There are some movies about deplorable events that are like a train wreck that you can't help but gawk at. Then there are the other movies about deplorable events that are like the human carnage from that same train wreck and you can't help but avert your eyes. "The War Zone" is the second type.
What you need to know:
A man (Ray Winstone) was raping his teenage daughter Jessie (Lara Belmont). His son, Tom (Freddie Cunliffe), found out about it quite by accident. His wife (Tilda Swinton) was totally unaware. What in the world does a fifteen-year-old boy do with that information? No matter what he does the results will be catastrophic. If he keeps it to himself, his sister will continue to get victimized. If he tells anyone his family will be irreparably ripped apart. Tom did something I didn't consider, and that was lay the blame on his sister. He didn't lay the blame on her so much as he put the onus upon her to stop the "relationship" as though she was a willing participant. He didn't hold fast to this attitude, but it was all a part of the wave of negative emotions that hits a boy when seeing something so gut-wrenching.
This movie was disturbing and very hard to watch. I admit that I turned away a few times. Director Tim Roth (known for acting in "Reservoir Dogs") put it in your face and it was uncomfortable. Lara Belmont must've been legally an adult, but it sure didn't feel like it watching the movie. If Roth's goal was to shake you up, then mission accomplished.
What you need to know:
A man (Ray Winstone) was raping his teenage daughter Jessie (Lara Belmont). His son, Tom (Freddie Cunliffe), found out about it quite by accident. His wife (Tilda Swinton) was totally unaware. What in the world does a fifteen-year-old boy do with that information? No matter what he does the results will be catastrophic. If he keeps it to himself, his sister will continue to get victimized. If he tells anyone his family will be irreparably ripped apart. Tom did something I didn't consider, and that was lay the blame on his sister. He didn't lay the blame on her so much as he put the onus upon her to stop the "relationship" as though she was a willing participant. He didn't hold fast to this attitude, but it was all a part of the wave of negative emotions that hits a boy when seeing something so gut-wrenching.
This movie was disturbing and very hard to watch. I admit that I turned away a few times. Director Tim Roth (known for acting in "Reservoir Dogs") put it in your face and it was uncomfortable. Lara Belmont must've been legally an adult, but it sure didn't feel like it watching the movie. If Roth's goal was to shake you up, then mission accomplished.