Trevor(Ben Foster, who may be trying to corner the market on "troubled youth who does have a heart"... but he sure can act(in general that's a high note in this); and hey, while he did portray Spacker Dave and Angel as well, here, he's nigh on unrecognizable as those(well, once when he yells, that's it)) used to be the perfect student. Then a year ago, something happened to change that. Then he made a bomb threat. It couldn't have exploded, he made sure of that, but ever since, fellow pupils, teachers and parents alike have been scared of him. He now documents his day with his camera(although this is in the background for oddly long... when they finally get around to it, it may be the best aspect of this), he's distant(responding to others with snark) and the only social group that don't treat him like a pariah are the so-called Trogs, the lowest on the pecking order. The one person who seems to still have faith in him is Mr. Duncan(Tom Cavanagh, and let me help: he plays JD's brother Dan), the drama instructor, who now wants him to take the lead in the titular play, as someone who did go through with what he suggested he would(which many others try to prevent from being performed). What talks him into it is that the cute newcomer, Jenny(Jane McGregor), has a role in it, too. Now the two last-mentioned have to try to help the boy. This is a well-done look at bullying, specifically in high school, and many will be able to see their own experience in this. It's realistic, psychologically credible(near the end it gets particularly spot-on, with words put to the state of being mentally tormented) and for the occasional clichés and the few portions of this that lose focus on the story, it's compelling and well-paced. Characters are reasonably developed(there is one or two subplots with them that feels unresolved by the end). Though the editing is good throughout, the filming can be bothersome. It draws attention to itself several times where it seems like it shouldn't, and the very opening is just obnoxious - hand-held, sudden fast-forwarding and artificially inserted static. This is moving, and genuinely tough to watch for all the right reasons(if it wasn't, it wouldn't be taking its subject matter seriously). There is a lot of disturbing content and a little violence and strong language in this. I recommend this to everyone. 8/10
Review of Bang Bang You're Dead
