I'm not criticizing the story, as it was true (though David is fictional). However, the inclusion of David to this story raised the very obvious question: why the HELL didn't he do or say anything at any point?! He made a feeble attempt here and there, but just because he's guilt ridden all those year later doesn't excuse the fact he failed to act!
Opinions?
Exactly, he was one of the dumbest and most unlikable characters ever. He simultaneously wanted to help her AND protect the torturers? It's insanely stupid.
I mean, they make up a new character and he doesn't make any sense, it just goes to show how terrible the script is. Plus this is one of the worst acted films I've ever seen
What Davey did by not informing his parents or the police were just as bad as what Auntie Ruth was doing to Meg. That's just downright sinister. Yet they paint him as a good guy of sorts, making it appear that he is helping her, when he's the one who triggered all this nonsense.
shareDavey did go to the cops did U not see when the cop came the 2nd time???? He also tried to come up with a plan to free Meg she got caught trying to get her little sister Davey freed her he also tried to tell his mother who wouldn't wake up he was a *beep* 12 year old little boy who was being threatened and bullied into silence by Ruth and the other boys one of whom was going to kill him at the end his actions to help Meg led to him being kidnapped and beaten he saw how the stupid cop acted when Meg went to him the cop did nothing do U think that idiot would have suddenly done something had Davey ran up to him and said the same thing???? The problem wasn't Davey not telling it was the cop being a moron who allowed this *beep* to continue when it should have ended when Meg told him.about the abuse Ruth was right that cop didnt care he didn't even try and inspect the basement the 2nd time
shareKids are not equipped to handle situations that we could handle as adults. Especially in the 60's, when it was pretty much OK to beat a kid, and when Ruth gives them "permission" - you are taught that adults are right all the time. No matter what. So if she says it's OK, this must be the way it is.
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Love means never having to say you're ugly. - The Abominable Dr. Phibes
It was 1958; a different time. Adults, parents in particular, were rarely questioned, let alone challenged, by kids. Then eventually Ruth threatens to kill Meg *and* David if he talks; given what he'd seen, he was no doubt sure she'd do it.
Man, this was brutal.
First, let me say where I'm coming from. I was abused as a child in the 80s. It was sexual abuse and it went on for years. When I finally told I was ignored repeatedly. I told a school counselor, a teacher, a friends mother and finally my parents. My mom flat out told me not to tell anyone and to move on. The school counselor just scolded me for missing school. As an adult, this disgusts me that a young girl can tell adult things that adult men were doing to her and being ignored. They had a duty to tell and help me get some help.
As for Davey not telling. First, there was no real Davey but if you look back at the time period you may understand. The movie says this happened in the 50s. The true story took place in the 60s. Times were different back then. If a man was beating his wife it was often ignored. People didn't want to butt into someone else's business. It's sad but true. If you read about domestic abuse during that time you will understand. Take a look at The Burning Bed as an example and that happened in the 70s.
I've been many support groups for abuse and you would be shocked at the number of people who are aware of child abuse and ignored it. One woman who was raped until her 20th birthday by her father knew for a fact her whole family knew this because it was what happened in that family. Sick bu true. Neighbors also knew and so did teachers. No one did a thing to stop it. This was in the 60s & 70s.
Children during this time were to be seen but not heard. You were expected to obey without question and if you bad mouthed another adult you were often punished pretty bad. You didn't gossip either. If David did tell he likely would have been punished for telling stories about a nice neighbor lady who was struggling to raise her kids.
Again these are not excuses, of course, you should tell if you are aware of the abuse. I've actually called CPS on my own family member more than once. I will never stand by a watch a child hurt.
I understand where you are coming from. I was sexually abused by a teacher in the 80's and even when it finally got out, I was told by the principal of my school not to talk about it or say anything to anyone. They still gave the strap back then and I was afraid. I denied it to my parents for some time as I was afraid of getting in trouble. I'm really grateful that a couple of girls who were a year ahead of me and had gone through a whole year of abuse didn't stay quiet and after some time they were listened to and we did get our day in court. It certainly wasn't easy and I think that it had to do with it being multiple victims and multiple complaints for us to be heard.
shareBecause turning against your family is a tough thing to do, especially for a kid. Also in real life we don’t get to hear a sinister score every time something bad happens, morality in real life isn’t as cut and dried as it is in movies. Regardless he did come through eventually and he did save the younger sister, he killed Ruth and the rest of the boys went to jail. Sure it wasn’t a perfect ending but his actions did make the situation better.
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