I KILL GIANTS

US, 2017, 106 minutes, Colour.
Madison Wolfe, Zoe Saldana, Imogen Poots, Sydney Wade, Rory Jackson, Jennifer Ehle, Don Wycherley, Noel Clarke.
Directed by Anders Walter.

I Kill Giants may be an offputting title for prospective audiences. It is based on a Man of Action graphic novel by Joe Kelly who has adapted it for the screen.

The focus is on a young girl, Barbara, played by Madison Wolfe. There are difficulties in her family, her dying mother, Jennifer Ehle, her sister, Karen, played by Imogen Poots. At school she is very dogmatic, offputting to the other students. However, one of the teachers, therapist, played by Zoe Saldana, tries to work with her.

Barbara lives in a fantasy world, a world menaced by giants, symbols of evil. The film uses special effects to re-create this world, especially on the coast, on the beaches, storms at sea.

An unusual story, with an effect on children who identify with Barbara or understand her fantasies, with an effect for parents concerned about imaginative children.

1. The title? Tone? The introduction of themes?

2. The film as a fable, magic, myths, symbols, hate and destruction? The war against such giants?

3. The American setting, the town, homes, the school, offices? The coast and the beaches? The storms?

4. The impact of the special effects to create the fantasy?

5. The credibility of the plot, audiences surrendering to this fantasy, getting inside Barbara’s mind?

6. Barbara, her mother, ill, Karen and her support, the life of the family? Barbara and reality, refusing reality?

7. The imaginative world, the giants and their effects, the threats, the storms, the sea? The personification of threatened terror?

8. Mrs Molle, her role, persuasion, care? At the school? Therapy? The school and the authorities?

9. The other children, Barbara and her relationship with them, taunting her?

10. Barbara as dogmatic, demanding, the effect on others, always right, off-putting?

11. Mrs Molle and her sessions, her husband, talking with Barbara, Barbara’s response, the breakthrough?

12. The climax, fear, dangers?

13. The ultimate effect on Barbara, on her family, on the community?