MovieChat Forums > Matilda (1996) Discussion > This movie is VERY dark for a children's...

This movie is VERY dark for a children's film

posted 8 years ago by saint_sophie
20 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone else find this story/movie to have incredibly dark undertones? I know Roald Dahl was famous for writing 'dark' novels, but when I read between the lines of Matilda I do find it has quite harrowing themes to it, especially along the lines of child neglect and abuse. Miss Trunchbull is physically and psychologically torturous. She throws children out windows, locks them in an closet spiked with nails and humiliates an overweight boy while forcing him to consume an enormous chocolate cake which, in reality, would have probably killed him. She also repeatedly spits how she much she despises children if it wasn't obvious already.

Matilda's parents are shockingly neglectful though that's nothing compared to how Trunchbull treated kids. At least they weren't that abusive.

I also found Miss Honey's back story to be incredibly dark too. Another poster mentioned on here a while back how they wondered if Miss Honey had been sexually abused by Trunchbull. While I know for a fact that the Trunchbull was definitely physically abusive to Miss Honey (the book vaguely mentions this), I couldn't help but wonder if sexual abuse occurred too, even though there is little evidence to support this in the film and the novel.

Incredibly dark for what is essentially a kid's film/story. *shudders*

[–] AyuDomi 7 years ago

The movie is dark but I much rather prefer this type of children's movie than a typical one about a charming prince, damsel in distress or similar rubbish.
I've watched Matilda a lot of times as a kid and loved it despite the abuse occurring in it.

[–] Tealeaf400 7 years ago

This was a favourite childhood classic for me. I was about 7 when this came out. I found it inspiring and the dark subjects in it weren't really that over the top. The way some of the characters behaved was, which made it funny.

Sad how pussified things have got in just 20 years as now this probably wouldn't be a kids' movie. Someone would whine about the abuse.

Then again I'm also one of those ones who grew up without censoring. I was never abused to likes of this movie in real life but I was able to watch anything I wanted. Pulp Fiction, Terminator 2, the Alien movies, Speed, etc. all those great 90's movies. I watched them all as a kid. I think it was a positive influence. Teaches you not to fret and the difference between fantasy and reality.

It always puzzled me that there were kids growing up that weren't even allowed to watch the Simpsons or South Park. Hell the South Park movie was another greatest childhood movie. And the new Simpsons episode was our Sunday ritual.