Gabby

Completely fell for the Montreal propaganda in this film. Having a very Canadian summer 🍁

Bruh I was actually sobbing in the theater

As someone with a very similar childhood as displayed in this movie, I related to the feelings of forced isolation so heavily. Having to essentially create an entirely new world for yourself because you have found the one you are apart of has no room for you. Matt Johnson is incredibly successful in being able to portray this phenomenon throughout the duration of his film.  When you watch this movie, the found-footage cinematography works to include the viewer into the story. The camera is apart of Matt’s inner world, and in some cases, an active participant in the film itself. Additionally, it is truly the only objective figure that sees what he is doing and why, as well as a part of Matt’s inner life that he himself does not understand or let anyone else know. A note of this is made during the later parts of the film when Owen is told about the shooting plan after significant planning had already begun, but since the viewers had watched it all transpire already, it was approached as common knowledge. As Matt becomes more diluted with his obsession to write a successful movie (get revenge on his classmates), he relies more heavily upon the viewer for comfort, but we cannot help him. Only watch. The desperation for human connection drives the conflict of the film itself. A very notable takeaway from this film revolves around how isolation is an accepted form of violence in our society in its own right. Nothing excuses mass shootings, but that’s not the point of this movie. It is, in my opinion, to demonstrate that two things can be true at once. It is to say, bullying is violent. Being ridiculed for differences in sexuality or expression is violent. And of course, killing other people is violent. We are never confused about if Matt is in the wrong, but we can also see why he falls down the path he does.  This film does an amazing job telling a story that we don’t like to talk about. It’s a beautiful, ugly, sometimes outdated, emotional, and unexpectedly deeply moving piece that has not left my mind since viewing it. I highly recommend you watch it for yourself.