MovieChat Forums > 12 and Holding (2006) Discussion > Did Jacob plan the murder from his first...

Did Jacob plan the murder from his first visit to the prison?

posted 17 years ago by sidekick123
15 replies | jump to latest

I was wondering what your thoughts were, did Jacob plan the murder all along and befriend the boy (I'm sorry I can't remeber his name)to earn his trust so that killing him would be easier, or did he decide when he was provided with the gun or was it when his mother told him he wanted the boy dead?

I think its an interesting theory that Jacob calculated the murder from the first visit to the prison when he actually tells the boy he will kill him but at the end when he actually does it its obvious he finds it upsetting and is not a 'cold calculated killer' although some planning obviously went into it.

what do you think?

[–] AlienDNA 17 years ago

When Jacob visits the kid in juvy, he wants him dead but I don't think the end result was planned. He sincerely begins to befriend his brother's killer until his mom says "I'd kill for you". When he heard that, it made him think of seeking vengance.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Triple-G 16 years ago

I agree that he was planning to run away. Also, once his mom told him his parents did not adopt the black kid to replace his brother, he then decides to be nice to him because he leaves his brothers glove on his bed and now seems to want to take the place of his dead brother as the leader.

[–] kennethfrank 15 years ago

The movie concludes with all three children finally developing deeper connections with their mothers after a long series of frustrations. Jacob does so by implementing his mother's wish to have Kenny dead. Leonard's mother finally admits there's a problem with the family's overeating. And Malee's mother acts to salve Malee's pain of separation from her father.

[–] Elwood2008 16 years ago

Mom said she STILL wanted the other boy dead. Then she tells Jacob he would understand if he were older.

I believe Jacob didn't really think about killing Kenny until then.

The thought of killing Kenny I MEAN REALLY ACTUALLY DOING IT probably went strongly against his gut feelings. But mom says he's to young to understand his feelings.

Jacob figures his mom must be right so he kills Kenny.
He thinks he will understand when he grows up.

And now Jacob is '12 and Holding' that guilt forever......

[–] straw_hat_boy_luffy 16 years ago

I think a follow-up movie would be very good. I can almost think of the plotline already.

[–] katyzone 16 years ago

Thanks, I always wondered why/how the boy could kill that way, but I see. And I know it is true. A kid will do as an adult says- this I know from too many years of experience, even against their own thoughts. That is, the kid most likely would not even think of it normally, a kid tries to be "older" and sophisticated when really a child simply needs time and experience.

Of course this is fiction, but I know a little kid (11 year old) who shot (wounded) a guy trying to rob him (he was told to by older boys). He was a sweet kid who I never realized would do such a thing, until I realized he was just a kid and simply did not have the experience, maturity and capability to understand all the ramifications, especially since this kid really wanted acceptance by/from others, especially older boys and adults.

It reminded me to never treat children as little adults- they are not! You must always check how your actions and speech affect young forming minds.

[–] straw_hat_boy_luffy 16 years ago

You must be careful with what you tell children. But do adults always act any better? How many adults kill on the spur of an emotion?

[–] skatepunkkid 10 years ago

brilliant anayisis, elwood got it nailed

"This is the west sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

[–] namok 16 years ago

wtf, why do people dont think before writing a subject with spoilers

Best regards

NAMOK

Beware of spelling, I am not native english

[–] katyzone 16 years ago

Spoilers warnings are thoughtful.

Honestly, to this DAY, (I have had the net since 1998) I just realized I have NEVER checked out a movie on IMDB BEFORE watching it.

I'd admit I NEVER desire to see a thing maybe because I avoid TV and movie ads in DVD's by pressing 'Menu' instantly. Don't get me wrong, I watch all media, for example I watched all of "Heros", for instance, but not on TV, I just watched all of them on the net (no commercials, watched them in order as I had time to and mood to, etc.)

Besides, when I go to various movie sites on the net, I have to pick between HUNDREDS of thousands of movies as it is (just re-watched "Howard the Duck", the new "Rambo" and "A History of Violence"), and dozens of new releases (I have really gotten into Korean, German, Italian, French, Japanese and Russian releases lately- once on the net you NEVER go back)

I have a 27" and 72" big screen but NO CABLE, no antenna. I have 2 DVD home units (one that can record in DVD, the other is a Sony that will play MPG, DIVX, and AVI files as well as normal DVD files) and 2 VHS units connected and that's all. There is nothing I can't catch on the net (if you know where to go) and with a nifty $35 PC card I can route whatever is on the PC to either of my regular TV's to watch "big screen" and not even HD will be an issue for me (unless they close down the 100+ plus sites that I watch TV, movies and sports (sports? NEVER -but I have to share :(

That said, I haven't found and I do want to see 10,000 BC, but JUST SEEING the score everyone gave the movie on IMDB would be a big enough spoiler to me if it rates real bad, so maybe that alone is a good reason never to check out a movie before you watch it on IMDB!

Now watch someone post the score that 10,000 BC got here! You better not! If it got a low score I won't want to see it!

[–] ctomvelu-1 16 years ago

He is either a cold-blooded killer, which is likely, or he was persuaded at the last minute to do the dirty deed after listening to his mother yet again wish for the death of the killer.

[–] sabrina0182 15 years ago

why don't you try changing the subject line so you don't ruin the movie for other people...

[–] evikeaz 12 years ago

I believed he formed it over time and, definitely for awhile. Excellent movie btw especially w/the low budget. A very good story.