MovieChat Forums > Menace II Society (1993) Discussion > Oh I doubt that?

Oh I doubt that?

posted 2 years ago by Seperatrix (1095)
4 replies | jump to latest

Just watched this again recently. Early in the film I find a line a bit puzzling.

Caine was praised by his grandparents for graduating high school, a week later was shot, then took an undisclosed amount of time to recover. So O-DOG pays a visit, at which time the grandfather sits both Caine and O-DOG down and quotes the bible passage "thou shall not kill."

Caine: I ain't never killed nobody
Grandfather: Oh I doubt that. And Kevin (O-DOG) I've heard stories about you.

Later in the film the grandfather kicks Caine out of the house after he stomps someone in the front yard.

So in between being proud of Caine and kicking him out of the house for stomping someone in the front yard, the grandfather sincerely believes that his grandson has killed someone? Given his serious moral and ethical compass, it seems highly unlikely he wouldn't have kicked Caine out of the house earlier if he was that certain Caine had killed before.

The lines would have been better arranged if O-DOG had denied the accusation and the grandfather responded "Oh I doubt that" and then the other line directed to his grandson.

Doesn't detract from the film. Just a curious decision in the script in my opinion.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

I think it's just cognitive dissonance. There's a a number of ways you could explain how the grandfather is lying to himself.

But I think the critical factor is that Caine was kicking the shit out of a dude's head right in their front year. And that changes things. It's real. It's undeniable. And it was the last straw.

I think the grandfather's response also shows how...normalized the behavior we see throughout this movie was, which I think was the intent of the film to begin with. You're right. It would have been more natural to flip those around. But I think it's a bit more compelling. Plus...I think it's poignant that at the time, Caine hadn't killed anyone; his grandfather just assumes it.

[–] Seperatrix (1095) 2 years ago

I'm sure you're correct on all points. I suppose there's also some irony involved since Caine never actually does kill anyone (at least that we're shown) throughout the entire film.

[–] IMDBrefugee (435) a year ago

Watching that scene I think he is:

-Holding on to the positive and in denial that Caine would do such a thing. He helped raise him but knows what Caine is likely up to when not at home. Just as Aciddrop posted - actually seeing Caine get violent rather than having doubts about it made it clear. He doesn't want trouble coming to the house.

-Grandma may have helped persuade Grandpa to give Caine a chance.

I also think he's just sort of preaching, it is just accusations after all. He doesn't know whether he has killed or not but he is aware of his lifestyle.

[–] Seperatrix (1095) a year ago

" . . . actually seeing Caine get violent rather than having doubts about it made it clear. He doesn't want trouble coming to the house."

Yes and I agree with what you say. My only question was the timing of the grandfather's lecture. When the grandfather said "oh I doubt that" to Caine, it was much earlier in the film, after he expressed pride in Caine for graduating and after Caine had been shot.

It just seemed a bit strong to basically accuse Caine of killing someone, because . . based on what? Violence is one thing (as he later stomps someone outside the house in the front yard), but murder takes it to a whole other level.

Then the irony. Because there sat O-DOG who actually had already killed someone . . .