Joshua (2007)

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.

Director:

George Ratliff

Writers:

David Gilbert, George Ratliff

Stars:

Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Jacob Kogan

5 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The Cairn's life seems to be a harmonic family: The father Brad works as a stockbroker, his wife Abby takes care of their common new-born daughter Lily, and the 9-year-old Joshua is high-talented. But the appearances are deceptive. Joshua becomes gradual jealously, that his parents give the baby more attention than him. Therefore he begins to terrorize his family.

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Plot Keywords:

baby | newborn | stockbroker | museum | boy | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some disturbing behavior by a child

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official soundtrack site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 July 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Devil's Child

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$51,233, 8 July 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$478,492, 5 August 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

ATO Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vera Farmiga who plays Joshua's mother. Would also play a mother to another evil child. 'Esther' in the 2009 horror thriller 'Orphan'.

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Goofs

When Brad tries to seduce Abby in their bedroom, the peak meter of the baby monitor indicates that Lily is still screaming on top of her lungs, when she is actually sleeping peacefully.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Soccer Dad: You're playing like a bunch of little girls!
Brad Cairn: [signalling him to chill out]
Soccer Dad: You're playing like a little girl!
Brad Cairn: Good, good hustle. Good hustle!

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Connections

Featured in The 50 Best Horror Movies You've Never Seen (2014)

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Soundtracks

Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26 - Marcia Funebre (Sulla Morte d'un Eroe)
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Nico Muhly

User Reviews

Criminally Underrated Psychological Thriller

Joshua is a criminally underrated movie, presumably because it was marketed towards the horror crowd, the majority of which is bound not to be satisfied with it. It's not a gorefest. It's about something much more horrific. Imagine your world being manipulated by the person one would least expect, your weaknesses exploited, your reputation destroyed, the motive, the scheme, and the process never to be explained? The important thing is to see this impressively written and directed film without any substantial knowledge of the plot beforehand. It slowly unfolds, an ominous atmosphere slowly growing like a cancer.

Sam Rockwell, one of the most likable and natural contemporary actors, and Vera Farmiga, one of the most unassuming and realistic up-and-coming actresses, are perfectly cast, unlikely to be choices for a typical psychological thriller as disturbing as this one, making their drama more dramatic and disconcerting, having to do with the easily miscommunication of feelings between parents and young children.

Joshua's music score assists the the disturbing moments in this film with its brooding. The music young Joshua, a child piano prodigy, has a discernible penchant towards is very suitable dissonant classical pieces. Even the Dave Matthews song that closes the movie on its creepy, powerful final shot is a properly somber punctuation as the film leaves you blown away, having taken Rockwell's journey right along with him. George Ratliff is a very talented, promising new director who will hopefully follow up with a more appreciated film.