JOSHUA
US, 2007, 105 minutes, Colour.
Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Celia Weston, Dallas Roberts, Michael Mc Kean, Jacob Kogan.
Directed by George Ratliff.
Rather a slow-burning melodrama with some elements of horror.
Joshua (Jacob Kogan) is a precocious 9 year old who is terrible at sports but plays the piano well and is interested in the archaeology of ancient Egypt. The film opens with his being hurried off to hospital for his sister’s birth. It is clear he is not happy.
The family fuss over the new baby, with plenty of video footage (which contrasts with the footage of his early days, which he watches sadly). He is always in two minds whether his busy father (Sam Rockwell) and his increasingly neurotic mother (Vera Farmiga) really love him.
Gradually the family tensions grow, aggravated by evangelical charismatic grandmother (Celia Weston) and his mother’s brother and his music tutor (Dallas Roberts). Things are also a little eerie in the house – there may be ghosts or poltergeists upstairs. Then everything disintegrates – but the question remains: is Joshua just bad seed, or is he psychologically malevolent, or are outside forces creating the havoc?
Despite the low-key tone, this is not the film to recommend to new mothers – or, indeed, fathers.
Quiet horror and terror relying more on atmosphere than on any special effects.
1.The impact of the film as a drama? Terror? Touches of horror?
2.The New York City settings, the apartments, hospital, school, museum? Concerts?
3.The musical score, the songs, the classics, Joshua and his playing the piano?
4.The low-key style, its effect, moods without explanation, no special effects?
5.The family theme, children, birth, stress? The structure of the film: the listing of the number of days after Lily’s birth?
6.Joshua, trying to play sport, not successful, the parents abusing their children at sport, his father hurrying him to the hospital, watching the birth? The malevolent look? His observing the fuss, the grandparents, the parents? His interest in school, Egyptology, myths, toys?
7.The collapse of the family, the ghosts upstairs, the psychological effect on the family – or was it the malevolence of Joshua?
8.Lily, the birth, the fuss, the grandparents happy, the video (and later Joshua watching the video of his birth and his mother’s neurotic reaction and tears), his questioning about whether he was loved or not? His need for love?
9.Joshua and his age, relationship with his mother, father? Love, the outings with his father, the strong bonds with his father, the relationship with his mother, getting permission to go out, playing hide and seek – but her desperation? Giving his toys to the poor, operating on his toys in the Egyptian mummy fashion? Playing the piano, ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’, the concert performance and his playing strident notes, his dependence on Ned and friendship? His grandmother, her religious attitude, taking him to the charismatic meeting, wanting to be born again? At the museum, his grandmother’s death? His control?
10.Brad, his joy at the birth, his busy work, the pressure of Chester, Abby and her tension, with Joshua? The sexual issues – and Googling the internet? His wife and her breakdown, going to the institution? Working with his mother? The baby and its incessant crying, his care for the baby? Coping? Joshua and the drawings, the paediatrician saying that the child was abused? Brad’s attack on her? Joshua’s bruises? His attack on Joshua after his mother’s death, brutal with him? The police interrogation?
11.The mother, tense, the baby’s crying, her loving Joshua, seeming distant, the hide and seek, the sexual issues, going up to the roof, her collapse?
12.Ned, his friendship with Joshua, the piano, his presence in the house? The end – and the eerie dependence of Joshua on Ned?
13.The grandmother and grandfather, their fuss, the grandmother coming to stay, her religious attitudes, wanting the baby to be baptised, Abby as Jewish? The resistance? Taking Joshua to the charismatic meeting, his being born again his own choice? Taking Joshua to the museum, bewilderment by the Egyptian pieces, her death?
14.Chester, his bluntness in the office? Pressure?
15.The father going to the school, the teachers, Joshua missing out on two classes to go advanced? The supervisor and her reaction about abuse?
16.The ultimate effect and resolution? Psychological, horror, natural?
