Valentine Road (2013) User Reviews

Self centered adults lacking in morality

[The_Boxing_Cat · 7/10 · 9 December 2018]

That's what I got from this film. Almost ALL of the adults seem like a bunch of narrow minded zombies. Is it any wonder that such a tragedy occurred?

The school should have taken control of the situation, clearly it was a powder keg waiting for a spark.

Larry should have been counseled as to how to deal with his issues.

Brandon was another lost kid and ended up killing Larry. The school and his parents were absent and incompetent, if either side would have exercised a little guidance we would have seen a totally different outcome.

The jurors are another group of idiots who have their heads up their a$$es.

I could have done without all the interviews with the kids- a little goes a long way.

In conclusion, I was quite literally shocked that these backward people went on camera and admitted to being so closed minded. No wonder the kids are screwed up!

Ready to fight

[reneereives · 7/10 · 14 March 2019]

I'm ready to fight so many adults defending Brandon. He killed someone and was being influenced by his toxic, white supremacist brother. Some of these adults just seemed like they didn't care about Larry because he was gay. I get it. He was young, but Jiminy Christmas, they thought 21 yrs was excessive. It was murder that was pretty much an execution. Overall, the doc was good, but jeez, some people just shouldn't be around kids.

Pure horror

[nicolinafina · 8/10 · 20 December 2020]

I am speachless after this documentary. How can the adults live with themselves after acting like this? It's terrifying how they sympatice for someone that killed someone else for showing unwanted affection. I really hope that people learn from this so people can feel the freedom of being themselves without fear.

Meet the Village

[kfrankie-65722 · 6/10 · 28 October 2021]

It takes a village to murder a child. Meet the adults lacking in morality who warped one of their own children to murder another child they didn't like. They've never been so proud.

story behind the headlines

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 23 November 2014]

On February 12, 2008, in Oxnard, California, grade 8 student bully Brandon McInerney shots his effeminate classmate Larry King twice in the back of the head in class and then just walks away. Brandon is caught a couple of blocks away. He is supposedly the good one according to his family and friends. Larry King is overtly flamboyantly gay and even declares publicly that Brandon is his Valentine. This documentary examines the troubled abused lives of both boys.

This is a more in-depth examination of a passing story in the headlines. It shows that the story behind the story. The documentary seems to be trying to rehabilitate Brandon and then the prosecutor shows his fights in detention. The movie takes a turn into white supremacist area and the tension ends for me. It's kind of a drop-the-mike moment. At that point, there is really nothing to learn from Brandon. I would have argued for Brandon to be interviewed for the documentary but quite frankly, I don't see the point after the neo-nazi stuff. Maybe he'll reform in prison but it's hard to see that happening.

A solid look at a terrible situation

[wandereramor · 7/10 · 5 June 2014]

In the opening minutes, I thought this documentary would be about another school shooting -- and it was, but not the kind I assumed. Valentine Road exhaustively documents the events surrounding the murder of an openly queer (and stunningly brave) middle school student by one of his classmates, a killing at the intersection of numerous questions of homophobia, race, education and justice. One of the many talking heads says early on that every adult involved in the situation failed to do their job, and that's just about right.

There are moments when the film demonizes the killer, showing close-ups of an intimidating hooded figure, but also moments where he comes across as tragic, the victim of parental neglect and a social environment that lead him to hate. This makes the latter part of the film, dedicated to the murderer's trial, somewhat awkward -- it's hard to root for any possible outcome.

Valentine Road allows each side a chance to explain themselves, with the only common ground being a tremendous well of pain. Most of the speakers don't acquit themselves well, with several winding up blaming the victim for just being too flamboyant. Formally, it's a fairly ordinary TV documentary, with some thuddingly unsubtle touches. The closing montage set to "Same Love" is particularly cringeworthy, and leaves the viewer with an easy-to-swallow message of gay acceptance instead of the lingering complexities of the case and the seemingly insoluble question of how to respond to such an act of violence. But for presenting those complexities for most of its running time, Valentine Road is definitely worth watching.

Stunning Documentary

[grome · 10/10 · 12 August 2013]

On February 12th 2008, in Oxnard California, a 14 year-old student Brandon brought a school to gun and shot his classmate Larry from point blank range in the back of his head while we was working on a computer in class. The day before Larry, who had a crush on Brandon, had asked him to be his Valentine in front of his friends embarrassing him. In the weeks leading up to the incident, Larry had begun to wearing makeup and accessorising, and had come out to friends.

The documentary, Valentine Road, slowly unpacks the incident through interviews with the community. There are endless perspectives here, from Larry's friends at school - including Marina, a classmate who came out to her Mum when she was picked up after the shooting; the defense lawyers, who were so moved by the case that they decided to represent Brandon pro bono; the foster parents who used to look after Larry; the Jurors who joined the 'Save Brandon' cause after the trial was declared a mistrial. The only voice that was really missing from the film was Larry's.

The remarkable journey that this film took was an emotional roller coaster. The film fluctuated between taking the audience to incredibly sad places, emphasising the life that was lost. But the real sadness is the embedded homophobia that still exists in the community. Some of the perspectives are hard to listen to. There were times that I felt so much anger towards the people that were expressing their intolerance and this failure to understand that people are different which only breeds Brandon's who believe they have no choice but to use violence. There's also the incredible joy of seeing hope through the people that had learned from this incident and learned to stand up for what is right.

Not blaming Brandon was one of the incredible feats of the film. Instead the film kept at a distance, remaining objective. It was clear at times where the film was leveling its critique: the scene in which a bunch of jurors hang out discussing the case is long, as the statements they make about the case becoming increasingly stupid, naive and upsetting. This is so topical and so relevant. It must be seen and people must talk about this. For me, the most striking thing was the dominance of the intolerance. When intolerance makes up the hegemonic viewpoint bad things happen. I hope that Oxnard can, at some point, learn from this.

this is a minefield for a reviewer (so bear over with me)...

[ops-52535 · 7/10 · 23 March 2021]

And pretty hard to evaluate the objectivity of the producers and director. i must really say that how this film developed from a pure assassination scheme on a case of hatecrime , genderification and racehate, and ended up in the complete opposite direction where white supremacy is a major issue in ventura county, as these voices thinks that whites are becoming outnumbered by other races and colours of skin, and where the hodloom that shot the gun should be freed cause of his young age and that he was provoked by the victims transgender behaviour. so was this a white supremacists documentary, whos the culprit in this case? i think its easy to tell that a killing has happened, and the my simple mind says that he should also be convicted some way or another? another open question shouldve been the mental statuses by both the victim and the shooter. and its also a question of how the justice system is made, shouldnt there be a rule especially when the jurys are hung in their opinions that the judge could make the final ruling when the status quo is so off the record unbelievable as in this case.?

well im threading the deep waters of american intolerance by saying these uttering, but i know how to swim, but good advertising for oxnard california it aint. as a film product it does engage the viewer, its an emotional roller coaster for all its worth, and should be held as an example how inconsequent a nation may be, and how dangerously divided on everything they seems to be.

the grumpy old man knows documentaries are made to teach and to provoke, they really provoked me, so a 7 with a recommend

"It Gets Better," but not for everyone

[Suradit · 9/10 · 10 January 2014]

Reviewing a documentary like this one becomes as much a review of the actual event as a commentary on the cinematic production. And since thoughts about this actual event are fraught with emotions on either side, or on many sides, the reviews I skimmed through seemed inclined to see this presentation of the events as being biased against whoever the reviewer felt was the "real" victim.

I'm gay and personally experienced the bullying & name calling from classmates (and lack of support from any adults who might be expected to provide guidance to young people) while I was in school in suburban Chicago many, many years ago. I would, therefore, be inclined to see Larry as the victim and Brandon as the bad guy, at least before getting into the facts of the case.

I think the documentary has done a laudable job showing that both children … and they were 14 and 15 year old children at the time … were victims of both parental & societal neglect, abandonment, abuse and mind boggling stupidity. Both lost their lives from preventable and curable problems. Larry quite literally was denied the opportunity to ever find out if "It Gets Better" and Brandon doesn't fare a whole lot better although he continues to live.

I applaud the emphasis that the documentary puts on the adults involved. It may take a village to raise a child, but the cabal of idiots involved in this case demonstrates the damage a "village" of adults can cause in the pathetic attempt to raise its children. The homophobic, bitter 7th grade teacher is as bad as the foolish 8th grade teacher who gave Larry a second–hand dress and treated him like a Barbie doll. Equally to blame were the school officials who were more interested in toeing the legal line than serving the interest of their students … including Larry and Brandon before the crisis and all the other children following the event.

The parents of the two boys and others who were meant to care for them were, for the most part, sadly inadequate. Apparently the care facility in which Larry ended up was a good place, but otherwise these two kids were left to deal with their own circumstances as well as with the drug addled failings of the adults in their lives, with no help. The prosecuting attorney seemed fairly level headed, although I don't really understand why Brandon was not allowed to be tried as a child. Possibly his outward appearance seemed more adult than his fragile personality would suggest. The defense attorneys seemed reasonable in their desire to have Brandon not tried as an adult, but the woman attorney who, at the end, kept announcing she loved Brandon and started crying, was acting in an irrational, far too emotional manner. Her interest in Brandon seemed anything but professional.

Certainly some of the jurors were totally incapable of making a valid judgment. Since there was no question about what Brandon had done, the only decision that needed to be made was what to do with him following the murder. Society had failed to protect him (or Larry) and now some inadequate representatives of that failed society were expected to decide what should happen next. If it weren't so sad, it would be funny. Had Brandon been raised in a reasonably normal family situation and developed into a self-assured, confident, loved young man, when Larry approached him while he was playing basketball with friends, Brandon could easily have laughed it off or even hugged Larry and turned it into a joke. But he saw it as one more attack on his personal dignity and from someone far less intimidating than his father.

Neither of these two children should have been made to feel so hated, to have developed such self-loathing and to have been abandoned to deal with life on their own.

Based on the letter that Brandon sent to the one teacher, maybe incarceration provided some protection for him and allowed him to develop into a more self-assured, sensible individual. It would be easy to argue that incarceration for 21 years was too little or too much. Was it meant to be punishment or as an attempt to provide a remedial environment?

It did save him from further abuse from his father (who died soon after the incident anyway) and the self-absorbed drug addicted mother, but that should have happened before he murdered Larry.

I think the documentary was quite well done. I know some people with limited attention spans may have found it slow moving at times, but that may have been appropriate since neither of these marginal children ever generated much in the way of speedy action from the local community and that lethargy & indifference extended even to the collateral damage inflicted on the other children in this story.

I feel sick after watching this docu

[mokegent-33546 · 7/10 · 7 January 2022]

I really felt sick after seeing this documentary.

Its hard when you show both sides and it was important to show both sides, but when people don't realise how bad the situation was... And even try to blame the little kid... Oh my god...

I suggest you don't watch it alone but with somebody you can talk to if you are sensitive.

America the land of the dreams right... bleh.

It's almost impossible to watch this one without it affecting you.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 1 July 2014]

I have always thought that great documentaries achieve greatness because they manage to strike a strong emotional reaction in the viewer. A film that covers a subject well but which doesn't excite the viewer, in my opinion, cannot be a great documentary. Valentine Road is a great documentary, as it's practically impossible to watch the film without having exceptionally strong feelings welling up inside as you watch. Additionally, the filmmaker's style is extremely effective and manages to make the most of describing this horrible tragedy and its aftermath. And, because it is so emotional and so effective, you might just want to watch it with a box of Kleenex nearby.

The film is about an awful murder that occurred a few years ago in Oxnard, California. In front of his entire 8th grade class, Brandon McInerney pulled out a gun and shot his classmate, Larry. This was no accident--Brandon meant to do this, as he then put the gun up to the other kid's head and pulled the trigger again...killing the boy. None of this is disputed--Brandon killed the other kid and intended to.

This initial portion of the film brought me close to tears many times. It's tragic...and pointless. You cannot help but feel the pain of the kids who were forced to watch their classmate die--and the victim seemed like a nice kid. However, here is where the film starts to get uncomfortable--very uncomfortable. Many folks now begin to talk in front of the camera about many issues that seriously annoyed me. First, Brandon has many supporters who feel that his being tried as an adult is wrong and want him kept in the juvenile justice system (where they can only keep him until he comes of age). This subject is controversial and is bound to cause a lot of strong feelings in the viewer to erupt. Second, lots of folks (particularly teachers and jurors from the first trial) come up with reasons to blame Larry for being murdered. After all, some reasoned, Larry sure ACTED gay and had made advances on Brandon...and so, in a way, it's not Brandon's fault that he killed Larry. Others argued that Brandon grew up in a violent home--so his behavior is understandable. An awful lot of folks seemed really, really invested in coming up with these and other reasons that Brandon wasn't necessarily at fault...or at least to mitigate his guilt. In reading through some reviews on IMDb, I also noticed that some viewers also felt this way...so this is apparently a common reaction to the case.

"Valentine Road" is a great bit of social commentary and it illustrates the hidden divide within our communities. It will cause you to have many strong reactions and question the justice system, the school, the community and much more. But the best part of this is that the film's tone remains rather neutral. There is no narration and the camera just lets people talk and say what's on their mind--and it's surprising that folks are so candid about what they think deep within. I am sure you'll think some of these folks are total idiots! I love documentaries like this because they do not spoon-feed you and allow you to think for yourself--and decide WHO the idiots are! And, given its emotional impact and message, it's a film to see. See this documentary from HBO Films for yourself and see what you make of the case. And, wow...there's a lot to think about with this one!

By the way, my own feelings about this case are VERY strong--and some of this is probably because I was a teacher who also taught 8th grade (among others). This could have happened in one of my classrooms as I knew kids a lot like Brandon as well as Larry. It's sobering to think about that...

Bad at the core.

[philip-00197 · 5 May 2022]

Arguably, the most interesting aspect of Valentine Road lies not at its core - it lies in its fringes. It is also at the fringe it gathers pace as a documentary as it becomes a fly on the wall and, there, is free from bias.

At the core; focus is placed on the, extraordinarily, tragic life stories of two teenage boys. Their fate in life is worthy of an objective and empathetic documentary. One putting great effort into the background work and presenting an objective study of the "how", "why" and "what" that lead to this double tragedy. Marta Cunningham, certainly, did not succeed with that.

Heartfelt condolences to those directly affected by the "main story" however, there is a issue on a much grander, systemic, scale unfolding in the fringes of Valentine Road - one that, by chance, got covered, one worthy of its own documentary. It has to do with the people entrusted with protecting human rights.

It is gut wrenching to hear:

• Teachers saying that; they would, if not kill, kick a transsexual in the but - if confronted with one. And that they were free from blame - because they told a child to hide his identity and knew that if they didn't, said child would, at a minimum, get a severe beating.

• "Psychological experts" imply that trans-dressers are so offensive, that it mitigates any crime of violence committed against them.

• Jurors referring to God and implying that it is a mitigating circumstance to kill a "sinner" which, apparently, being transgender constitutes.

People in an official capacity are entrusted custodians and as such have a duty to respect the integrity and human rights of those whose lives they affect. That the above mentioned teacher is entrusted with the lives of young people is incomprehensible.

Adding insult to injury - the only person committed to respecting human rights, was actually fired for going beyond the call of duty. Fired for be empathetic.

As a well balanced, objective, account of the underlying reasons for the unfolding of tragic events, Cunningham fails miserably - but she does manage to scrape the surface of something big. Big and foul smelling...

Brandon's Relatives Are Thugs

[VooDooDollsandCatnipToys · 3/10 · 15 September 2021]

I'm watching this now. The most horrible thing is Brandon (the perp) has relatives who apparently taught him to be a thug.

His brother's lamenting about Brandon not being able to get drunk, skip school, etc.

Um. When we normally hear these laments, we hear stuff like 'he'll never graduate college, he'll never have kids, he'll never get a job'.

But nope, the brother laments his brother won't be able to continue his criminal ways.

HOLY COW! That one female teacher who keeps asking "who orchestrated that?" (concerning the gay pride demonstration) needs to be asked to quit her career as a teacher and find another. Her god-belief is clouding her judgment of treating LGBTQIA+ children well.

The school should be ashamed!

[ppamjo2 · 10/10 · 29 April 2019]

Watching the story on the young man that was murdered by another student all because the person he killed was gay... This is the story about how one was a ticking time bomb who wound up killing a young man cause he was gay...

The saddest thing is that the school acts like Larry should have never existed... Shame on the school for being so cold and indifferent to a HUMAN BEING... We do get to see Larry and hear about his hard life... It is sad to see a young man who helped our vets and be kind and giving die so needlessly at the end of hate...

Those that got on camera to talk anti gay.. SHAME ON YOU... That could be your son, Daughter or some other relative... I am glad Larry was true to himself and not some closed minded fool.... Watch this in memory of Larry...

Heartbreaking but not for the reasons you'd expect

[harrisfam-29615 · 9/10 · 29 March 2021]

This documentary broke my heart. A child was murdered and the people that were meant to protect him at school spent their time justifying the murder and supporting a murderer. I realize people have a hard time relating to someone so different from themselves but to be an educator (or any person with any compassion) and find it easier to relate to Brandon than to Larry is so hard to wrap my head around.

A must see

[pensacolacomputer · 10/10 · 6 May 2020]

WOW...this was something else...a must see...I think years from now people who see this will think, what was wrong with some of you people?? Some were blaming the kid who got shot at point blank range ..Some were getting tattoos of Save Brandon, the one who shot the kid?? Are you kidding me? And all jurors did not think it was a hate crime...WHAT??

I may not fully understand transgender people, but its not hurting me, or anyone else, for them to be themselves...Everyone should be allowed to be comfortable in their own skin...Peace

Edit: And to the reviewer named random-70778 ...Are you kidding me? She asked him one time to be her valentine, and you call that harassment?? Give me a break....And even if that was the case, it still does not give him the right the pull out a gun in the middle of class and shoot them dead..PERIOD....What is this world coming to?

Disgusted

[nikkiduewell-82-46321 · 3/10 · 27 June 2021]

This is such an injustice. These adults have no clue about the world around them. Larry King lost his life because Brandon was offended by how Larry lived his life.. School should be teaching tolerance and acceptance of all people no matter what. This falls on all the parents, teachers and all the other adults involved in this story for not teaching those fundamental values.

I hope Larry is in a better place where he is accepted and loved for SHE is.

Rip Larry!!

a powerful documentary that raises some disturbing questions

[gregking4 · 8/10 · 22 July 2013]

Last year we had the powerful documentary Bully from Lee Hirsch, which looked at the insidious issue of bullying in American high schools and its impact. While it took a broad perspective on the complex issue, this new documentary from first time filmmaker Marta Cunningham takes a narrower focus, but is just as disturbing and revealing. In 2008 in the small Californian coastal town of Oxnard, 14-year old student Brandon McInerney shot and killed a fellow student Larry King. The effeminate King had been experimenting with his sexuality and was often teased by his fellow students. But when he made a Valentine's joke at McInerney's expense, the boy brought a gun to school and shot him. McInerney is serving a 21 year sentence for the crime, but the film depicts him as much of victim of society as he is a killer by exploring his background and his dysfunctional upbringing. Valentine Road is a character study of the two boys - the killer and his victim - and it explores their backgrounds and gives us insight into their troubled lives, finding some surprising common ground. The film also touches upon some serious issues, such as the flawed American legal system, its out of control gun culture, bigotry and intolerance, racism, its unforgiving attitude towards homosexuality, and even dysfunctional families. Cunningham has gone into a community still divided and bearing the scars of the horrible events for this moving account of a an American tragedy. She tries to remain balanced and non-judgmental in her approach, but it is obvious where her sympathies lie. She is compassionate and understanding, and has gained the trust of the community who open up about the tragedy. There is plenty of archival footage and news reports, as well as candid interviews with family, friends, teachers, lawyers and the police themselves which are very revealing. This is a complex issue and a powerful documentary that raises some disturbing questions.

Courageous to film both sides without judging

[cathyisa · 10/10 · 30 April 2022]

Wow that made me angry. I hate some of the adults in this documentary taht find it normal for a white supremacist white kid to kill another one because he wears makeup and "girl"dresses. He doesn't follow the rules says one of these awful humans and Brandon had no other choice to put and end to a problem the school refused to address one of the jurors says... And what of Larry? What of the victim? Is it normal to ask someone who is different to hide his/her difference just because some people might find it offensive? Larry did not exist to offend Brandon, he simply existed to be his beautiful self and a hate-filled teenager decided to put an end to his life. Just because he decided it suited him best to see Larry dead, than Larry wearing makeup. Seriously people??? Some white people disgust me.

Heartbreaking Documentary

[daniellemartin-88290 · 8/10 · 11 October 2021]

This was absolutely heartbreaking to watch! The teachers except for 1 was supportive and the others should be ashamed of themselves. The interviews of some of them was appalling and disgusting!! You cant pray the gay away and force them to not be who they are when we tell our kids to be who they are! Its contradicting especially in todays society. Larry's death shouldn't of happened because he had a crush on Brandon. It is a hate crime what happened to him. He murdered him in cold blood and the teacher's in this documentary are excusing what he did! Disgusting!! Brandon showed signs of being troubled. I feel this could of been prevented if someone kept there eyes open on this kid. He was very troubled and it was a matter of time before he hurt someone.

Old school adults

[pansywhite · 1/10 · 23 May 2022]

Disturbing the way some reacted to this disgusting.

Follow the rules and you won't die? How sick! How horrible are some of the ladies in this show!?! I am truly disgusted. A name change is a problem? She literally said Brandon solved a problem. That is so sick. What kind of world did these ladies grow up in!?! Sick. Sick.

Stunning and Heartbreaking

[jcundiff-971-917287 · 10/10 · 20 October 2018]

Tragedy compounds tragedy in this documentary filled with private moments that reveal the devastation that radiates out from a horrific choice born in the dark, primitive heart of a damaged child. The filmmakers have deftly created a document that draws no easy answers, forcing the viewer to interpret the events and to analyze their own emotional and intellectual response. As well made as any documentary I've encountered on any subject.

no justice for Larry.......

[mrtlg17072 · 10/10 · 6 November 2013]

I saw this movie for the first time and it made me mad how can they say that it was his fault that he was killed that makes no since at all. But we do live in a time were a certain group of people do get away with killing another group of people it may be because of there color or Because they are gay no matter the reason its wrong. This kid was a bully and if he was not going to kill Larry then why did he tale his dad to wait so he could go back in the house to get the gun. That jury got it wrong and his defense team new they might not be so lucky in a re trail thats why the took the deal. And i look at it this way you do a adult crime you should be treated as such.

Slow and a little misleading

[johnrohan118 · 5/10 · 7 October 2013]

This documentary was awfully slow. Many of the interviews are simply irrelevant, children rambling on and on about one or other of the boys. Other interviews seem edited to making certain Brandon supporters look stupid, and the prosecutors beyond question. For example, it doesn't bother exploring the reasons why Brandon was tried as an adult, which probably led to the first mistrial. The prosecutors show video of Brandon fighting while in juvenile detention, but if you Google the incident, guards at the facility said he was actually very well behaved and the incident was not serious.

It looks for answers for this senseless tragedy. It gives the full background on the dysfunctional childhood of both boys, and makes a strong case to tie the killing to homophobia and racism, although the real life evidence of that wasn't quite so strong.

Due to the sheer numbers of interviews however, the film is very useful to anyone exploring this incident. Overall, it gets a passing grade, but just barely.

If this was a 15-year-old male student sexually harassing a 13-year-old female student on a daily basis what would this documentarian do?

[random-70778 · 30 November 2019]

Look, of course gay kids, along with anyone outside the norms are harassed in school. Most kids are outside the norms at some point. But this documentary literally inverts the harrassment. In this case a 15 year old was, on a near daily basis sexually harassing a 13 year old (who had just turned 14 when the shooting took place) . And after complaining to school authorities teachers etc, and getting nowhere in stopping the harassment, the younger kid being harassed finally took maters in his own hands. We have to ask ourselves how we would feel if a 15 year old boy was sexually harassing a 13-year-old girl regularly and school authorities did nothing. Of course the younger kid was not justified in killing his tormentor. But those are mitigating facts and an important part of the context.