MovieChat Forums > I Believe in Unicorns (2015) Discussion > why would she slap him tho (spoiler-y)

why would she slap him tho (spoiler-y)

posted 9 years ago by blacknyellowsquid
4 replies | jump to latest

I don't get why she'd slap him on the bed in that hotel room...more than once. I guess it was just an error of judgement on her part. Thinking she was being playful but it set him off? But even when he clearly stopped being playful she did it again, yikes. I know someone who used to get beat upon as a child, and she would actually hit or hurt someone if they even touch her unexpectedly. As an instinctive reaction. So to me, in the movie, her hitting him didn't seem like a good idea. I mean when a dog growls you don't hit it again....

Anyway...I'm not victim blaming or trying to say that he was right. Dude clearly had emotional problems. He seemed to be trying hard not to be like his dad but sadly the abusive patterns were creeping in...with the put downs and controlling behavior starting. I could see how he was likable/charming too so ... the title character was actually pretty strong-willed at the end of the day. She stood up to him a lot and bailed before it got too out of hand, even after he was crying. So, good for her. I do think her slapping him the second time was part of that defiance too, even though I think it was a dangerous idea. She was just "testing" him (like trying to eat the pie earlier, too, even when he told her not to), because if he was someone who'd get all angry and controlling as easily as that, she wouldn't want to be with him.

...so I guess I answered my own question as to why she'd slap him even the second time. It just made me cringe and think she was very foolish tempting fate like that!

[–] CranberryNoVodka 8 years ago

I watched the movie today. I'm still very angry about that part and when she would comment about his dad. I know they're supposed to be a young puppy love type of couple, but I found her behavior to be so frustrating.
Although she was sort of annoying, she was also very gutsy like you mentioned. She was the lesser of two evils here.

[–] koalacanth 8 years ago

She slapped him because she's self-destructive. Both of them are victims and victimizers. Both of them are damaged kids. She had emotional problems just like him. She abandoned her ill mother after all. What kind of person does that? She was selfish and self-obsessed. She probably never really cared for him, but saw him as a way to change her boring life.

Also, they are in this co-dependent relationship, which is never healthy. Many of the things she says to him are just manipulative. In fact, my biggest problem with this movie is that they excused her abusive behavior. It's almost as if the filmmakers tried to cover it up by putting cute music and claymation around it.

[–] ShyLivesMatter 8 years ago

Disagree about co-dependent relationships always being bad. You all sound like my Mom/family :-( lol Isn't that the whole point of relationships? Isn't that why we're put on this planet? To help each other out? If not, then what is the point of relationships? Hopefully for more than just sex. Isn't it possible to love someone yet also need things from them? Is life really so black and white? We're always so quick to attach labels lke "co-dependent" to anything not considered "normal" instead of trying to see people as individual human beings in need of understanding, appreciation, help, and love just like anyone :-/ We need to be careful of anything that stops us from trying to see others as human beings/individuals. That's how people can slip and fall thru the cracks of society and become nonexistent ::cough:: Just my opinion. Not that I'm biased ;-)

We need to be less judgmental and more open to understanding. I grew up in a family of abusive narcissists and I still can't handle being judged. Still damaged from all that, maybe more broken than ever now that I'm an adult, with the increased demands, pressures, and responsibilities that that entails (since I still don't mentally, emotionally, or psychologically feel "grown-up" - possibly some type of undiagnosed developmental disorder - scary not knowing and others don't seem to care helping me figure it out...believe me I've tried). All I can do is share my experiences and perspective and hopefully help others like me (if they exist lol) feel less alone. PM me if so (I don't trust reading replies here - too may jerks). Would be nice to know my life has counted for something :-)

But yeah, I guess I'm just more idealistic/romantic and less cynical than most people ::shrug:: Guess I'm just less of a "hardass" than most - all that Social Darwinism and "groupthink" on the net creeps me out ::shivers:: More of an empath. ::Steps off soapbox:: :-)

Oh, and I did end up liking (though not loving) the movie for what its worth, even though I bought it On Demand (there was no rental option - doh!) for Johnny Sequoyah...and she ended up not even being in it apparently :-( lol Wasn't cheap either. And I'm certainly not made out of money these days. But yeah - quirky indie movie about 2 damaged and flawed but well intentioned people (which often gets misunderstood by other people) finding each other, if only for a moment in time - definitely my kind of thing and those type of characters are very relateable to me (regardless of age or gender - I've never really believed in, related to, or felt comfortable with traditional gender roles anyway, which apparently is rare on here for a straight adult male to say that, but whatever - I yam who I yam lol). Seen a lot of those movies the last few years (as I try to figure myself out and my own place in the world) and this one would stand about in the middle of the pack. Wouldn't have bought, though, if I knew Johnny wasn't in it. Would I still have rented it On Demand (for a cheaper price)? Maybe.

"I like you 'cuz you're real. You don't pretend you've got it all figured out like everyone else."

[–] BewareOfTheAvalanche 8 years ago

They were both damaged souls that grew with an absent father, the real difference between them was how they coped with it most of the time. He played it tough and she decided to live in a world full of fantasy. Deep down, both had repressed rage. In her case it was directed at the opposite sex, so it was obvious that at some point she would become an abuser herself. She was punishing him because she wasn't able to punish her dad.