussing them, so hope I did not come across that way.

[drone on]

I should clarify:  I LIKE some sick violent movies, if it's a quality film with technically admirable qualities.  My point in this thread though is not whether I liked or not, the finished product, but the idea of having small children act in some of them. 

The horror film where the little girl kills her mother very violently is "Infernal.". I really enjoyed it and it scared me, which is rare (as most of these films are just dumb and not scary).  What upset me is they didn't have the murder off camera or a fast cut.  The girl was whacking a dummy in the head with a sledgehammer while blood spurts everywhere, including the girl.

The playing with loaded guns film is "Cop Car.". I thought it was a mediocre film but it's gotten lots of rave reviews.  Kevin Bacon stars.

[Altus]

I definitely dont what to get personal so no need for judgement here.  The topic is the issue and its implications not those of us discussing them, so hope I did not come across that way.

Not at all. :)

What upset me is they didn't have the murder off camera or a fast cut.  The girl was whacking a dummy in the head with a sledgehammer while blood spurts everywhere, including the girl.

While you didn't outright explain that in your original post, I suspected this was the case. Obviously, another great method to shock the viewer. By leaving the camera static, no cuts, it makes the viewer feel almost like a voyeur to a sick act. Add the child as the murderer, which is fairly taboo, and that brings it up a notch. Very often there will be no music. It's all very manipulative toward the viewer.

Anyway, I realize I keep taking this topic off base. Sorry about that. I enjoy analyzing films, and especially enjoy dissecting scenes that elicit a emotional response (good or bad). In your case, your reaction was so strong it took you out of the film completely. You were thinking about the real life implications of using children in these films. The reason I keep taking the conversation off base is actually my attempt to explain why parents would let their kids take part in these kind of films. I'm not saying they're great parents, but probably not as bad as you think. ;)

I still believe that both examples (kid bludgeoning mom and kids with guns) are harmless fun in a film-making sense. When on a film set or location, the whole situation is contrived and pulled away from reality. It's often hard, tiring work on-set, but ultimately from the kid's point of view, it's just playing, even if the end result is meant to be serious.

I'll check out Infernal. Thanks for that.

[jkn]

Just a quick note to thank Mike / Altus for such in depth responses...  nicely done, sir.

I don't enjoy horror / violence films much anyway - regardless if a kid or adult, but that's just my taste - I know a ton of people love a good scary movie - or an emotional one.