Joshua (2007)

Director:

George Ratliff

Writers:

David Gilbert (written by) and
George Ratliff (written by)

Release Date:

19 September 2007 (Philippines)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The story of a perfect boy who had a perfect plan.

Plot:

The arrival of a newborn girl causes the gradual disintegration of the Cairn family; particularly for 9-year-old Joshua (Kogan), an eccentric boy whose proper upbringing and refined tastes both take a sinister turn.

Plot Keywords:

Newborn | Baby | Stockbroker | Museum | Eccentric

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Sam Rockwell	...	Brad Cairn
Vera Farmiga	...	Abby Cairn
Celia Weston	...	Hazel Cairn
Dallas Roberts	...	Ned Davidoff
Michael McKean	...	Chester Jenkins
Jacob Kogan	...	Joshua Cairn
Nancy Giles	...	Betsy Polsheck
Linda Larkin	...	Ms. Danforth
Alex Draper	...	Stewart Slocum
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Pediatrician
Ezra Barnes	...	Fred Solomon
Jodie Markell	...	Ruth Solomon
Rufus Collins	...	Henry Abernathy
Haviland Morris	...	Monique Abernathy
Tom Bloom	...	Joe Cairn

Also Known As:

Joshua: The Devil's Child (Australia)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some disturbing behavior by a child.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | USA:R (certificate #43401) | Australia:MA (2007) | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | France:-12

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

ATO Pictures

Trivia:

The role of Joshua's young sibling was played by the real-life newborn sibling of Jacob Kogan.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): The video tape Joshua pulls from the drawer to watch is dated 2/29/1997. 1997 was not a leap year.

Quotes:

Brad Cairn: I think you're sick, Josh.
[experimental sniff]
Joshua Cairn: I don't feel sick.
Joshua Cairn: Not at all.

Movie Connections:

References Bronenosets Potyomkin (1925)

Soundtrack:

Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 - Marcia Funebre (Sulla Morte d'un Eroe)

Frightening and Disturbing

In Manhattan, the successful stockbroker Brad Cairn (Sam Rockwell) and his beautiful wife Abby (Vera Farmiga) are celebrating their newborn daughter Lily in their new fancy apartment with Brad's mother Hazel (Celia Weston) and Abby's brother, the artist Ned Davidoff (Dallas Roberts). Their extremely intelligent and talented nine year-old son Joshua (Jacob Kogan) is feeling neglected and jealous of Lily, trying to attract more attention from his parents and relatives. When the baby is nineteen days old, she starts to uninterruptedly crying, driving Abby to a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile the family's dog dies and Brad asks for vacation to stay with Lily and Joshua. When Joshua goes to the museum with his grandmother and Lily, Brad accidentally watches a videotape in his camera and finds Joshua forcing Lily to cry. Brad runs to the museum and he sees Joshua with Hazel in the top of the stairs and in the next moment Hazel dropping down the stairs and dying. Brad concludes that Joshua pushed Hazel and is hurting Lily but the evidences show another reality.

The impressive"Joshua" is one of the most frightening and disturbing movies I have recently seen. The story is not graphic or gore, but the psychological horror is comparable to movies like "Rosemary's Baby", "The Omen" or "The Shinning", supported by awesome performances and direction. Jacob Kogan and Vera Farmiga are amazing with Sam Rockwell also excellent. This is the first movie of George Ratliff that I watch and I am impressed how this director was able to make this suspenseful movie with a potential of a future classic with a low budget and without any special effects. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Joshua, o Filho do Mal" ("Joshua, the Son of the Evil")