"Mean Creek" (Jacob Aaron Estes, 2004)

7/10

Ever since it was released on Region 2 DVD in 2005, I have been quite a fan of Mean Creek. On first impression, it felt like a Larry Clark knock-off, but something that had a notable sense of integrity when compared to material such as Kids and Ken Park. Nevertheless, of Clark’s films it was most reminiscent of Bully; a film that was “great” when compared to the director’s prior efforts at exploiting young actors and provoking unnecessary fear in anyone over the age of thirty. Mean Creek is a far more realistic approach to the irresponsible behaviour of certain youths in our failing societies because each character had a back-story and the predictability of the plot meant viewers could watch intently with the knowledge that tragedy was imminent.

Jacob Aaron Estes’ feature-length debut has a perfectly chosen setting; the idyllic backwoods of a small town somewhere in the heart of Oregon state. Much different to the typical city setting that is chosen for the majority of films focusing on the behavioural response of teenagers in extreme situations. A variety of beautiful landscapes are depicted, but are abruptly shattered with the onset of death. It is with this that the warm sky turns to grey, the ancestral woods become threatening and the inviting river becomes a gaping crack in the land. Somehow, this is all so effective, even when the viewer is fully aware for the inevitable mishap that was destined to happen immediately as the children set off to unveil their misguided attempt at revenge.

The characters attempt to justify their plan to “give a bully a taste of his own medicine” by saying that it a well-intended act of support for a timid male who is said to of been victimised by a much larger, dyslexic boy. Oddly enough, the viewer only sees the misunderstood “bully” act inappropriately once prior to the group of teens deciding to enact revenge. Therefore, it is difficult understanding exactly what this boy has done to get the reputation he has and considering the boy clearly has psychological issues, you would expect the teens to have more understanding. One could argue, that this is the core issue of the film; that the teens are inspired by the notion of revenge and are fascinated by a severely dyslexic boy’s lack of social intelligence among his peers. Does this mean that aggression is harboured by these teens? Not exactly, but it showcases the spontaneity of decisions made by teenagers who do not consider the consequences.

For a first time director, Jacob Aaron Estes projects a brilliant image of the much-trodden path of “innocence lost”, whilst also showing a knack for realistically writing the dialogue of youths. He manages to craft tension and allows the actors to comfortably encompass their roles without sensing disillusion from the cast. Josh Peck’s performance is a long step away from his much-established position on primetime Nickelodeon programming (Drake and Josh). The key scene when he enters an expletive-fueled tirade on the canoe is just as uncomfortable as it is disheartening. However, it is Scott Mechlowicz’s performance that serves as the crux behind the lingering memory of the film. His character is just as much a bully as Josh Peck’s, if not more so because he does not suffer from any known disabilities, and seems to gain a great deal of satisfaction from the prospect of a prank. Mechlowicz utilises the character’s disrupted background and lack of self-respect, ultimately painting a portrait of alienation and heartache. For fans of John Boorman's masterpiece Deliverance, this is definitely recommended viewing and is bound to appeal to anyone who enjoys studies of how humans react when facing extreme circumstances.


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