MovieChat Forums > Wildlike (2015) Discussion > Why didn't she object his advances? And ...

Why didn't she object his advances? And other questions...

posted 9 years ago by K_oceanlust
11 replies | jump to latest

What's your opinions on this? If she didn't like what her uncle was doing, then why do you think she would have just went along with it as it appeared she did in the movie? Why wouldn't she have said or done something, like perhaps push his hand away when he began fondling her? Do you think she would have felt that helpless, as if she had no where or nobody to turn too? As it would appear, were left to assume that's likely how she felt otherwise, why else would a 14 year old girl run away into one of the most formidable vast wilderness' on earth?

[–] katalist420 9 years ago

Some people get scared, she might have been worried for her life if she didn't do as the uncle wanted

[–] racegirlboo24 8 years ago

Really?!! Why is there still victim blaming for sex crimes in this day and age??? She's a 14 year old child! He's her uncle! She should have been safe with him! Maybe she thought if she ignored it he would stop not escalate! Or maybe her brain couldn't wrap itself around the fact that this was actually happening! Or maybe she felt trapped because she had no where else to go! Whatever her reasons she didn't deserve what happened to her! I get that this is a movie but it happens to people every day and we need to STOP BLAMING/SHAMING THE VICTIM!!!

[–] fostersforums 8 years ago

There are many answers to this question, but I'd say for you to consider Mackenzie's character. She is a 14 year old girl who has lost her father, her mother clearly has problems and pretty much abandoned her (didn't check in at the rehab facility), and she is ostensibly the loner type. She is stuck far from home in a place where she doesn't know anyone, has no friends, is totally dependent upon her Uncle for sustenance and safety, even though he completely violated her trust.

Maybe she was plain too scared to act. Afterall, if someone is willing to molest you, what are they willing to do if you resist? It's a scary situation to be put in.

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It's an opinion, not a statement of fact nor a declaration of war on your existence. Relax.

[–] thebucketrider 8 years ago

I agree with the other posters who have highlighted that she was a 14 year-old girl while he was the authority figure in that setting. Children haven't developed fully independent judgment and are thus more susceptible to being controlled.

[–] Dejay 8 years ago

Here is a link to an interview with the director where he talks about this: https://youtu.be/xVYU4Ae5shE?t=1m45s

[–] noordj 8 years ago

My question is why she got naked un the tent with rene?
He never give her atention in that kind of matter.

[–] Stovepipe99 8 years ago

There are a few ways you might understand that scene.

The first is just to say that McKenzie does not have a healthy sense of sexual boundaries. She might think that sex is how she is expected to "pay" for kindness.

You could also maybe say that McKenzie has felt very scared and powerless living in the house with her uncle. Rene might boss her around a bit, but the way that he is tentative with her gives her a bit of the upper hand. She might have liked the idea of being in control of a sexual situation without being afraid or a victim.

When Rene turns her down, she doesn't look like someone who is angry at being rejected. She looks confused and embarrassed. I got the sense watching the scene that even she didn't totally understand why she was doing it.

What I liked about that part of the movie was that it showed that people who are victims don't always behave the way that you might expect (or the way that you think they should behave). People (and especially children) can do irrational, stupid, totally illogical things when their sense of themselves and how the world works has been warped. Between her father's death, her uncle molesting her, and her mother dealing with either mental illness or addiction, there's a lot of craziness in McKenzie's life and a lot going on in that head of hers.

[–] mme3924-1 8 years ago

I assumed she thought it was a way to cement his continued support, allowing her to stay with him, providing food and shelter, and perhaps she hoped that he would later make sure she got back to Seattle, as well. It was not unlike what she did with the boy in the hotel room. She was willing to trade sex for help, a place to sleep.

But I agree that this implies that she already had some experience in how to manipulate men or to use sex for what she needs and wants. So I wondered if it also implied that it was not the first time her uncle had molested her, that something similar may have occurred earlier, when she was younger? In his phone texts to her, he seems to suggest that it was "our secret".

Her father died, her mother was an addict (apparently), so who knows what her younger life was like? I think that was not clear.

[–] MermaidsRreal 8 years ago

Probably because she was alone with him, in his house, in a city she knew nothing about. Fighting may have made him beat her or kill her. It's like deciding between the lesser of two evils. Let him do this without a fight, or risk death or worse.

[–] Airman87 8 years ago

Before the first abuse we see Mackenzie and her uncle are playing frisbee in the backyard, and they talk about having a dog. The uncle wasn't wearing a shirt and the camera pans in on his sweaty nipple as they make small talk...insinuating Mackenzie was checking him out, sexually.

Why is this even in the movie, if not to serve as Mackenzie being attracted somewhat? We are led to believe she was previously abused by him (or attempted) based upon clues, so I don't understand why this is in the film other than to confuse viewers. Someone sexually abused isn't going to start looking for sexual attraction of their abuser.

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When logic and science aren't on your side, you always lose.

[–] Stovepipe99 8 years ago

Someone sexually abused isn't going to start looking for sexual attraction of their abuser.

Says who?

The uncle isn't just her abuser: he's her family, her guardian (not legally, but for her time in Alaska), and her only real companionship.

I just watched the scene you reference, and the focus was not on the uncle's chest, but on his necklace. In fact, watching that scene it's pretty striking how hard she seems to be working to NOT look at him. Her eyes flit up to his face and then immediately away--for the first part of the scene she isn't even facing him.

But even if she were checking him out: this scene immediately follows the scene where he gives her the phone as a gift. Some people have a response to bad situations to try to view them as good things or see the good in them. Maybe she's trying to convince herself that he really cares about her--trying to see him as a viable companion and not as her abuser. He uses a lot of couple language with her ("Why don't we get a dog?"). He tells her that all the boys must be chasing her.

It is not impossible from someone to find an abuser sexually attractive--especially in a situation like this one where the uncle is playing a ton of mind games with her.