Awful Normal (2004) User Reviews

Reviews on here make me sad. Very Brave. Everyone's journey is their own.

[helianabanes · 10/10 · 15 December 2022]

The other reviews on here make me very sad. This was a personal story. Celesta and Karen did not have a job to heal the way you think they should.

The fact that the reviewers here are reacting in a way that would shame Celesta's efforts, and as a result could easily silence other survivors of child sex abuse that may be considering speaking about their abuse, is not surprising. It is disgustingly familiar, and just so sad and WRONG.

Just another way to shame and invalidate the experience of the victim. It makes me sick, because I am almost positive that some of these people who have been so cruel and demanded a certain amount of justice or emotional swell from this film, are survivors themselves. They probably have a lot of anger, understandably so, but the anger of other victims does not belong on the shoulders of these women.

They worked with what they knew and did something for themselves and their families. Celesta clearly didn't, at the time, understand her trauma bond with her abuser, but again, it is not her job to. Even if she understood what it is called, it doesn't make the actual bond less confusing or shameful.

I was proud of these women and even though mom angered me, she was fully honest about her horrible reaction in not protecting her girls to the fullest.

There is no right way to do something like this so reviewing the content of this film is just gross. They did something that could help other victims to come out into the light about their abuse, STOP trying to shove them back into the dark. Do something else, anything else.

I applaud these women. So brave.

I Hope This Was Cathartic

[sddavis63 · 4/10 · 15 February 2012]

I hope that was cathartic for them. That was basically my reaction as I watched this. This follows film-maker Celesta Davis, her sister Karen and her mother Ellen as they prepare to confront the family friend who molested the two girls when they were very young. To be honest I expected something different in this; something much more emotional; something much more powerful - and yet in most ways it wasn't. The account of the preparations for the confrontation was very clinical, straightforward and to the point. We learn a little bit about the girls' background and family. Their own family life was apparently strange enough, as evidenced by some memories both have of their own father, although - for reasons I never understood - neither woman seemed to have anger for their father, even though - to put this discreetly - the father apparently invited them to play with him. I found that strange. Still, though, the preparations weren't especially interesting. Then I was expecting the actual confrontation to offer something more than it did - but everyone seemed to get along fine. I wouldn't say that any old friendships were re-established, or even that any old wounds were obviously healed, but they all seemed to get along. Alan (the molester) tried to honestly explain what drove him to do what he did (and his explanation did come across as that, and not as an excuse.) The only real moment of emotion was after the fact, after the three women left Alan and Celesta broke down in sobs. That's where I'm hoping the catharsis came for them.

It's a courageous project, putting your life and deep, dark, buried secrets on display for the world to see, but I didn't find it to be especially interesting or powerful. You just end it hoping that it helped Celesta and Karen. (4/10)

Breaks my heart to see their picture

[mfort-98109 · 10/10 · 26 October 2021]

I applaud Celeste and Karen for confronting this predator and loser. He was honest with them, which was good. Their mother kept a lid on the situation. Not surprised especially in the 70s. Whats disgusting is when their mother hugged him at the end.

Awful Awkward

[molda2 · 1/10 · 3 June 2012]

This movie was not what I anticipated. I expected an emotional journey leading up to an uplifting conclusion where these two women attempt to take back the innocence that was stolen from them as children. If you're expecting the same - you will be extremely disappointed. The feeling that I experienced throughout the entire film was simply uncomfortable.

Celesta (the victim of the abuse and film maker) made it hard for me to empathize with. She seemed to make light of a situation that she claimed to have influenced her entire life. She and her sister informed their therapist that their own father had taken showers with them and encouraged them to play with his genitals as children. The two women verbalized that strange relationship with their father as if they were ordering a salad - appearing as if that upbringing was normal. There was no real explanation to why that was alright but the solitary molestation they experienced was so traumatic.

What I found the most odd and almost obnoxious was the scenes leading up to the confrontation with Allen (their molester). They were laughing and carrying on then their wait turned into this bizarre montage with quirky elevator music while they had a little party in Karen's van. When Celesta went to confront Allen she made casual conversation while she laughed and acted as if all was fine. Then after they confronted him Celesta left the building singing "We Are the Champions" by Queen. I was almost more disgusted in her as the victim than Allen as the predator.

The only real emotional display the two sisters had was awhile after they left. There was not one person in the entire film I related to or even rooted for. I myself have never experienced sexual abuse but my mother did as well as my best friend and to a much more extreme circumstance compared to these two girls (especially Karen). I think this is why I find Celesta and Karen to be so... well, disgusting. They made light of a horrible event and joked their way through the whole confrontation. I would never claim to be able to relate to such an awful experience, but having two people in my life who lived years of sexual abuse during their childhood has given my insight into the mind of a victim.

Celesta and Karen were so odd and off-putting that I found Allen to be more normal than the two girls - and that is pathetic because he is a monster. All I can say is that I hope those two women found some sort of peace after the experience. I think this film is an insult to victims of sexual abuse. I have never felt so much repulsion and discomfort from a film before, and I would never recommend the film or re-watch it in a million years. I should not have been more revolted by Celesta than her predator. I am so shocked and appalled that this film has a rating above 5.0 on IMDb.

Wtf?

[holmcindy · 3/10 · 12 September 2021]

Their own father showered with his small daughters & let them fondle him? That's not normal. Who does that? They brushed it off as "the way it was in those times", which is utter nonsense. I grew up in the 1970's too, and my dad didn't do that. Why are they not angry with their dad, when he was clearly a pedophile, too? What he did was probably way more damaging to them than what Alan did! More questions than answers. This film was confusing & obnoxious.

Filmmaker made a JOKE out of CHILD ABUSE

[The_Boxing_Cat · 1/10 · 26 June 2018]

I couldn't agree more with the other reviews here. What a shame that this film made light of such horrific crimes. I recommend to you to skip this film. The mother actually embraced the sexual predator! No wonder these women are messed up! Also, the son of the predator is serving time in prison for sex crimes- HOW COULD THEY NOT CONNECT THE DOTS!!! They think THEY are the ONLY ONES that he sexually abused???

The film just made me feel frustrated because they tiptoed around a very serious problem instead of being serious... stop being so STUPID.