Reviews

This movie paints a grim picture of a group of people's lives destroyed by violence. I can't say that this movie is a statement on the realities of life because the characters' circumstances are so specific that many would have a hard time relating. Here's a list of the lessons taught in the movie.

1. Don't hit a cop, you'll get sent to prison. 2. Don't shine a laser pointer in a cop's face, you'll get sent to prison. 3. Don't stab a security officer in the neck, you'll get sent to prison. 4. Don't push anyone onto the 3rd rail of a subway station. They'll be electrocuted and you'll get sent to prison. 5. Don't try to escape from prison. You will either die trying or get sent back to prison.

I'm not really sure what the overall message of this movie is. Elijah does everything right by staying out of trouble, going to school, etc., and yet he still gets the shaft. 3 out of 10 only because I like Q Tip.

I think this movie is ahead of its time given what we see of homosexuality, and transsexuality today. Sure, it's a horror movie, but it's also a commentary on gender roles in society: what makes a person feminine or masculine. If I had to choose, I'd say Judy is the extreme view of the female with her extravagant sexuality, and Ricky is the extreme view of the male with his exaggerated toughness. Angela is the median being torn between both extremes. Through Angela, the movie also brings up the question of what makes us male or female: our physical bodies or someone else's perception of us.

This may be a little deep for a little horror movie, but it's interesting to think about while watching the movie again nonetheless.