MovieChat Forums > Witch Hunt (2008) Discussion > The blurred Kniffen son...

The blurred Kniffen son...


Throughout the film, the Kniffen's other son was completely blurred out, but the narrator never said why. I'm assuming that he didn't consent to be in the film. I wonder why.

Any info?

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The same thought occurred to me all throughout this film (which btw, I thought was brilliantly executed).
Here's my theory: (and before anyone goes on the attack, it's JUST a theory). In the family photographs shown just before the arrest of the Kniffens, the boy whose appearance is blurred appears to be around the age of maybe 3 or so years old. This leads me to think that the bulk of "evidence" obtained by the authorities was from the older son. Maybe the younger son has little recollection of that time (I know I have a hard time remembering just about anything at the age of 3, much less details of specific events) and as such, did'nt want to comment on the ordeal that obviously had such a traumatic and damaging effect on his family. I know that in this age of "reality" TV where it seems most Americans will sell their soul, dignity, self-respect, and anything else at the chance to grab that 15 minutes of (fame?), it's difficult to believe that someone would actually opt to keep his or her privacy and anonymity but maybe (just maybe) the younger son has chosen just that. As the Kniffen parents stated late in the film (paraphrasing here), "We can't go through life with a chip on our shoulder, hating the people responsible for this. We have to go on and try to be happy with the life we have now"... Maybe the guy just wants to go on with the life he has and put an ordeal that he does'nt clearly remember behind him. Like i said, it's just a theory...

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Some people didn't consent to be in the film choosing not to have any more of their life interrupted. It is easy to understand wanting to keep the past in the past. My brother and sister in law also opted out on participating in this film. My brother still hasn't even watched it. He can't even stand the mention of it. We all deal with the trauma this case caused us in different ways. John and Jeff choose not to be angry, Scott and Brenda choose to let God handle it.
Jack and I are still angry. I think I can say for all of us that lived thru this nightmare that we are survivors, and knowing that the general public now understands how this can happen has been nothing short of therapeutic. But when you read these blogs it is also frightening to realize that some people are so ignorant that they still believe we are monsters. I believe it was worth revisiting the trauma of my past if only it will spare other families in the future.
Jackie

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